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Dabs is 10 & has hip dysplasia. He’s our non-DID chap. He had a hip replacement 3 years ago. The reason was because he was yelping when he had to get up from lying down. The joint was unstable. He had complications after the operation (the implant caused the femur to splinter and the opposite knee ligament went requiring surgery, fairly common).
The thing I learned was that large dogs are at risk of the condition but they aren’t born with the hip damaged, it develops with time. However, it is genetic, too much exercise at a young age can distort the hip socket making it shallow. Agility training for younger large dogs must be on a proper soft surface, no running on concrete. I guess you find out these things after the fact and that is frustrating. I wish I had known more about all that sort of thing.
After 7 years with the same vets we needed to change vet, the one(s) he saw at the previous practice weren’t taking his post surgery care seriously and he was suffering needlessly. There are plenty of vets who do know their way around the orthopedics. Dabs vet checks for arthritic changes and muscle wasting, that the knee isn’t getting damaged under the strain. He does basic a biochemistry test on the spot to check the kidneys are coping with the pain drug.
What has been helpful for him is this pain medication called Trocoxil. It is one slow release drug per month with a break of >=1 month after the 6th month. He still gets a morning run/trot on grass off the lead that is no longer than 15 mins. He gets out twice a day but it’s on the lead for the majority and his evening walk is the more substantial one. He tries to do a fraction more than he is able for so I keep an eye on how long he is out for and get him to turn around. I bring a mobile just in case he needs a lift home. He will lay down if tired and I’ll not rush him (evening before dinner is therefore better for us). He takes the supplement the vet recommends, Seraquin (there are suitable alternatives to this brand).
I hope Rusty gets on OK. He can still have fun, its super that you spotted the problem soon and you can manage it. Let us know how he gets on.
Hey Brian! Happy to hear you are doing good
Any chance of a pic? I bet you look like a super loved dog should xMel, are you staying with your foster family? Why not, they look like they are up to scratch. Keep having fun lovely…mmm Daisy!
Hi Zara,
Dog Training Ireland gave me some advice about a similar situation. In my case the new younger dog was aggressive towards the older resident dog. They are in Blanchardstown. You call ring them and they can give you their advice, they are qualified behaviourists. There are definite techniques like rewarding them for being together and teaching "too bad" while removing the grumpy one from the situation. They are able to advise on spotting the early signs that something might be brewing, like licking of the nose. I found it useful.
Where is it on? I don’t know where Mayfield is. The last night for DID with Champagne Animal (Wheelan’s) was great.
My dog Dabs and I met Barney at the Maxi Zoo Tallaght fun day this afternoon. He was with his foster brother at the time and was very well behaved. He allowed my very large dog to sniff him and was interested in meeting all the dogs who were going past him there doing their shopping. Anyone who sees this Jack Russell will be taken aback by how beautiful he looks with his warm brown eyes and large ears.
I’m so sorry for your loss of George, he was indeed gorgeous. It sounds so sudden, it didn’t give you any time to come to terms with what happened. You did all the right things, remember the better times.
Look at you Effie, you look beautiful and you’re out and socialising. You are living like a dog should, i.e. not kept in a garden.
They must have known they love him to drive all that way. I think when you fall for a dog, that’s it, you can’t rest until you meet them. Hope it works out for Rupert and he’s happy because he deserves a forever home.
I went today with my sister, we arrived late and hopped in at Cleary’s. I think it was lovely that it was a calm and peaceful protest which in itself does so much to change people’s perceptions. There were many onlookers taking photos of the super dogs who attended. There was a sense that they could approach the march and ask questions. The children who came along and took part were great and give hope to me. The different groups there were an education to me, some were there because they think using animals in the circus is wrong, others like PETA, against vivisections. Then there were the people there who had a lot on their plate, like the lady who was pushing her dog in a pushchair because she’d had a stroke. It was well organised by ARAN
Any chance of a pic? I bet you look like a super loved dog should x
Happy birthday.