Hi my old boy Doug has nerve damage and his feet knuckle under at the the back because of this. As he's getting older it getting much worse and its starting to rub his skin off the top of his paw. Has anyone else got experience with this? has anyone found boots useful or anything else. I've been really careful wit this and he has not broken his skin yet, but I can see his problem is getting worse so it could hapen if I don't find some protection for this. thanks any ideas are appreciated. S
We used to use Ruffwear boots for our old bog when he had trouble making his back legs work properly. They are designed as dog hiking boots, and are very sturdy and grippy, but not very soft, pliable or forgiving for sore or raw feet. You can get dog socks to go on under them but you need to tape these on above a joint or to the fur at the top or they just slip down. Are the tops of his feet sore or raw, or do they have good fur coverage? If the latter then hiking style boots like the Ruffwear ones might be ok.
Hi he still has skin coverage but I'm starting to worry about him damaging his skin as his problem is now so severe. I need them for when he goes for his one daily 8 to 10 minute walk. He's walking on road and pathways so it very rough on his feet when he turns them under. He also has SLO which means it is painful for him to have his toes touched. I think I've looked at the Ruffwear boots but they look a bit hard for him to tolerate, I think i just might try socks they might if only I could get some suede socks or something like that. Might have a think and try to make something he may even not mind that too much as he has lost a great deal of feeling in his back feet. I could get some kids socks and put patches on the protect the relivant bits. Oo thanks you made my brain start to work. x
If he has sensitive feet the Ruffwear boots are probably not suitable. They are not nicely finished on the inside. Do try socks - but pull them up firmly and tape them so they can't fall down. A bit of duct tape round the toe may help and/or duct talking some non-slip drawer liner to the underside. In the meantime look into ordering some medical style boots.
Or Muttluks but I was advised to absolutely only on-pain-of-death get the fleece lined ones as the non fleece lined one won't breathe and get sweaty and damp: http://www.muttluks.com/product_home.php?cat=2
Went to see his physio last night and he found a painful spot low down o his back near his tail so its ice packs and massage again hopefully it may help his back and stop him knuckling over so much. interestingly he did not turn over his foot once when he went to see his physio for his hydrotherapy. He was excited and very happy so he was as bouncy as a 14 lab can be, we think he might be being a bit lazy and scuffling his feet when he's having his home walk. He's done stuff like this before the physio does not think it is a bad as I'm thinking it is because he does right his foot when its in this position so he has more feeling than I think. thanks for you help I look at teh web sites x
My vet told me it was to do with the deterioration of signals traveling down nerves - the back feet are far from the brain so get the most decayed signal. It's probably more likely to be apparent when he's a bit tired and probably more less likely when he's excited and firing on all cylinders. So I don't think he's being lazy when walking...the system just isn't operating like it used to. I hope that the physio visit helps You're obviously doing the most excellent job of caring for him in the best possible way.
Yep that what I understood from my physio too. Doug also has the breathing problems which are getting more severe that goes with this nerve problem (long nerve demyelination). Doug is lazy we have had to to resort to walking him in long grass and putting cushions in his way to try to get him to pick his feet up. I don't mean lazy in the usual sense I think i used the wrong word, but I think you understand. He has an altered gait because of his problems(almost like doggy MS) which we have to try to correct in order for him to be in less pain overall. We've been doing it for about 8 years now and its definately been the difference between a dog which has to be put to sleep due to pain and a dog that lived to an old age and is happy and still wanting to play at 14. My physio loves Doug and they have a very strong relationship,he still loves going for his weekly swim. Its nice to beable to do something good for him. Thanks for the boot stuff i'm looking into it at the moment and let you know how it goes x
Hi there I bought a pair of Trixie boots yesterday...there was a whole range in the shop ...Dexter's are called active walker and they are quite robust but they had softer ones too....can't remember what they were called though but they might be more appropriate for protection purposes x
Hi, I have Medipaws protective boot for Charlie who had surgery last week on his carpal pad, it's great and he isn't the slightest bit bothered by it. They come in lots of sizes. Hope Doug is OK poor man. xxx
I look into those thanks. He's fine so funny he was showing what a fierce labrador he is this weekend by rolling on his back and trying to fight me off. Hes just so cuddly and silly
He constantly surprises me i think i've learned a lot from his attitude. He disrgards the bad stuff and just gets on with it. I remember when i picked him up and Stuart his breeder said he's ready to go Sar, and he was with that look in his eyes that said be ready world here I come, he's still got that look in his eye.
My neighbour puts booties on her dog for a similar reason, only for walks. I suggest if you walk on snow you make sure the booties are not slippery. Her poor dog slips and slides and I'm sure she's sore after from her feet and legs sliding around in ways she can't control. In non-snow seasons the booties are fine. Sorry, don't know what brand they are but it's an easy thing to check.
