A quality question

[windand rain]

My old labrador is lame she has arthritis the vet prescribed meds have made little difference. On the other hand she gallops around the field still loves a limited time fetching a ball, she doesn't make a sound when she is touched or the joints are moved so apart from the pronounced limp seems fine. She still bum tucks around when we come in. I am wondering if my worry comes from being arthritic myself as I would hate her to be in pain.
How do you tell when it is too much.

 

[rabatsa]

With mine it has always been little signs that things are not right. When these become more frequent and there are more subtle behaviour changes then I am prepared to call time.

 

[BallyJ]

I'm in the same situation with my Jack Russell. Some days I think is this it? then the next she's zooming round the back of the sofa.

Never says no to a walk, nudges me to the door daily. Always first to the breakfast bowls and rules the house with an iron fist.

 

[Clodagh]

I’d not throw the ball at all, sometimes we have to stop doing things they enjoy for their own good.
I’d also go back to the vets and try different meds.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Would your dog enjoy carrying the ball for most of the walk, maybe with a bit of gentle football in and amongst?
I would investigate different meds and not encourage bursts of speed with sharp turns, such as those involved in chasing a thrown ball.

 

[Barton Bounty]

My wee woofie is getting on now and most days she is fine.. I give her yu move every day to try and help, working so far

 

[splashgirl45]

When my old collie was struggling I used to throw the ball directly to her so she didn’t move and just had to catch it, I did this at home so she did have a bit of ball play but it was very controlled and I kept her walks to 20 minutes of very slow walking and sniffing… my lurcher had arthritis in her hips and didn’t even look when the squirrels were running in front of her. After lots of different pain relief , this didn’t change so I made that decision…

 

[CorvusCorax]

I know chips are not good for me, I eat them anyway.

Drive to chase a ball or go out for a walk will carry a dog through pain and then the pain comes later, so they do not make the link - that's why they look like they love doing the things they used to be able to do and are then dead lame and need to be managed with meds later. They often do not know what is good or bad for them.

So what I am saying is, if I have to manage a dog's lameness with medication (and to be honest, that is something I personally really struggle with), then I would be a bit more conservative about what they are allowed to do. Dogs can stay mobile without chasing balls or galloping.

 

[windand rain]

She rarely if ever has a lead on and ball play is very limited but still loves it and instigates it by stealing the ball and throwing it herself. I guess quality involves being able to have fun. She is not any lamer after walks but is still very lame. Thank you all for your help it is much appreciated

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

With Bear-13 in June (!!), I drop the ball without letting him see then let him go look for it in his own time, no pelting round/turning. He still goes at a good pace round the woods, but it’s never forced.

 

[wren123]

I have a lab that's 15 in March, she's got arthritis, we've had to cut down her exercise now to keep her sound, but she is sound, I think if she was lame all the time I'd be straight back to the vet to try more medication, if that didn't work I'd be thinking of calling it a day. But it's very hard.
What medication is yours on, mines on yumove advance, strong stuff only available from the vet, and monthly librela, both real game changers for my dog.

 

[meleeka]

if I have to manage a dog's lameness with medication (and to be honest, that is something I personally really struggle with)

This is an odd comment. Plenty of humans live a happy, pain free life with medication, why should dogs be any different?

 

[windand rain]

She is on yu move plus, metacam and boswellia is still happy and can jump on and off the sofa by choice. She is generally her happy self tail never stops like a helicopter and goes nuts when we come in even if we're only gone a few minutes. I think for now she's okay but won't let her go down the route of not enjoying life

 

[Clodagh]

She is on yu move plus, metacam and boswellia is still happy and can jump on and off the sofa by choice. She is generally her happy self tail never stops like a helicopter and goes nuts when we come in even if we're only gone a few minutes. I think for now she's okay but won't let her go down the route of not enjoying life

I also suggest you put an extra bed or something where she jumps off the sofa as that’s a lot of weight in a foreleg. I’m not being awkward, just suggesting things.
librella definitely worth trying, Brandy was much better in it than any other meds.

 

[CorvusCorax]

This is an odd comment. Plenty of humans live a happy, pain free life with medication, why should dogs be any different?

Did you read the bit where I said 'personally'?