My Golden Retriever, Bree, will be 14yr next month. In the last few days she has become very wobbly on her legs, she has difficulty getting up, and tonight she fell over :(
I find it so upsetting, she has been having liquid Glucosamine and cod liver oil added to her evening feed, but this doesn't seem to be working anymore. She's still a happy girl, and I'm taking her to the Vets to see what they can do to make my old girl more comfortable.

Do any of you Champdoggers have any suggestions about anything else I can do to help her?

liberty

Its a long shot but she could benefit from hydrotherapy. Water can be very theraputic for a dog and it gives the limbs chance to relax. Those magnetic collars can be good too, they're mainly for arthritis but they could do her some good.

Unfortunately her age is against her. When our BT reached 13.5 yrs she had similar problems coupled with incontinence. She would poo and wee in her sleep and when she woke up, on the odd occasion, the look of horror on her face was so upsetting. My mum couldn't bear to part with her and i had to force her to have old Bess Dog PTS.

I hope you find a solution to her problem, in the mean time try to keep her warm (nothing worse than the cold to make limb problems worse) maby buy her a coat???

Good luck, give the old girl a love from me :-)
Carrie xxx

Thanks so much Carrie, I've just changed my vets, and she's not been there yet, but they have a hydrotherapy pool. Shes's such a happy dog in herself, it breaks my heart to see her struggling. We have laminate flooring, which doesn't help, but we also have a large rug, and her do bed is on that, but she seems to love lying on the laminate, which doesn't help her traction!!!

Bree gives you a love back ;)

Thanks again for your reply Carrie, and I'm so sorry to hear about your old Bess.

liberty

I sincerely hope you manage to improove her quality of life!
If the vet doesn't seem to think Hydrotherapy would work i'd try to get her in anyway, they really enjoy it and it would give her the opportunity to excercise the way she used to without straining her old legs!
Take care, i'll keep an eye on this thread for any developments!!!
Carrie xxx

Hi

Can't offer any advice but would just like to say I will be thinking of you tomorrow at the vets. Nothing worse than when your dog gets older, it happens so fast as well.

Give her a hug from me. Karen

Hi Liberty, sorry but I don`t have a cure for old age but I really wish I did tho. How about some massaging or chiropody/physiotherapy? I know theres a quite a few doing it with their dogs in UK with good results. Maybe some heat pads/ice packs under her back legs depending what vet says or homeopathic remedys.
Hope things go well at the vets :)

Christine, Spain.

try giving meat fresh meat it worked for my brothers lab he was 15 oct 2nd

Hi liberty, why don't you try a bioflow magnetic collar. It's worth a try they seem to work and you get your money back if it doesn't.

Good luck

Clair

Thank you all, for your kind words and suggestions. I can't get an appointment at the vets until Friday, mainly because hubby needs to come too, so he can lift her in and out of the car.
I'll post here again then and let you know what the vet has suggested.

liberty and Bree

Know how you feel my old girl will be 14 in March God willing! Her back end isn't what it was she's deaf and not as spry as she was so everyday is a bonus. Hope the vet can come up with something to help Bree
Anne

Hi Liberty

It is a very sad thing to see when our oldies start to go down hill. You really feel very helpless that you can't make them like they were when they were puppies.

I have heard that massage can help and was shown by a friend who had been taught some techniques.

I used to take my old girl Mars out for her daily totter! I used to let her go where ever she wanted rather than where I wanted her to go and that way I didn't over strain her but making her do too much but she still enjoyed it as she got out and was able to have lots of sniffs and watch the other crew running around. She sometimes on the good days ran after a ball!

You can just make sure she has a very big supportive comfortable bed. Is she laying on the laminate because she is getting too hot ? Just a thought as if she is then place her bed in a cooler place out of drafts and you may find she prefers to lay on her bed. We used to have Mar's bed next to the radiator as she did the same thing !

Mars made it to 14 3/4 so had a very good life really !

Her pup Min is now 13 and is still game for a run out with our two youngsters but I can see the slow down coming on gradually:(

Do hope you can help Bree feel a bit more comfortable :)

Lucy

Thanks Ann and Lucy. It never ceases to surprise me just how helpful and kind the people here on Champdogs are :)

Just to add, Bree seems a bit more sprightly today, but she's mistaken if she thinks that'll get her out of a visit to the vets ;)

liberty

Hi Storm, I've just re-read all the posts, I'm seriously considering trying the magnetic collar, (basicaly I'll try anything if it makes Brees' life more comfortable), can you tell me where I may find one.

liberty

Hi liberty
I've just sent my dog's magnetic collar back for a refund!!...it didn't make any difference to Cherry, who's 13 and a half. She can't take any anti-inflammitories, as she has leukaemia, but I have taken her to a homeopathic vet, who is treating her with laser acupuncture and remedies.

She has stopped wobbling!! She has resumed jumping over the foot-high wall up to the garden, and jumping on the furniture again. She only had 2 acupuncture treatments, but she is walking really well now. Cherry was very stiff after sleeping, and vet prescribed Rhus Tox 30cc.

Good luck, hope you can make Bree feel better
Sami

Hi Liberty, sorry for the delay in getting back. http://www.magnetstore.co.uk/ or the telephone number is 0161 7636931. I recon its worth a try they certainly worked with my dogs.

Liberty

I havent got any advice but I do hope everything is okay for you, and that one of the ideas helps you. Will be thinking of you Friday.

Gina x

Thank you all for your kind words. It's much appreciated :)

liberty

Shaws make a product called Paw Wax which helps the traction - simply rub a little on each paw - it says on the back of the tin 'Provides grip on smooth or slippery surfaces. Helps protect a dogs paws all year round. Helps prevent damage from gravel, asphalt, ice, snow, roads treated with salt and all hard surfaces' if nothing else it might make her last few days/weeks a little more comfortable......

Thinking of you.

Thanks Digger I appreciate your input.

liberty

Just a quick up-date on Bree, she has been worse than ever today, she fell over several times, I was in tears as I tried to help her back on her feet. She's not even eating her dog treats now:( :(
She still seems to be quite happy in herself, tail wagging etc. Please keep your fingers crossed that the vet can do something for my old girl.

liberty :(

hi liberty, my fingers and toes are crossed for her :) thinking of you xx

Oh Liberty, I feel for you. :( I love the old ones, and it breaks my heart to lose them. They are so valiant, Trust your heart and your vet. Fingers crossed for you and Bree.

Hi Libertyu - I think that we are going down the same road as you :( !

Our old lady Purdey, is now 13 and a half years, has had a good summer but her back legs are going on her - and even with the non-slip vet bed down on the tiles, her back legs are sliding out from under her. She hasn't wanted to go out at all in the evenings this week - sound like Baghdad out there at the moment, and labrador she may be, but as she has got older, she hates loud noises more and more.

Now this morning, I have discovered that she has a haematoma on her left ear - I've phoned & spoken to the vet, and she won't be down there until tomorrow - Nick will take her - but I'm worried - I know that the general method of treating a haematoma is to slice into the ear & relieve the swelling, but its generally done under a general anaesthetic - and I really don't like the idea of her having one at her age - I have to confess that I really don't want her to go to see the vet - I'm afraid that she won't come home.

So - good luck for Friday for Bree, Liberty & and keep your fingers crossed for Purdey.

Margot

Hi Margot,
If it helps, my Mother's golden had an aural haematoma recently, and the vet drained it by syringe without the need for anaesthetic - hopefully your vet can do the same for Purdey.
:)

Thank you all for your kind words and support.
Margot I've got everthing crossed for Purdey, let me know how you get on.

liberty

I was going to say the same a JG my aunt's lab aged 14 had her aural haematoma drain with a syringe too no anaesthstic. Good luck to you both at the vets.

My fingers are crossed Karen

Oh thanks for that - I have no choice but to go to work today, and I was feeling so reluctant to let Purdey go to the vets without me..... - I'll let you know how she gets on.

Hi Liberty & L/Mum, very difficult time you`re having. Hope things turn out ok at the vets :)

Christine, Spain.

Liberty.
I would gladly be smoothered in Bree's white hairs all day long if it meant she was going to be ok, good luck at the vets, I hope she gets better.
Dawn.

Just heard from the vet's - they did blood tests on Purdey, her heart, lungs etc are strong, so they have given her a GA, and she has had the haematomo removed. They said that although it can be done locally by srynging it out, it will often reoccur that way - so she has had her ears washed out as well. Douglas said she was very good when they took the bloods - even licked him (bless!)

Nick will pick her up at 4.p.m., so our "Purdey Pups" will be back home where she belongs!

Margot

Good news! I'm so glad!
:)

Brilliant!! :-D
Anne

That is good news. Loads of hugs and cuddles tonight I imagine :)

Sandra

She will be having LOADS of cuddles - and I think, she'll have a whole Asda hot chicken for her tea (after all, she missed her breakfast:D)

I'll just have to make sure that whoever is in with her this evening does not want to wash her face!!!

Omg - just realised that she will have a MEGA busta collar on!!!!

Margot

Good luck today with Bree - I'm thinking of you both!

Margot

Thanks Margot :)
Our appointment is 4.10pm, I'll post here with the results!

liberty and Bree

Yes will be keeping my fingers crossed here !

Lucy
xx

We've just got back from the vets with Bree, the Vet says she has had a stroke :(
Her legs and hips are fine, it's purely neurological. He has given her an injection of cortisone (sp), and we have 2 lots of tablets to give her. Any improvement should be noticeable in 7 days, if not then it means the tablets haven't worked; if this is the case then we can be referred to a specialist centre for a scan.

It's going to be a long 7 days :(

liberty

Liberty - we'll all have fingers & toes crossed for you.

Enjoy her now - worry later.

Margotxx

Hope all will be well, Liberty.

Did the Vet prescribe "Vivitonin"? thats what my Jack Russell had, worked a treat, it increases the bloodflow to the brain.
Dawn.

No Dawn, he's given her Prednidale, and Fitergol. One is to make the blood thinner, which he hopes will increase the blood flow to the Cerebelum area of the brain, and the other..... it was all a bit of a blur really :(

liberty

Liberty! I'm so sorry, I only just noticed this thread!
I have everything crossed for you. Hopefully with her medication she will soon turn the corner.

Thinking of you, John

One day at a time Liberty, Una sends Bree mouse kisses
Anne

I will be thinking of you with my fingers crossed! I hope the medication does the trick :-)

Liberty

Will be keeping fingers crossed again that the medication will help.

Bless her.

Lots of cuddles to Bree

Lucy
xx

Bree says thank you for all your kisses, cuddles and best wishes ;)
She's sleeping in her bed at the moment, having enjoyed her dinner and got out into the garden un-aided :)

liberty and Bree xxxx

Thinking of you lots Liberty and Bree, hope medication helps your girl to be more comfortable...hug's xxx
Sarah

Brilliant news you have made my day.

Karen

OOooooh I do hope things in prove for you two, sending good wishes your way :)