Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Mumsnet favourites

Best Amazon Prime Day deals:
Mumsnet favourites

Shop now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Dog with arthritis

35 replies

procrastinationstations · 24/02/2022 17:31

Just taken ddog, 10 for boosters and vet thinks she has back pain, probably arthritis Sad. Trialling painkillers.

Is there anything else I can do to help her?? Or to avoid? I give her YuMove and vet said to carry on with it as it will help.

My poor little doggy.

OP posts:
LoveFall · 01/03/2022 16:44

Our older dog also loves a massage. I was trained a long time ago as a physio when massage was still taught in depth. I also adapt it for a dog's anatomy. He just blisses out. He especially likes me massaging the muscles around his hip area.

littlegingerone · 01/03/2022 16:53

@WhiteXmas21

My 11 year old recently diagnosed. Is on Librela monthly at £50 (Lab) . We also do physio , massage and hydrotherapy. He has been on Yumove for a few years. He’s very lively and still manages 2 decent walks per day and is not overweight. He has a car ramp and lots of mats on the wood floors. We try to avoid jumping down but he still climbs the stairs . I try to ensure he’s careful co,ing back down 🙄
Could I ask if yours has been ok with the car ramp straight away or have you had to get him used to it? Ours is a lab too, he's very nervous on the ramp and despite the non slip surface seems to skitter a bit on it so I ended up feeling it maybe wasn't any better for his legs. I've been picking him up but I struggle sometimes as I'm only 5'1 so it would be ideal to get him using it!
WhiteXmas21 · 02/03/2022 16:45

@liitlegingerone
It was not instant. I had to train him using treats ( what else with a lab?🤷🏻‍♀️)
I actually set it up on the back step initially so it was very low, then moved it round the garden - from the higher deck etc .
He is fine now, but it took a few goes.

snygghygge · 02/03/2022 16:57

My dog turns 16 in a fortnight. For the past year she's been getting weekly laser treatments, monthly Librela-injections, and a course of Carthrophen treatments twice a year. It is quite costly but my old girl's quality of life has improved tremendously. Most people we meet mistake her for a puppy now!

Darklane · 02/03/2022 20:17

@LoveFall

Our older dog also loves a massage. I was trained a long time ago as a physio when massage was still taught in depth. I also adapt it for a dog's anatomy. He just blisses out. He especially likes me massaging the muscles around his hip area.
This sounds really interesting. Have you any advice as to how, not being a trained physiotherapist, could do a little bit at least to help?
LoveFall · 02/03/2022 21:06

My dog lies on his back supported on either side with my legs in a "V" so he is stable. He is little so he fits. His head is furthest away from me.

He will often jump up on my chair, which is a recliner and will turn over himself and look at me as if to say, "Well, get on with it."

I start with just a gentle tummy rub for a bit. I use both hands, one on each side and using my fingers do gentle circle in opposite directions so one hand circles one way and the other hand the opposite. This stops the pulling of skin as you go.

He starts to really relax. I will rub his chest and neck as well.

I then move to some effleurage, which is just a gentle stroking movement in the direction of lymph drainage, maintaining contact all the time, so one hand over the other or side by side.

This works well on his hind legs. I move my hands upwards. He usually straightens them at the point as he really likes it.

There are large muscle groups on either side of the hips. The one on the outside are largest. I gently knead them, feeling for any knots or spasm. He absolutely loves this. Has to be very gentle. Sort of like kneading bread only a fraction of the pressure.

The muscles on the inside are close to his doggy private parts, so I am very careful to avoid them when doing the same with the smaller muscles on the inside of his hind legs.

I use effleurage on his hind legs also. I very, very gently massage his rear paws, moving his toes independently just slightly. He likes that but not if it is too aggressive.

He usually stretches and turns a bit to his side which allows me to do a bit of kneading along his spine. You can do both side at the same time if he is on his tummy, but on his back he gets one side at a time or I slip my hands under him and gently knead. Feel for tight muscles and very gently use a couple of fingers across the direction of the muscle fibers, which in the spine is usually horizontal to the long a is of his body.

I do the same with the front legs as the rear. The muscles are smaller and most of the main muscles for walking etc are on the dog's back, as our shoulder muscles are. I gently rub and massage his front paws. He does not enjoy that as much as his rear. I am not sure why but he did nave a pad infection a few months ago.

i finish off with more soothing tummy rub.

It is actually funny how blissed out he looks during it. DH thinks I am stark raving mad!

I hope that give you some ideas. It is hard to describe. You can find demonstrations of effleurage and kneading etc. on the internet. You can tailor what you do to your own dog.

The photo shows how he lies on my lap. He know that around 6 pm when I watch a bit of TV while dinner cooks is a good time to catch me and get a massage!

Dog with arthritis
littlegingerone · 03/03/2022 09:59

[quote WhiteXmas21]@liitlegingerone
It was not instant. I had to train him using treats ( what else with a lab?🤷🏻‍♀️)
I actually set it up on the back step initially so it was very low, then moved it round the garden - from the higher deck etc .
He is fine now, but it took a few goes.[/quote]
That's a great idea using it on the steps and building up! I'm going to work on that this weekend. I looked at steps instead of a ramp but to hold him they'd have to be massive and we don't have room to store them.

Darklane · 03/03/2022 15:16

Thank you so much LoveFall
That really clear, he looks so chilled out!
I’m going to try to follow that with my little old girl. Her main problem is in her shoulders & the top of her spine but her back legs do cause her to tumble as well. She’s got so that when she tumbles over she just does the complete roll over to give her momentum to get back up.
She’s only tiny, a little Yorkie, so will easily lie on my knee.
Thank you again.

WhiteXmas21 · 04/03/2022 11:12

@Spanielsarepainless

Jointsure has the same ingredients as Yumove and with the three for two offer on Amazon it works out about half the price.
@Spanielsarepainless

Thanks for this tip. I have 2 labs - you have saved me a fortune !

muddyford · 04/03/2022 12:36

Not sure how to quote but glad I have saved you a fortune. I saved me a fortune with my Labrador!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page