[Paul]

I have a 3 yr old female Rottie. I have noticed over the past week that she has had some difficulty getting up form a lying down position, limping and some trouble walking up and down stairs?


She shows no sign of pain and has not been injured.


Also I have a 16 month old boy who is up and about alot. When he come up to the Rottie she runs away and sometimes growls at him. What can I do for this problem? When we came home with the little one The rottie was very protective of him and accepted him.

 

[rutylr]

Sounds like the dog is in some degree of pain.Get the dog to the vet before she bites the child.Have her x-rayed and what ever it takes to find out why she is uncomfortable.


Donna

 

[missy30]

I agree with Donna if she is acting differently with your son then she is not herself and we all get grouchy when we're not feeling well or in pain, and just cause she isn't whining or yelping doesn't mean she isn't in any pain.

 

[Paul]

Went to vet today. He has no idea what is wrong. Tomorrow he has to take x-rays of her hips and legs. He is unsure if it is 1 hip dysplasia, torn ACL or just arthritis.


If it is hip dyspasia not sure how it came in a rottie so young. If torn ACL still un clear how it happened We are careful with her and watchwere she romes. in the yard.


Any idea as to what type of treatment is for the dysplasia or torn ACL.

 

[rutylr]

If it's a torn knee then it's sugery.It depends on how bad the HD would be to say how to make the dog comfortable.and arthritis would be handled about the same as is she were a person.


Donna

 

[Paul]

We picked up our dog from the vet today. Unfortunately, the vet was not much help. He couldn't answer any of our questions. It was always "I don't know" or "It's difficult to tell". He did determine that her Rt. hip is pretty much shot due to hip dysplasia. He also said there is something wrong with her left hind knee(keeps popping out of socket) and she has athritis in both her back paws. He wants us to give her Rimadyl once daily (anti-inflam) and glucosimine supplements 4 times a day. Do these really work? Has anyone been in this situation? How long do you give the medication to work? We do not want our dog to suffer but we do not want to put her down prematurely without at least trying the meds. Our vet said we could see a specialist but we do not have the financial resources to cover all the expenses that would entail. Does anyone have an opinion or advice? Our dog is only 2 and a half years old. She is limping and having noticable difficulty getting up and using stairs. We know we have to restict her physical activity and keep her on one floor as oppossed to traveling the stairs. Please help.

 

[rutylr]

I put my old dog on those meds and it helped her.I took her off of them when she turned 10,because I bought her a water bed.The heat and sleeping on the heat really helps.You can get water beds cheep in the paper.set it up like you would normal,but do not use the stand under the bed.Set the frame up on the floor and I had two big quilts on it and she never poped it.


Donna

 

[Janet Mayer]

You say she uses the stairs is this the norm? As I don't allow my Rotts to use stairs. They are a fast growing breed and excessive use of the joints in young dogs causes problems long term.
If you have had her x-rayed the the vet should know if she has a problem with her hips

 

[rutylr]

I have always let my dogs go up and down stairs(as I have lived in an upper apartments) and have never had any problems with hips or joints.I did hear this when I got my first dog 15 years ago,but he lived to be 11 1/2 and did not have a problem.Zelda lived to be 12 and went up and down stairs daily.


Donna

 

[missy30]

My dogs have all used stairs also and I've never had a problem from it.