stiffness in old dogs

Bosworth

Bosworth

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www.ballhillequestrian.co.uk
We took our two lurchers up on the moors with the horses yesterday. My old one (14) finds it a bit hard going but refuses to be left behind so we take the horses up in the trailer so he can just run free rather than having to do the lanes to the moors. he has definitely slowed down. Now instead of running he does a steady trot knowing we will be waiting for him round the next corner and he seems to really enjoy himself checking out bushes, sheep poo and hollows. However last night after he had has his post hack snooze he is lame. Not a thorn type lame - just an old bones type lame. Is there anything i can give him to help with the stiffness, he has linseed oil in his feeds. I have avet coming later to see the horses and am going to ask him but you guys have a huge amount of knowledge so thought I would pick your brains first. THanks
 
A few days rest to pick up, maybe put him on some glucosamine tablets to aid the joints, I always keep spare metacam(it works wonders) for the oldies.
The vet may give u some more advice or alternatives.
 
Jakey who has various lameness problems (elbow dysplasia) is on Metacam as and when he needs it. When I spot him looking dodgy I give him 10ml for 3-4 days and then he is fine. It's on prescription from the vet, so it would be worth chatting to your vet about it.
 
I prefer acupuncture before metacam. For my pets acupuncture have had a more longlasting effect and metacam have been more of a quick fix.

Glucosamine is worth a try but also if it would be possible for you to give him some stretching, towards or in the end of the walk, before his muscles have had a time to cool off, that might also help with the stiffness.

A softer bed is never a bad idea, if you only have a dog that accepts using it.

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FL - difficult to get him a softer bed - he uses mine!!!! But his own is actually really soft, and by the radiator and he has a cover over him at night to keep warm. I have a magnotherapy collar on him now and that seemed to have some effect.

My vet checked him out and has given me some loxicom (same as metacam but cheaper) and has suggested Glucosamine and Condrotin to see if that helps. He seems to be a bit more comfortable on the drugs so will see how he is for few days then reduce/remove the loxicom.

For an old dog he is remarkably well, he has a heart murmur but always has and it has never caused him any problems, he has occasional fits - once every 6 months but has never needed drugs for them and no long term effects, and even with this limp he is still insistant on coming out on the yard and making sure I am looking after things correctly. It would be som much easier if he just decided to take it easy - but bloody lurchers - they have to be involved in everything!!
 
On one point, it sounds as if Nessie, my first late Norwegian Buhund, was similar to your dog. She refused to take it easy and wanted to do everything she was used to doing.

When Nessie was 14 years and something, we once even tried with that my mother took her out for a walk, since she was very devoted to my mother and decided to sleep in her room from when she was about 5 to 5,5 years old, Nessie at first thought it was very funny to be allowed a one-on-one walk with my mother but when she came home and found out that I had sneaked out with the other two for a long dog walk, without her, she was not amused!

She was not fooled twice though, next day my mother could only get her out in the garden and then Nessie wanted back indoors, to make sure the other two weren't allowed to go for a longer and funnier walk than her...

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My FoxhoundxLab is getting very stiff and asked vet for advice thinking he'd recommend Metacam - but he suggested Riaflex Canine Joint Plus (rather to my surprise as he doesn't stock it!
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) She's only been on it a week but already seems to be getting on and off the bed with a bit less effort. http://www.riaflex-equine.co.uk/product_riaflex_complete_canine.htm
 
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