Hello I have a bitch that I show that is stunning. Well
we love her:)
Her only fault is one weak pastern. She is 21 months.
What can I do to help improve her pastern.
Nutkin

give her camphor tea to drink . Bought in health shop
she may not like it so take away her water so that she has to drink it when thirsty, It really works over a period of a few weeks
Mari

Hi Nutkin, may be a bit late, but a very experienced breeder/judge once told me to walk a dog fairly quickly up and slowly down a steep but smallish hill every day to help this problem. I did - and it did help.

If you follow Sharon's advice, note the SLOW down the hill. The reason for this is that too much down hill work throws the weight onto the shoulders and can build up the muscles in the shoulders which could damage the appearance of the front end.

John

road walk is the best tighten up the feet and muscles.

Also try Vitamin C (1000 mg) once a day.

Jo and the Cabblaidd Flatcoats

Very good point John - thanks. The same breeder/judge (of the 'old school') advised the 'hill treatment' in reverse for poor hocks/hind angulation, and again I believe it does help, but the first dog I used it on ended up with somewhat overloaded shoulders. Its still a method I use for weak pasterns/hocks but now with a lot more caution.

Some years ago Sharon, a friend asked me what I thought was wrong with her bitch's front end. "She gets plenty of exercise, I run her up and down a disused railway embankment every day!"

Regards, John

:D. We live and learn John ;-)

My friend cycles and the dog runs alongside the bike on the road :)

Mari I had never heard of camphor tea but I shall give it a go.
Also the vit c as someone else suggested.
My problem is that she has always run on grass and had not
much road work. I think if I give her 15 mins a day road work
it must help.
In all honesty is it to late???
Her one leg is tighter than the other.
I entered her in a show Sunday. The judge said she loved the
dog her top line was great the only thing was she has one
weak pastern.
So I want to do anything I can to help her now.
Nutkin

Bulmastiff are always falling down on the pasterns at around 5 months .
I have always given the camphor tea .
I am not sure now about your dogs age if it will help that much , but worth a try
However , This is what I would do if it was my dog I would find one of those bonesetters , some people call them quacks
I feel he /she will sort it . In the meantime do physio on the weak pastern your self
get a rub and massage first then gently bend the foot backwards forwards, up ,down, back under ,and forward to front at least once each day giving it about ten mins.
Remember . just gentle physio.
I have a magnetic therapy crate , all injured dogs belonging to my friends go in to it and I leave them in it for hours
Grey hound men usually have those do you know any?
I got it when one of my bullmastiff did a slide while running across the garden in the rain and went through the trees badly damaging the front leg .
It was better in no time and pain free . but it is used for all other ailments from weakness to injury and arthritis.
Just try everything and use a process of elimination
Mari

That sounds like a good idea finding someone that could help.
But how do I do that?? I have no idea where to start looking.
Nutkin

Sharon I just read your post again. Do you mean that you walk your dog backwards up a hill?
I just found a 15 minute circuit with a small hill on road. I have started her on this.
Also other helpful tips have been taken on board and I am willing to try.
So many thanks to everyone.
Nutkin

Hi Nutkin, no - just walk at a normal brisk pace up the hill, and then - as John so rightly says - SLOWLY down.

But I've just re-read your first post and seen that your dog is only weak on one pastern - this was advised to me for a dog that was equally weak in both, so I don't know how appropriate it is for you. Marie advice is probably better. Ask your vet, or as Mari says find the nearest greyhound track, to inquire about the crate. Best of luck anyway :-)

Rachel I am just picturing Sharon and a wolfhound going backwards down a hill .
roflol :D :D or the lead on his bum trying to go in the other direction . lol

It is quite a funny thought I agree. I read it and thought how on
earth does she get her dog to go backwards. LOL.
All good fun hey!
Nutkin