[tirluc]

as most of you (well, i guess all of you, going by my avatar) know i have 4 Border Collies.....my male has always had to be kept "slowed down" b/c of his HD and the bad knee that he tore a ligament in (never healed good)....so w/ him it's not quite so bad.....but lately, my Lacey girl (blue bandana), who's 8 has been slowing down....she has always done everything that a "normal, healthy" dog does (she, too, has HD, and actually worse than the male....just nobody ever told her so).....over the yrs i have kept her active but put mild restraints on her (per vets advice...she is a Border Collie ) such as no jumping for the ball, making her take time out (yeah, Border Collie), such like that.....
i've been letting her "do" agility w/ 8" jumps and the A-frame down real low and such (again at my vets recommendation; them both saying that it would be worse to tell her that she can't instead, which i agree w/).....but if she didn't want to go over jumps and such i didn't make her (it was all just for fun for her, anyway).....

anyway, lately she won't go out as far as the Chuck-it throws the ball and prefers it to be hand thrown instead....it's like she can't see it as well anymore....and she has been having problems w/ the arthritis in her front feet (mostly the left one).....so, i stopped the agility stuff, as well, for a while and the other day, while we were setting up a course (the 2-3 people that have fun w/ me w/ it since this is all i do it for), i look up and here sits Lacey on the "wait table", facing me w/ this look like "See, Mom, i can do it! i really can! please let me do it!!!"....so i go over to her (w/ a lump in my throat) and give her a big hug and kiss and as soon as i let her go she jumps off (it was only a 6" high table) and runs over and does the teeter (she hates the teeter).....so jumps come down to 8" and i let her have a few runs and she does everything almost perfect and what wasn't she was trying soooo hard to do perfect.....

so, how do i tell this girl, w/ a heart bigger then Texas, that she can't do these things anymore......it breaks my heart to see her have so much love for something and really not be able to do it w/out hurting so bad afterward....

damn, frickin', idiotic "breeders" that don't care what they are producing.....they should have to live a few wks (at least) w/ the pain that they cause these dogs by their own stupidity and greed......

[ritabooker]

If you didn't care, it wouldn't hurt. Wish there was an answer for you.
I am sure you have tried the Glycoflex or something like it, to make them more comfortable. You are taking such good care of them, that's where your peace will come from.

[Wimble Woof]

Originally Posted by tirluc

damn, frickin', idiotic "breeders" that don't care what they are producing.....they should have to live a few wks (at least) w/ the pain that they cause these dogs by their own stupidity and greed......

I too wish that exact thing. It is so sad to see so much will in a dog but physically they can no longer do the things they love.

Im sorry to hear about this, {{{hugs}}}

[briteday]

You might ask your vet about glucosamine and chondroiten doses for your dogs. It gave some life back to the old joints of our aussie shep. It really helped for another few years. but ask your vet for the dosage. The amount they put in food is not enough and the commercial products rarely have the correct info on the bottle.

[tirluc]

Originally Posted by briteday

You might ask your vet about glucosamine and chondroiten doses for your dogs. It gave some life back to the old joints of our aussie shep. It really helped for another few years. but ask your vet for the dosage. The amount they put in food is not enough and the commercial products rarely have the correct info on the bottle.

she's been on that for a while.....that's probably what has kept her going this long.....but, even tho she still insists, i think she's starting to accept her limits.....but her goose work will be very monitored....field work only for her now, no rocky pond beaches, no more hard runs, etc....

[SunSiberians]

Oh that is difficult. But you have to do what is best for her, no matter what.
It also makes me angry that some breeders don't care about these genetic problems. My aunt's BC also has HD, it must be particularly common in that breed. He's still hiking and being active. He's very stiff in the mornings - but exercise helps him stay young and healthy. He just doesn't have the stamina to go all day anymore.

[Orange County Ca]

Lets say I have a life threatening disease.
I can spend 1 year in paid chasing 18 yo maidens.
Or 2 years not.
I don't want you making the decision.
Have you noticed you don't feel the pain when really having fun?