Post by alfiemummy on Jul 17, 2019 0:01:11 GMT
Hey everyone, we haven't been on here properly in a while! Hope you don't mind me jumping back in and asking for a bit of advice - sorry if it's a bit long!
So Alfie is getting on a bit now, he turned 11 last week! Just after Christmas (boxing day, of all days!) it became apparent that he has some trouble with his right elbow - I'd taken him out to play with the new frisbee he'd gotten for Christmas and after a few throws he suddenly pulled up short with a yelp and was holding his leg out at the most unnatural angle. After a while he gradually returned to using it somewhat normally and was just limping for a few days, we saw the vet the next day and the vet said he most likely had arthritis in his elbow and prescribed Rimadyl (to be given regularly for a week or so, gradually reduced and then just use as and when needed)
Since then I've only had to use the Rimadyl on a fairly infrequent basis if he's done something a bit too much like jumped/ran or landed funny and been slightly limping. We no longer play with toys on walks except fetch in streams or a couple of short throws in the garden, the rest of the time we just play tuggy or find it these days! He still comes to work with me daily and usually does 1.5-2hrs actual walking per day - each walk is split into 30 mins with rests in between for pick ups/drop offs so he seems to manage this quite well.
We've only just run out of the Rimadyl prescribed at Christmas as we've been using it so little, but I'm at a loss on where to go from here - he's obviously still in a bit of discomfort with the leg as he doesn't like it being handled in certain ways, and his gait can be a little bit off now and then although not to the point of actually limping. I'm aware there can be risks to being on medication like this permanently, but I don't want him to be uncomfortable either!
He's currently on Riaflex joint plus & green lipped mussel & occasionally their devil's alternative supplement, alongside salmon oil and golden paste.
As we've now run out of the Rimadyl, I've booked a vet appt for him tomorrow evening to have his elbow checked again, restock on medication and also get a consent form for hydrotherapy signed (not sure what he'll make of that!) as barley recommended that may help him.
Does anyone else here have any advice or tips I could try for him? I know a fair few of you are quite experienced in these sorts of issues
So Alfie is getting on a bit now, he turned 11 last week! Just after Christmas (boxing day, of all days!) it became apparent that he has some trouble with his right elbow - I'd taken him out to play with the new frisbee he'd gotten for Christmas and after a few throws he suddenly pulled up short with a yelp and was holding his leg out at the most unnatural angle. After a while he gradually returned to using it somewhat normally and was just limping for a few days, we saw the vet the next day and the vet said he most likely had arthritis in his elbow and prescribed Rimadyl (to be given regularly for a week or so, gradually reduced and then just use as and when needed)
Since then I've only had to use the Rimadyl on a fairly infrequent basis if he's done something a bit too much like jumped/ran or landed funny and been slightly limping. We no longer play with toys on walks except fetch in streams or a couple of short throws in the garden, the rest of the time we just play tuggy or find it these days! He still comes to work with me daily and usually does 1.5-2hrs actual walking per day - each walk is split into 30 mins with rests in between for pick ups/drop offs so he seems to manage this quite well.
We've only just run out of the Rimadyl prescribed at Christmas as we've been using it so little, but I'm at a loss on where to go from here - he's obviously still in a bit of discomfort with the leg as he doesn't like it being handled in certain ways, and his gait can be a little bit off now and then although not to the point of actually limping. I'm aware there can be risks to being on medication like this permanently, but I don't want him to be uncomfortable either!
He's currently on Riaflex joint plus & green lipped mussel & occasionally their devil's alternative supplement, alongside salmon oil and golden paste.
As we've now run out of the Rimadyl, I've booked a vet appt for him tomorrow evening to have his elbow checked again, restock on medication and also get a consent form for hydrotherapy signed (not sure what he'll make of that!) as barley recommended that may help him.
Does anyone else here have any advice or tips I could try for him? I know a fair few of you are quite experienced in these sorts of issues