For those of you who are a bit newer, I thought I would let you hear about Lilly. She started with a limp at around 6 or 7 months - during our cold snowy winter of 2010 - and after much too-ing and fro-ing was diagnosed with "severe" bilateral hip dysplasia by a specialist orthopaedic vet at St Monans in Fife. She was around 10 months when the diagnosis was made. She was thought to be pretty well adapted to the dysplasia and rather than needing surgery, we were advised to carry on with ant-inflammatory tablets, adding in Omega-3 Fish oils, and to build up her walking and strength. Think at one point we built up to 2 x 60 mins on lead exercise. We also did some hydrotherapy, but just for fun rather than physio based/treadmills etc. We were going roughly every 2 weeks where she had a 20 minute timed swim in a dog pool and thereafter a shampoo and set (well, actually a blow dry ). We were advised if she was struggling at all that we should be referred back with a view to reassessment for surgery. Well, roll on 5 years, and we are doing good. She hasn't limped for absolutely ages - a year? maybe two? Anyway, at her recent medication review, we discussed stopping her anti-inflammatory, and she has now been off treatment for the last 10 days. Carrying on with the fish oil though. I noticed in the last day or so she may have a slight limp on her front right leg after getting up from rest. Her hips however seem fine. I took a couple of videos today at the beach to hopefully capture her walking. I honestly think her hips are absolutely fine. She clicks like mad, but is unperturbed by them. It doesn't stop her (certainly doesn't curb her wildlife chasing activities as many of you will know) The jury is out on her front right as far as I am concerned (nothing formal diagnosed here, and I really can't localise any tenderness). I hope we can continue without regular treatment and use an as required 4-5 days if needed as per advice. If not, we will just revert to regular daily dosing. I thought I would just share this for information.
Thank you for sharing Jac, it's so lovely to read how well our pups manage with conditions like HD, or in my case ED. It's so important to share that dogs can have a full and active life with their conditions managed. Great news that she is off the anti-inflammatories. Hoping that there is no problem with her front right - they certainly like to worry us! I can't see your videos but will catch up with them later from my phone. For some reason my tablet doesn't like photobucket
I am sure that this will give a lot of encouragement to those who are dealing with a HD diagnosis. Great to hear that Lilly is going so well and is getting the most out of life.
That's good news and very encouraging, Buster has ED also diagnosed at 7 months, he's now 2, he was managed with anti inflammatory tablets until August last year, so now he is just on Synoquin, and touch wood he has not had any problems at all, I do hope he won't need surgery but if he does at some stage in his life, I know we will all cope.
Thank you for the videos -- what a lovely dog Lilly is! And so encouraging to see. Omega 3 (fish oil) is one of the "alternative" medications that has, I have read, been clinically proven to be an anti-inflammatory -- I give several capsules to Snowie every day for this reason.
Lovely to hear how well Lilly is doing. Would I be correct in my assumption that beach walking is a lot less strain on joints?
Oh that's a lovely post Jacqui and must be a big reassurance to many members who are dealing with similar issues with their dogs.
I'm not sure about this. Since each step varies so much in soft sand, as far as the level of it, the depth of the sand and the resistance, I'd assume that it could be harder on the joints than a more regular surface. I think about when I've tried running on the beach (a very, very rare occurrence!) and how much less balanced I've felt than running on a regular surface. I would, however, think that the flat, firmer sand by the water's edge would be good, and, of course, swimming is excellent. I would think running on sand is good for muscle development, though.
As someone who walks in sand a lot I would agree with this,I've been told by a couple of vets to take care .....and I do! Living in the desert I have no choice a lot of the time,Dexter adores the soft sand dunes he loves to charge around on them and he retreives more keenly than on a harder firmer surface or even grass ....but I police him so he doesn't over do it.......he's so fit though he can cope with what he gets .... I certainly feel the difference in myself and Dexter IS ripped,he is really muscley.I wonder what he would be like on the same diet ,with the same amount of excercise on a different surface.....
Really chuffed to see Lilly looking so well and happy, I bet you have really cheered up a whole load of people who's dogs suffer the same health issue Jac. Very kind of you to post your very positive story xx
@Dexter Ah yes, I didn't even think to tag you - you certainly have more experience with sand than most of us I think snow is similar in some ways, as it can be very uneven, very different textures and resistances. And, of course, there's the added complication of it being slippery when it's compacted! But it's definitely good for muscle development
I was given strict instructions by Snowie's breeder that he was not allowed onto the beach until he was 10 months old -- because of the nature of puppy bones and joints. And now, with his bulging disc, the vet has said no soft sand for four months because the soft sand causes his back to swivel and rotate and the constant movement won't allow the vertebrae to fuse. But there's sand and there's sand -- from the video it looks like that sand is really firm, whereas the sand we have here is really soft. Soft sand is really good for working those muscles though -- I know I get a really good workout for the same amount of time as I'd get walking on a mountain path, and I get shin splints if I walk too much on a hard surface. Can dogs get shin splints (or the equivalent)?
Really interesting discussion about beach walking - I hadn't considered that it could actually be worse for joints. I've always walked Ripple on the firm edge by the water, but only because he tends to eat all the debris on the soft sand.
Thanks guys. We try to keep to the firm sand, but obviously cross the soft stuff too. DEFINITELY harder work walking on soft sand, can't imagine jogging on it! I am aware of running and sharp stops etc and tend to pace ball throwing and chasing - often I throw into the surf line or the shallower waves rather than across the sand to reduce some of the hard stops. As some of you may know, the beach is really the only place Lilly will reliably retrieve. And will either drop ("leave") or place the ball in my hand ("hand") on command - for a small price of course . As soon as we hit the sand she is positively nagging me to get the ball chucker going
I'm so glad Lilly is doing well. Soft sand is hard work, and not great for unstable joints. I don't worry about firmer wet sand though. Through Charlie's rehabilitation after injury, all the vets preferred him to be walking on pavement. A dog running into deep water for a retrieve, up to his shoulders or swimming depth, won't be able to come to a sharp stop, and has to slow down - this is good - but running through water when it's not deep enough to swim, is very, very hard work, harder work than swimming. A dog that is a super keen retriever, and running through water, can seriously over exercise if not fit enough to do this - lots of dogs are fit enough, of course, but it's something to watch for those who shouldn't over do things. (Charlie works out on the watertreadmill, but the time increases only 30 seconds a session to build fitness over a long period).
