Old dog… back legs going 🤦‍♀️

[MyFairLady22]

Golden retriever aged 10 yrs 8 months. Full happy life. Long walks, swims, hills chasing balls (and squirrels! Recently, weak in the hind legs. She’s a big boned girl (most people mistake her for a “he”).

Shes struggling to get in to the boot so I lift her by placing her front lets on the bumper then hoiking her back end in. I cannot lift her out. She’s getting nervous to attempt jumping out because her rear goes and she’s spread eagled on the drive 🤦‍♀️

She can’t get on the bed. Her legs “go” just walking about, even in the house. The vet has said they can do tests such as scan, MRI etc but honestly, the results may mean it’d not be appropriate to “act” anyway, at her age.

But… it’s causing me huge stress and sadness watching her struggle. And although she doesn’t appear to be “in pain” she’s struggling.

Any advice?

She has salmon oil on her food, cod liver oil, YuMove extra, hemp joint chews, paracetamol 500mg tds.

I think this the case too. Maybe not every time but often. They stop using their back legs so much by shifting their weight forward which leads to weaker back legs but it's caused by back pain.
Mine has a heat wrap for her back - I use it every day - and I massage her and sometimes use a hot water bottle, although only if we're sitting on the couch together. It's definitely helped. Do simple physio exercises (we see a physio) with her too to try to help strengthen her rear legs.

She’s not neurodivergent - she’s a dog! And your trainer is incompetent to the point of negligent.

I’m going to be really honest. It sounds like your dog has had issues with her legs/back all her life which will probably be why she doesn’t like pavement walks - they are far more taxing on joints than grass walks - which combined with her weight, has now left her struggling.

Ultimately, and I am so sorry, unless you can get the weight down (and we’re probably talking 5+KG at least as although she’s beautiful, she is obese) to a manageable level and are able to front up costs for what is probably going to be incredibly expensive medication and scans, she needs to be put to sleep. There’s no easy way to say that. And like I said, I am sorry.

I’m going to be really honest. It sounds like your dog has had issues with her legs/back all her life which will probably be why she doesn’t like pavement walks - they are far more taxing on joints than grass walks - which combined with her weight, has now left her struggling.

I was thinking the same thing.

Thanks.

OTC cortisone?

Have got another appointment with the vet on Tuesday. Today, she’s been on the back seat of the car. Now, sh s lying on her heated throw on the floor, at my feet. Yes, she needs to lose weight.

She always had big paws!

Over the counter in EU, don't know about the UK. We didn't just do it by ourselves - the vet provided it and then we continued OTC.

She is absolutely adorable! And those paws😍

@bluestripeymug thank you- my Lab had that at one point. It’s quite strong I believe need a prescription here, but it was very good.

She always had big paws!

I do need to get some weight off her.
She’s used the back seat today; less of a jump in and out.

Dinner was Sunday roast veg and chicken juices.

Have you thought about trying cbd oil? Had good results for our old fella with spondylitis + arthritis.along with laser treatment . He had a bad reaction to librelia. My other dog is thriving on them both.

My 10 year old bernese mountain dog has a degenerative condition - it's genetic - which means he has completely lost the use of his back legs. But we have a dog wheelchair for him. It means he can still go for walks - we were out for about 40 minutes today. In the house we use a special harness called a Help Em Up harness, which has a handle at their back legs which you can use to basically lift their back legs.

We take him in the car to soft woodland.

He has had the wheels since September.

He also wears tiger toe socks.

She is a beauty. I would also recommend trying Librela. My elderly lab was struggling with his mobility and the vet said he could do an x-ray for £900 and then possibly try Librela. I was reluctant to let him have the x-ray at his age because I was worried about the anaesthetic so we agreed to try Librela. He currently has it every 5 weeks and its done wonders for him so it may be worth a try. I hope you can find something to help your gorgeous girl

Some feedback:- We have seen the Vet.

She has prescribed some Meloxidil 1.5mg for two weeks. She will review then and ? the Librela. She has advised paracetamol 500mg 3 times daily and a diet!!!

We shall see ☺️

Oh and also, continue with the YuMove Max Strength.