I have just read an article about a working lab with bad hips, the owner was told that the lab, ann would have to be put to sleep at five years, she carried on working until she was 13yrs and died aged 14 of kidney failure, anns owner went hunting with her vet and asked the vet why anns hips never stopped her from working, the vets reply was

"Sometimes, heart is far more important than hips. She had heart."

If you like a dog and the dog likes you... take the journey together. You never know where it leads or when it ends.

Can you let me know where the article was please as would be interested to read it.

I was so upset re MB and her bad Xray on Friday but I am feeling so much more positive now after having a talk to a few people.

I know it is not the end of the world and we can do things to improve her muscle tone etc to compensate, all is not lost !

She is such a sweet loving girl who has the personality and heart of a lion and I know we have many more lovely happy years with her :)

Lucy

Glad to hear that Lucy:) & I`m sure things will work out fine :)

Christine, Spain.

i cant do links im afraid
http://pub109.ezboard.com/fgundogandbirddogforumsfrm1
you will find it on the retriever board under the disscussion on hip disorders
tanya

Thats a lovely thought about dog owning. Should be printed above breeders kennels and rescue centres and is just what we said when we took our Morse home (sic) it was really " Well son, were in this together now".:)

Yes, a lovely thought :)

Christine, Spain.

Great story, reminds me of when my springer was diagnosed with bad heart murmurs at 4 years old, she used to fall over after exercise. My vet gave her tablets and told me to always walk her on an extending lead and to not expect her to live past about 8. The drugs helped but she was so unhappy on the extending lead - I made the decision to let her live her life as any happy springer should, off lead and running free. She has been fine, and after some increased doses of medication she is still running around like a puppy at the age of 13.

I love that picture. I so want my lab to keep her puppiness.(She's 3:D). I hope she'll have the hips, the heart and the desire to run around daft when she's 13.

Brings tears to the eyes!! When I had to make made the decision to stop the promising Working trials career of my lab bitch due to an old shoulder problem, I was heartbroken. She is my first dog, having waited 27 years to have one :) and she loves trialing. I was lucky to have a vet with working labs who recommended Cortavet and now, although we don't compete anymore, she does all the exercises and is fit, well, happy and teaching my new pup all her tricks! In the end, us not competing is a small price to pay for her good health. She was, is and always will be the best dog in the world to me and was worth waiting all those long dog-free years for.
Ali xx