Collie X Labrador - Back End!

[Sidewinder]

Following on from KME's post on his GSD, Fly's poor back legs, our collie x lab is now really getting stiff at the back end.

She moves around OK, but very slowly, and does not moan bar the odd grumble under her breath.

We expected her to have a bad rear end as she was the runt of the litter.

have you any suggestions Patch please?

Difficult I suspect without seeing her.

If we have to we'll take her to the vet.

 

[Apache]

If we have to we'll take her to the vet.

Do that! Likely arthritis in the hips, which is excruciatingly painful but can be controlled with analgesic medication. Speaking to humans with similar conditions it's amazing how stoic our canine friends are even when in quite some pain.

Only an examination at the vets will let them see how bad it is.

Things you can do to help:

1. keep her weight down, being overweight puts more strain on the joints

2. regular exercise, whatever the weather - long walks at the weekend are killers the next day

3. make sure she has somewhere warm and soft to sleep

4. there is no evidence for glucosamine/chondritin supplements [save your money for stuff that works]

Hope that helps? Fire away with any further questions.

 

[Sidewinder]

Patch,

I re-read my post before yours, and the take her to the vet bit really should have had a tongue in cheak smiley after it! :Blushing

She normally goes at the least problem! O)

Thing is the last time she had this issue and they sort of brushed it under the carpet... :_|

Hence we were not sure where to go next, thus the question.

Weight, Hmmm, owners & pets come to mind, likeness and all that, none of us are racing snakes, and neither is the dog!

Size 3 dog with size 2 head!

Thing is she does not get fed that much, once a day, plus whatever scraps she manages to hoover up without us realising (dropped on the floor) or scrounges off the kids & Mrs.

Exercise is a mute point, she has 1/3rd of an acre almost to run around in, but only goes out in fine weather!

At night when the fox is in the garden, she still nearly catches it running after it down the garden when she is let out.

She knows it when she walks back up mind, very slowly!!!

Will try to get the Mrs to walk her regularly as it will do them both good!

Lady insists on sleeping at the side of our bed Mrs side on a rug, always has, she has a soft bed but won't use it!

Even during the day she has a few places around the house she sleeps depending on the weather, and how she feels.

 

[Apache]

Everyone tells me they don't feed the dog that much when it weighs twice what it should! Dry food is the problem [usually] as it has a high calorie density versus wet food [4-5X as high by volume]. Look on the bag and see what the dog should be fed for it's target weight [not how heavy it is now]. Reduce it by 20%! If it gives a range of food for the weight of the dog use the bottom end figure and subtract 20% from that!

Going out on walks is vital. As they get fat they get lazy and walk less. It's a viscous cycle. We are not looking at hard running or chasing a Frisbee, but 20 minutes a couple of times a day [or 10 mins in the morning and half an hour at night if fits with work better] really beneficial. Doesn't help if the hips hurt and the dog less keen to walk and burn energy!

I am fairly sure she needs to painkillers - if the vet tries to fob you off suggest a two week trial to see if they make a difference. I would bet good money they will. Still need to address weight and fitness, but easier done if dog not in pain.

 

[Sidewinder]

Patch,

She was on dry food, but recently refused to eat it for a few days when she realised the new kitten was on wet food!

So she is now on tinned again.

She gets a tin per day thats it.

How would we know what her weight should be?

Age I think has something to do with it too!

She must be about 12 now, Mrs will remember I'm carp at these things.

 

[Sidewinder]

Checked with Mrs today, Lady gets 1/2 tin of wet food about 200g per day, plus about 150g of Bakers Complete, or Bakers for older dogs.

From what it says on the packs this seems about right as she is smaler than a "normal" Labrador?

Mrs is gonna ring vets on Monday for appointment.

 

[Apache]

Although it might be in the recommended amounts these are at the best a guide. We all know people who eat everything they shouldn't and are as thin as a rake! Same in dogs. Simple fact is if you can't feel ribs with gentle pressure and when you look from above she doesn't have a waste she's too fat. With arthritis is better to be a little on the lean side.

Let me know how you get on at the vets, and I'll try to turn off the RS feed alerting me to every sodding post in this thread!