Hi Colleystaff

As requested and update from the vet on Sam's reluctance to go for a walk.

1 - He is very overweight - 24 kilo (my partner said he has always been big) - Got to feed him 25% less
2 - His back legs seem really stiff, so he could be in pain. She has given us a pain killer and if this works then she will try giving him a muscel relaxant, in case it is arthritis
3 - If the drugs don't work, she recommends a blood test to see if there is something else happening or even an exray.
4 - He could still be depressed over the death of my dog and the new pup coming in 13 days may help pick him up.

She said that this seems particularly strange as he can still get up the stairs and into the car fine on his own.

I tried taking him to the park yesterday afternoon by the vet, he jumped out the car and then wouldn't budge. I look and feel ridiculous trying to get a dog to go for a walk who doesn't want to go. He was fine this morning when I took him out, running around the woods like a nutter, rolling in the leaves.

Its still a mystery.

Has the vet ruled out HYPO thyroid??   Lack of thyroid hormone can present in this way as it affects all body functions.

Nothing has been ruled out yet.
Pain killers first, then new pup, then if neither of them work, then come the blood tests.
This has been going on for about 4ish weeks now. At first it was funny, but now it has become worrying. I said to the vet, its hard for him to lose weight if he is not going out for his walks and getting some exercise.

Oh Sarah

all I can say is all these things seem able to be sorted which is the main thing. Giorgia is 17kg and the vet wants her to lose some weight as well. It sounds like perhaps if he was lighter he'd feel better, not so stiff and sore. Perhaps its like for us humans that some mornings we feel great and then others we feel awful and dont always want to go anywhere, hence him not wanting to go for a walk.
Giorgia always has a bad day when my Husband goes to work in the day, he spends so much time with her when he's not there she just lies on the floor looking so sad. I'm sure yours must be missing his friend. let us know how he gets on over the next few days

Hi Sarah I really feel for you at the moment Im going through the same problem.  We lost our girl 3 weeks today the other rottie seems depressed and has had a problem with a back leg being lame.  He weighs 47kg and needs to lose atleast 7kg.  He was put on pain killers for 5 days and had to have complete rest. He does seem to make an improvement the vets have told me if it persists his to have X-rays to check for arthritis and hip displasia.  Tomorrow Ive signed him up to go on a weigh in programme at the vets to get the ball rolling.  At the moment I take him out one night on an he has one night off has I don't want to over do it with him has I don't want his leg problem starting again or god forbid him dropping dead of heart attack, Ive lost one dog this month of suspected lukemia and I dont want to lose another.  Also many people seem to give good advice on this forum so I am at the moment trying out herbal medicines from Dorwest Herbs to see If they help.

Sorry to hear about your loss, I know how you feel.
I thought 47kg was ok for a male Rottie but you know best if they need to lose weight. HD is quite common in Rotties though. My breeder also told me that they have a strong pain threshhold and its hard for them to let you know when they are not right.
I just take Sam out in the mornings and he goes in the garden in the evening, I am not going to drag him. Its just it would be easier for him to lose weight if he went out for more than 20 mins a day. After that time, he runs home, he really doesn't want to walk.
Part of me feels it is just him missing his friend, well thats what I am hoping. Lets see if the new girl will bring him out his depression.

hows everything today Sarah

Hi Colleystaff
Went for a walk no problem this morning. Stood by him when he was eating and then gave him a pain killer (has to have it with food). The poor mite looked so hungry last night, but had to give him 25% less and boy did he whine. As a fellow staffie owner, you know whats thats like.
I slept in the spare room last night as I am trying to get this blasted cold out my system, and he cuddled up to me all night. He is fine for his morning walk - just not any other time.

I know its awful but its like when we go on a diet its hard at the beginning and then we get used to it. After a few days he'll be better. How about low fat things like veg to bulk up his food, will he eat that? Perhaps giving him a carrot to chew on might help.
I'm glad he's going on his morning walk, thats good exercise and fresh air for him. They can really cuddle cant they, the nights have been pretty cold here in Wales lately, (days have been sunny) and Giorgia has been under the bedclothes with her head on the pillows every night.
take care Sarah

Roberta & Giorgia

He does like fruit and veg, never thought of that to be included in his diet. Thanks for the idea.
Sam doesn't go under the covers but he does burrow hs head under the pillow. How this breed has a bad reputation amazes me, they are so adorable.

You know how I feel, I'm always talking about Staffs,they are so soft, it still amazes us that she can still be so puppylike. We so hope she doesnt change. I cant take credit for the veg idea that was our vet. She said to give Giorgia carrots to chew on if she was whining cos she was hungry when we reduced her food a little. It took her time to eat and so took her mind off being hungry. Hope it works for you

Gave sam a carott last night and he loved it, but it didn't last long. Have gone and got him some more today.

Hi Sarah. I know when my rottie was put on Zubrin painkiller they told me to rest him for 5 days he wasn't allowed to be walk was only let out in the garden well it seemed to make an improvement he just seems a bit stiff when he gets up when I let him out.  Ive also got back from the vets today as he started the weigh in club Ive been told he has to lose weight (about 10-20lbs).  So now I am trying him on the prescription dog food (Waltham Obesity Management) dont know alot about this food but the nurse said it has been highly successful with quite a number of dogs that she is treating at the moment.  He is to have this twice daily and to stop hunger ( as I don't give him tit-bits) he can have raw/cooked veg like broccoli and he can have fruit so he scoffed an apple down earlier.  I am to walk him 30 minutes a day and build it up to 1 hour, I m also carrying on with the herbal tablets he has about 3 different lots . To top it all the vet called earlier with blood results regarding  my girl who was PTS.  They have more or less drawn a blank on the matter and could go on investigating forever - they basically said it just showed that she had swollen lymph nodes so I don't know if that is related to lukemia.  Apart from that I wasn't given much of a diagnosis and its totally upset me this evening as to whether we did the right thing as I feel I have lost faith in our vets this past month what we went through with the various symptons she had.

I feel for you. I lost my collie X GSD to cancer in March and I only found out what it was by requesting to see a specialist. I only found out what it was the evening before he died and he decided enough was enough. The words PTS could not come out my mouth and he died on his own the following morning.
Don't feel guilty about making the decision you thought was right at the time, if she was in pain, then take comfort that she is no longer suffering.
It is fraustrating when a vet can't tell you whats wrong and you think they should know everything. Unfortunately, they do their best and sometimes its not good enough, as an dog owner, I want mirracles - ain't going to happen :(
Sam was very depressed for a few weeks after Barnies death, but seemed to get better. I wil let you know when I get the pup if it perks him up.
Would you consider getting another dog, maybe not yet, but in the near future?