[youOme]

I have a 7 year old male German Shepard that stays at my Mom's house. He's a beautiful full black full bred and has the greatest personality ever. He was actually the runt of the litter and his ears don't stand up...still though is gorgeous. He's suffered all his life with allergies and ear infections but healthy besides those facts. Well recently, since winter began, he's been laying down and not able to get up afterwards. He's in excruciating pain, I know, because he's nipped at both my step father and I when we try to help him up...those is very out of behavior for him. He's 7 years old and is moving like a much older dog. He's slowed down in movement and seems to lay around. I'm assuming it's arthritis but my Mom thinks it might be hip dyspepsia. She's considering putting him down but I'm not ready to give up yet...he's my baby.

I've talked her into putting him inside out of the cold...and she has. But she says he has not improved much since. Wondering if anybody has any suggestions???

[MyBestKids2]

We had a totally white german shephard when I was an adolescent (mean as the dickens). It seems I remember "Max" had the same issue. Yes, the veternarian did advise hip dysplasia (sp?) is quite common among the breed. Max started the symptoms at the age of 9, kind of hunkering down his hindquarters. Eventually, my Daddy had to carry his rear end just so he could go outside to the bathroom. The pain was just unbearable for Max and my parents, and they euthanized him.

Of couse, this was over 20 years ago, and I imagine the doctors are much more capable of managing pain and symptoms now.

[sabby]

So sorry to hear about your pup being in such pain.

Most large breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis. I would say that the best thing to do would be to bring him to the vet for xrays and find out for sure if what he is suffering from can be treated relatively easily with meds or if it's to the point he should not have to suffer anymore.

Wishing you and the pup well.


sabby

[Perna]

They live 12-15 years?

http://www.lebenshunger.com/questions.htm

http://www.breederretriever.com/dog-...epherd-dog.php

I'd take him to the vet and see what's going on. There's pain meds that can help.

[bebop]

I agree he should still have some good yrs left. take him to the vet. there should be something they can give him to help ease his pain.

[nothemama8]

we have a 7 yr old sheltie, she has hip problems too, please take your dog to a trusted vet , have him checked there a meds out there even sprays, your dog has a lot of years left

[(JD)]

There are meds that can help, for sure! Yes, that's old for a big dog, but they can continue to live an easy life, with joint or pain medicines. Remember, even if you take him to the vet and the vet suggests putting him down, you can still take your dog home and think about it... but I doubt, unless you pay for xrays and find terrible stuff, that any vet would suggest that before trying meds!

Some meds that help with pain, cause them to not have as good control over urine or bowels... so try him on the lowest dose first!

[Zorah]

there is surgery for hip dysplasia too, but x-rays first.

if it is mild it may be treatable with cortizone.

you may still have some years with your dog, mine was actually born without hips (this was not discovered until she was x-rayed) & she lived 16 years on cortizone, it helps with the allergies too.

Hope it's not as bad as you fear

[wickedwings]

(((((((((((you0me))))))))))))

[I_WMD]

You ,,, I have had many large dogs and as they got up there in age I would give them an anti-inflammatory....Alleve is good 1/2 dose every few days .

It allows them tyo move better and stretch the muscles some in a normal fashion ,,,,,,,Then they go back to slow down and you give another 1/2 dose.

Switch off to ibuprophine from time to time so as not to build up tolerance.

[salukigirl]

i agree. our dog is a little over 7 and last week she quit moving. he wouldnt stand up, and could barely walk. i was so terrified i rushed her to the vet and it turns out she has arthritis. so she is on anti inflammatory meds now and is feeling much better.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG HUMAN PAIN RELIEVERS!

absolutely positively never ever ever give dogs any meds that are for humans. our systems are so totally different that even something like baby asprin can have your dog vomiting. Ibuprofin is even worse for pets. absolutely no acetomenophin or ibuprofin!! go to the vet and get some anti-inflammatory.

I know some people think its okay and if you have done it and no reactions have occured then consider yourself lucky. their systems are too different from ours to give them people medicine.

so sorry if i flipped out but working at a humane society and observing at vets offices have shown me something and that is to never give your dog something that a vet has not told you to give them. they are much more sensitive to certain things and if you think of how asprin can effect you... think of what it can do to your dog?

[I_WMD]

Darn then I best corrcect the vet that gave me doggie downers when I moved from Florida to North Carolina mmmmmmmm Oh yea ,, They were actually diazapan= valium ,,, My Bad ,

Oh and when your old dog has the runny poops ... Give them a tablespoon or 2 of pumkin pie mix .

[Zorah]

diazepam is often prescribed for dogs & cats for a variety of reasons, so don't go trying to correct that vet (((((wmd)))))

it does not harm them.

[youOme]

thanks everybody. My Mom and I made an agreement that if she takes him to the vet and gets meds like they had briefly discussed over the phone, I would help her pay. She's also brought him in for good because he was attacked by the female German Shepard while he was down and he was unable to protect himself. Normally he's a brute of a dog and dominating, I think the other big dogs are sensing his weaknesses.

[Zorah]

he needs to be inside

[salukigirl]

i said never give anything to your dog without vets permissions or at least knowledge of it. people dont know how much aspirin to give their dogs so when you tell them its okay they have no clue (usually) to cut it down.

[silver_queen]

It might be hip problems, I can't remember what it's called, but it's very common (inherited?) in German Shepherds. My aunt's dog lived to 11 and she said that he had some slight problems with his hips, but it wasn't noticeable - to me anyway. If he's in 'excruciating pain', as you say, wouldn't it be a lot kinder to take him straight down to the vet and see what they say?

[salukigirl]

the arthritis medicine that our dog is on is called Previcox. It has made her feel much better.

silver - i think what youre thinking of is called hip ddysplasia. it is pretty common in certain breeds once they get older. it could require surgery if meds dont help. x-rays and surgery can get pretty expensive. and if you decide that the procedures are too expensive but you dont want to put him down, an animal shelter will probably just euthanize him. once everything is over it could be running several hundred dollars. if thats too expenive then the best thing would be euthanization. you can keep him on meds but if he cant even move then thats a pretty crappy way to live. y'know? the vet will be able to tell you whats best though.

[youOme]

we're taking him to the vet as soon as possible.
Mom's been making it difficult to get him out there but I figured I'd do it myself.
So far Mom's been giving him low doses of Tylenol. She's been giving him it since this spring when his ears were badly infected. Mom used to be very sympathetic to animals pain but has seem to lost the compassion in the last year or two. Now her solution is to just let them die or if their suffering then have them put down hillbilly style. I'm strongly against this and knows not to do this to my animals....but still, shouldn't even be considered either way.

[silver_queen]

Salukigirl mentioned that no human painkillers should be given to animals, yet you say your mother has been giving him Tylenol, which is paracetamol, acetaminophen - or at least it contains some paracetamol, i don't know, it isn't sold here. Does the vet know he's having this? Because it could be damaging him internally even if it isn't obvious.

[youOme]

When I made the appointment and mentioned that she had been giving him Tylenol, acetaminophen, he said to have her stop not necessarily because it's dangerous but because it's ineffective. Which makes sense.

[salukigirl]

the biggest problem with acetominophen is that people give their dogs the same amount they would take. very small dosages are okay but its never okay to give your pet something before consulting a vet. it depends on the weigh and overall health of your dog. a vet is going to be able to determine whether x amount is enough or if you should give more or less. thats why i hate it when people just give their dogs stuff like tylenol because we didnt go to school for it. we just assume that since its okay for us, its okay for them and people can give their pets enough to cause things like liver failure. if you go to the vet and they say its okay to give your dog however much tylenol then do it. but dont do anything before talking to a vet. the same thing gores for pig ears. people give their dogs pig ears all the time even though they can become lodged in the intestine and make your dog vomit or maybe have to have surgery.

[pebblypoo]

STOP the TYLENOL!!! I hope you have and I hope you get to the vet asap!!!! There is no reason in this day and age for dogs to suffer from arthritis pain. Tylenol(Acetominophen) and Motrin (Ibuprofen) are VERY DANGEROUS for animals because they cannot clear it as humans do. It can cause them to go into liver failure and DIE. Also, Tylenol is NOT an anti-inflammatory, so it is USELESS for arthritis pain. Sorry for all the caps, but I can't stand to see or hear about animals in pain.

Please tell your mom and everyone you know what I and otherposters here have said about these 2 human pain meds for dogs.

Now, onto GREAT news!!! My dog was taking aspirin (be sure to get the correct dosage by weight from a vet) and Glucosamine (from the vet) and it helped for about a year. I have a 95lb shepherd/lab mix. Then we switched him to one of the anti-inflammatory meds SPECIFICALLY for dogs, and he's doing great! He still pushes mostly with his front/shoulder muscles to get up and if anyone pats him hard or pushes on his hip area he sits immediately from a little pain or weakness I guess, but other than that he is happy!!!

Exercise is GREAT for arthritis, so if he can be walked (after you see improvement from the meds!) once or twice a day that will help keep his joints from stiffening too.

My dog takes PREVICOX. It is once a day, and he still takes glucosamine. The Previcox runs about $80.00 a month from the vet, but I found a great website that has it for $48.50 a month (30 tabs) and if you order 2 months worth at a time its a little cheaper. It IS the EXACT same box, writing and tabs (no generic or rip off here!) and the expiration dates on the boxes have all been fine. The website is VALUEVET.COM. Have your vet write a precription and they can fax it to Vauevet or you can mail it in after you place the order online. I called before I ordered with a few questions and the lady was extremely nice! Apparently it is a small family run company like the site says! I know it can add up, nearly $50 a month, but skrimp on something for yourself if you have to, because seeing your dog out of pain will be WORTH every penny!!! It sound like one of the anti-inflammatory meds is what your dog needs: it sounds like aspirin won't be enough at this point.

Please let us know how it goes! And get that puppy out of pain!

P.S. 7 is about middle aged for a large dog like a shepherd, but my Joey is 12 and still very happy!

[youOme]

Thanks a lot pebbly, I'll definitely show my mom this. It would make me happier to see my Belo (Beloved) happier. He was there for me as a gift when I came home from a a year long "therapeutic break" when I was a teenager, so he holds a lot of fond memories with me. Our bond is special. It hurts me to see him aging and weakening because before he was a energy filled pup always ready to catch the ball and chase bees.

I have wondered though if his weight has caused more discomfort. My mother is very country and feeds all her dogs a mixture of regular dog food and scraps from her job and home. So he's actually quite heavy and probably a little over weight. Last time he was weighed, about a year ago, he was 138 lbs. He's a very large dog and possibly heavier now. I wonder if this extra weight is literally weighting his bones and joints down??

[Zorah]

When are you taking him to the vet ??????

This is URGENT !!!!!!! he does sound overweight & that won't help.