I don't usually post but often read through various topics and really could do with some advice. Last week my 4 and half year old beardie became slightly lame on his back right leg. I rested him for and kept him quiet for a couple of days then he had a gentle walk (but was off lead). All seemed fine. The next day he spent pottering in garden and will have played with my goldie. I was just about to take the dogs all for a walk when he came in and was really lame on that leg. Needless to say he stayed at home. I kept him caged the rest of the night and monday, only letting out to pee. On Monday he was really lame, struggling to get up and obviously miserable. So I phoned vets and today he was booked for xrays for suspected cruciate/ knee problem as on vets examination he reacted to the pain being in his knee... I couldn't figure out where his pain was as he didn't react to me looking at him. Well, xrays and manipulation under anesthetic reveal no problem with either but his hips are both bad and this is what's causing his lameness. He has never showed any sign of hip problems or even been lame before so we guess he has had a knock or something that's just highlighted the problem. He is on cage rest for a week and a half until we go back to see the orthopaedic specialist who luckily happened to be at my vets today and he wants to see him again rather than my usual vet. He is to have metacam for 3 days, then no medication and 2 ten minute lead walks a day and he will reassess him next Friday. My head is whirling at the moment and I need to get him on a joint supplement asap. Can anyone recommend the best ones to use. Vet said gloucosamine and condrotonin but I'm wondering what else I can give him to help. I have used joint aid in the past and have some youmove I use for my spaniel. He has always been fit and lean and has swam, but I have been told for time being not to let him swim till vet seen him again. Obviously as soon as I can he will start hydrotherapy to help. Has anyone had a similar problem that's come on so suddenly and how did the dog cope and you manage the condition?

Hydrotherapy is not always recommended, be guided by your vet and make sure any therapist is NARCH affiliated or the facility is CHA registered.

Supplements include

Glucosamine (HCl rather than KCl)
Chondrotin
MSM
Green Lipped Mussel
Cetyl-Myristoleate
Rosehips
Bromelain
Ginger
Curcumin
Fish Body Oils + Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Devils Claw

Acupuncture can help
some people swear by magnets

My Dandy (Golden) had no problems whatsoever. Then when he was 6, we had him hip scored and the score came back as 96, which was a total shock as you'd never have guessed by looking at him! Within months he was really bad. He was on Rimadyl to start with, but after a year or so that stopped working. When he was laying down on the floor, he couldn't get up, both his hindlegs would just drag behind him. He was a big 40 kg dog without being overweight. Vet suggested G&C -I bought cheap human version as opposed to expensive vet version. It took about 6 weeks to have an effect, then I had my old dog back again. We stopped the Rimadyl and for the rest of his life he was on G&C, two capsules a day, and he lived until 13. He had a pretty normal life. He couldn't do things like jump into the car, but he went for walks (important to still do that as to not seize him up) and was happy. He wouldn't do sit stays in obedience as it seemed to hurt him to sit for any length of time, so he always did downs. Such severe HD and the only thing we gave him for the past several years of his life was the Glucosamine with Chondroitin. He lived longer than all the other Goldens I'd had, none of which had HD! He was happy until the very last day when he fell over and couldn't get up again.

>Has anyone had a similar problem that's come on so suddenly and how did the dog cope and you manage the condition?

Last autumn my old dog appeared slightly lame on his left rear a couple of times, but rest eased it and he seemed fine. Then one day in early November he couldn't put any weight at all on the leg; anti-inflammatories didn't appear to help, so after a week we sedated hime to x-ray and thoroughly manipulate his leg. The x-rays showed absolutely nothing abnormal (other than his hips were remarkably good, expecially for an 11 year old!) and manipulation showed no weakness in his ligaments; we couldn't find anything wrong.

All we could do was give more pain-killers and lots and lots of rest; on the lead out to toilet then straight back in again. After about 3 weeks he was starting to put some weight on the leg if we walked really, really slowly, and he made a slow but steady improvement. After about 5 or 6 weeks we stopped the painkillers so that he wasn't tempted to overdo it, and two months from when he went lame only the muscle wastage on his leg showed that anything had been wrong, and after another month that had built up again and he was capable of his usual 3 mile walks.

We never knew what he'd done to it; we can only assume he'd pinched a nerve or torn some soft tissue somehow and that the rest had allowed it to heal.

I have been using the Yumiga YUMOVE after Merlot had some lameness to a front rt. She had been lame for best part of 6 months with metacam doing little but after starting the umove within 6 weeks we had weaned her off the metacam and got her sound. I have put Granny Pespsi on it as well and for a 9 1/2 yr old Bern she is very mobile. I though I would try the IMOVE for people to see if it helped with my artheritis and am happy to say after 3 months on it my knees have not been this pain free for years. I think it's the conbination of Glucosiamin, chondratine, and green lipped muscle. whatever it is it's working for us all !!!
Aileen

Thank you for your advice. I have this morning given him some yumove as i have that in anyway for my other dog so will see how he goes on that. He has had his metacam but still seems miserable.
I have got a bioflow collar that was my old dogs and i dont know why i didnt think of putting that on him too. I will go find it and put it on him. 
I just feel a bit useless. Lets hope that when we go back next week he has improved and we can look at starting him on a suitable excersise routine so he doesnt loose too much muscle and fitness as i gather the more muscle etc they have the less stain on the joints. I have been told that the water treadmills can actually cause more damage, but not swimming. Will speak to vet next week about that again.
Thank you.

My previous dog, a Golden Retriever, was born with Displacia in both hips.   We managed this firstly with anti inflamatories and then with Metacam in his later years.   He was often stiff and always walked slowly and some days needed more rest than other days but he lived happily to the ripe old age of 15.
My current Golden Retriever is now 4 and a half and seems fine.   He is a very athletic dog - I always say that in a previous life, he must have been a goat!  I feed him Royal Canin's Golden Retriever which apart from being an excellent food that suits him well, contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin.   My question here is if there is anything else I can do from this point to make certain that his hips continue to stay well and whether the Glucosamine and Chondroitin in his kibble are enough and/or I should add something else to his diet at some stage too?
Thanks
Mi_chelle

Michelle
The only thing I would say is that the Glucosamine/chondroitin supplement added into dog food is likely to be very minimal in the scheme of things. You could if you wished add in a G/S daily.

>I have been using the Yumiga YUMOVE after Merlot had some lameness to a front rt. She had been lame for best part of 6 months with metacam doing little but after starting the umove within 6 weeks we had weaned her off the metacam and got her sound. I have put Granny Pespsi on it as well and for a 9 1/2 yr old Bern she is very mobile.

Well I was never a fan of Yumega, but I have to say I've recently joined the Yumove camp. Had a sample here for months, and am in process of trying to clear rubbish out of my house, so finally got round to giving it to my 11 year old. She has had G&C for years, and was very good until recently but had really started to look aged. She's bouncing around at the moment.  Remains to be seen whether it is a coincidence, but I have to say she is far more mobile, so I have bought a tub to try.

Thanks China.

He is in really good condition right now.   I know that there are the daily doses - I take one myself! - shall I give him one too?   And do I start right now or do I wait a year or so?

Thanks

Mi_chelle

I give mine one a day as a matter of course. Since supplements in moderation will do no harm, I would start right away. You have nothing to lose by it.

It's funny, because I give my older girl B12 as well, so in the mornings when I am preparing their food it's one for her and one for me....

Hi,

I often read through on here but never post! But i have just seen this thread after i was looking then other day! My Chocolate Lab who is now 4 was showing signs of stifness after being swimming the other day. So i searched online and saw loads that i recognised but found one called fullolife (fullolife.co.uk). It was cheaper than the likes of Yumove etc and seemed to have similar ingredients so i thought i'd give it a go! I took delivery yesterday and i gave Charlie it last night and he loved it! Will keep an eye on how he progresses! :D

Cheers

Were using yumove at the moment. Went back to vets yesterday to see the ortopedic guy who gave him a good examination to check mobility etc in his hips. His lameness is loads better and at times he looks a bit stiff and occasionally hops but the vet was really pleased. His movement is good and although is xrays show his bad hips and a bit of arthritis, he now says the suddden lameness is more likely to be caused by muscle damage. So, the plan is to keep him on yumove (or whatever) forever as i know he has a problem, he is on 6 weeks cage rest or if out to be on a lead do he doesnt run/jump but i can build his walks up faily quickly - just watching for lameness etc. Try him swimming and see what he is like after a rest. If he is stiff or lame then we need to leave him til fully recovered, but if ok then it will do him good to keep him moving well. Its a weight off my mind (assuming he is right) and my plan is to manage him and keep him fit. hopefully he will get over this muscle damage and be fine for a few years. :o)