Poor girl - she's going through the wars at the moment. She was 10 in September and now has significant arthritis in both elbows, a touch of sciatica, and more fatty lumps than you can throw a stick at. Her history is she has elbow dysplasia diagnosed and operated on when she was two and a bit years old. This was successful but it was a matter of when, not maybe, arthritis would set in.
She got six really good years I'm pleased to say. She worked on a shoot in the winter and did normal dog stuff the rest of the year. Arthritis gradually started to rear it's head from 8 onwards. Cartrophen worked well for a couple of years but now she's on permanent Metacam. Also very recently her sciatic nerve has started to give trouble with the occasional loss of the back legs. Our vet checked her over about a week ago and declared her fit except for her elbows and the touch of sciatica. The fatty lumps are all superficial and nothing to worry about. Weight just about spot on at 29kg - I might drop her another kilo.
With hindsight I should have stopped her or at least slowed her down on walks recently. For the last few days she's been like a young dog again doing zoomies and honing around in puddles etc with the occasional plunge in the river. Today, squeezing under a low stile she yelped and then couldn't walk. Her right front elbow had given way. I had to carry her most of the way home so now we are both jiggered - her elbow, my back!
I've just got back from the vet. She thinks it's probably just an arthritic flare-up but just possibly a fracture, although she thinks that unlikely as Lady will put weight on her leg. So I've got to bring her back for an x-ray if some additional pain killers haven't worked by tomorrow. She's now on Gabapentin.
So that's the progression thus far. I tell you it breaks my heart to see her in pain. Fingers crossed that she gets relief. I'll take her out to her favourite wood later. Not to walk. Just to do what she has to do and we'll sit together by the car and watch the world go by.
She got six really good years I'm pleased to say. She worked on a shoot in the winter and did normal dog stuff the rest of the year. Arthritis gradually started to rear it's head from 8 onwards. Cartrophen worked well for a couple of years but now she's on permanent Metacam. Also very recently her sciatic nerve has started to give trouble with the occasional loss of the back legs. Our vet checked her over about a week ago and declared her fit except for her elbows and the touch of sciatica. The fatty lumps are all superficial and nothing to worry about. Weight just about spot on at 29kg - I might drop her another kilo.
With hindsight I should have stopped her or at least slowed her down on walks recently. For the last few days she's been like a young dog again doing zoomies and honing around in puddles etc with the occasional plunge in the river. Today, squeezing under a low stile she yelped and then couldn't walk. Her right front elbow had given way. I had to carry her most of the way home so now we are both jiggered - her elbow, my back!
I've just got back from the vet. She thinks it's probably just an arthritic flare-up but just possibly a fracture, although she thinks that unlikely as Lady will put weight on her leg. So I've got to bring her back for an x-ray if some additional pain killers haven't worked by tomorrow. She's now on Gabapentin.
So that's the progression thus far. I tell you it breaks my heart to see her in pain. Fingers crossed that she gets relief. I'll take her out to her favourite wood later. Not to walk. Just to do what she has to do and we'll sit together by the car and watch the world go by.
Casper has arthritis in back and hip. He had real trouble earlier this year, and we were really worried for him. Luckily we have a fab rehab vet who worked her magic ( plus he dropped half a kg). He is so much better right now, although I am conscious it will catch up with him at some point. Is Lady on any supplements? Yumove Plus or Advance really made a difference. He is also on Golden Paste as I just add that to the kong mixture these days. 
Old age sucks for all concerned, that’s for sure. Hope your back is ok.
