Oh my heart goes out to you. Yes, I have seen such a gadget used. My neighbor down the road had among his four huge German Shephards, an elderly white one, female, 12 years or older. She developed hip dysplagia and in a last-ditch effort to keep her, they put her into a brace-type platform on which she slid her hind quarters around using her front paws. Looked exhausting to me. But the short of it is, they only used it for several months before realizing they were only doing it for themselves, and had her put down. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be insensitive, but once old age brings on these kind of problems, it brings with it a new reality and tough decisions. Good luck! Sue
ASplint or ? for dysplasia
As some of you all know, Lady, my perfectly gigantic German Shepherd girl, has hip dysplasia. One of the ways we've held it at bay is by trying to give her as much exercise as possible, so that her muscles would compensate for the problems in her hip.
But she has fairly significant muscle wasting in her back legs (which leads me to suspect kidney disease, although her tests are fine but that's another topic anyway ... )
And circumstances keep interfering with her getting good, regular exercise. Her bout with Old Dog Vestibular Disease last summer kept her down for almost three weeks, which was a huge blow. And the ice storms of the last few weeks have been huge for her. So she's having increasing problems, and I'm concerned.
She isn't a candidate for surgery - the vet won't even consider it because she's so old.
She's on aspirin, which she's tolerating well, and neither the vet nor I will consider any other medications, in large part because we're not entirely convinced Rimadyl didn't trigger her vestibular disease.
I don't want to get her a cart or doggie wheelchair - it simply isn't tenable, for a number of reasons.
But ... a couple of weeks ago, it struck be that if I could find some kind of brace or splint or supportive halter for her rear area, her problems wouldn't be solved, but would be significantly lessened.
The question is, has anyone ever heard of such a thing or tried it? I've done some Google searches and haven't found much, and am planning to ask my vet, but haven't yet.
?
It's important to me to do this as quickly as possible. Her hips seem to be deteriorating rapidly, in large part because of muscle wasting (I'm telling you, it's like she has kidney disease) --- but her spirits are better than I've ever seen her. She's very, very happy and content - she was so needy the first couple of years I had her, and it's like she's finally realized she really does have a home. I'd really like for her to enhoy that for as long as possible.
Anyone?
Gah! I can't seem to edit the title. Sorry!
note to add: I finally hit the right combo of search terms and have hit on a plethora of braces - so the question is, has anyone here ever used these, and if so, do they help or hinder, AND which would you recommend?
But she has fairly significant muscle wasting in her back legs (which leads me to suspect kidney disease, although her tests are fine but that's another topic anyway ... )
And circumstances keep interfering with her getting good, regular exercise. Her bout with Old Dog Vestibular Disease last summer kept her down for almost three weeks, which was a huge blow. And the ice storms of the last few weeks have been huge for her. So she's having increasing problems, and I'm concerned.
She isn't a candidate for surgery - the vet won't even consider it because she's so old.
She's on aspirin, which she's tolerating well, and neither the vet nor I will consider any other medications, in large part because we're not entirely convinced Rimadyl didn't trigger her vestibular disease.
I don't want to get her a cart or doggie wheelchair - it simply isn't tenable, for a number of reasons.
But ... a couple of weeks ago, it struck be that if I could find some kind of brace or splint or supportive halter for her rear area, her problems wouldn't be solved, but would be significantly lessened.
The question is, has anyone ever heard of such a thing or tried it? I've done some Google searches and haven't found much, and am planning to ask my vet, but haven't yet.
?
It's important to me to do this as quickly as possible. Her hips seem to be deteriorating rapidly, in large part because of muscle wasting (I'm telling you, it's like she has kidney disease) --- but her spirits are better than I've ever seen her. She's very, very happy and content - she was so needy the first couple of years I had her, and it's like she's finally realized she really does have a home. I'd really like for her to enhoy that for as long as possible.
Anyone?
Gah! I can't seem to edit the title. Sorry!
note to add: I finally hit the right combo of search terms and have hit on a plethora of braces - so the question is, has anyone here ever used these, and if so, do they help or hinder, AND which would you recommend?
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
It's not insensitive at all! The complicating factor here is that Lady is really happy and having a great time, and her health is (apparently) otherwise very good. Were she unhappy or miserable, the choice would be much simpler, to be honest. But she isn't.
I appreciate hearing this, tho - it's just what I need to know. One of my concerns is that she'd be more miserable with it than without, and it sounds like maybe your neighbors had that experience.
I appreciate hearing this, tho - it's just what I need to know. One of my concerns is that she'd be more miserable with it than without, and it sounds like maybe your neighbors had that experience.
Yes! I've been looking at them, and actually just went by my vet's to drop off a note asking about them.
They look pretty good - the question is, is it all flashy advertising or for real?
They look pretty good - the question is, is it all flashy advertising or for real?
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
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