I have a 2yr old APBT who sadly already has very bad hip’s, some morning she can’t move. We have her on pills she takes 2 in the morning and one at night. They however do not seem like enough to keep her comfortable in this cold weather. Any more tips you guys can think of to help her stay more comfortable, we have a heated bed and we keep her inside as much as we can but she still gets stiff legged terribly.
Would it be safe to have her on both the glucosamine tablets and the ones she is taking now? or would our vet put her on one or the other?
How to Help Keep My Dog Comfortable.?
Posted March 13th, 2010 by admin
Tagged and categorized as: Dog Beds
, apbt, bad hip, cold weather, glucosamine, google, pills, script type, text javascript, vet
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7 Responses to “How to Help Keep My Dog Comfortable.?”
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Getting The Best Dog Bed
If you own a dog, especially an older one, getting a good dog bed is a really great gift to give your beloved pet. The need a good place to rest and sleep just like us. After all, you wouldn't want to bed down in an uncomfortable mattress or sleep on a hard surface all night.
Sleeping on the floor or even on a bad or uneven bed isn't the best thing for a dog to do. As they get older it becomes even more important that they have a really good dog bed to sleep in.
The other reason to get a dog bed is, of course, to keep them off of yours or off of the best couch in the house. If you don't want them all over your furniture, get them a comfortable bed of their own that they will love and use for a long time.
From the simplest dog beds to the more elaborate types, there are many to choose from. Some are more or less like large bean bags, some are donuts or round pet beds. There are also bolster dog beds, which have sort of a pillow going all around the outer edge of the bed. Dogs like to use this as a pillow for their head while they sleep. Then there is the orthopedic dog bed and memory foam beds, which are among the best you can get.
There are also outdoor dog beds which are made for outdoor areas like the back porch and there are also heated dog beds. These are great for dogs, especially during the cold winter months. Even when you have the heat in the house cranked up, the floor can sometimes stay cold and it's not good for your dogs bones and joints. A heated dog bed will keep your canine pal comfy and warm the whole time like a warm blanket.
Another option you may want to look into is getting a waterproof dog bed. We have all taken our dog out for a walk when it is raining and wet outside. Whether we want to or not, we have to go out on those miserable days when the rain is pouring and we both get soaked. After a good towel dry, dogs still have some moisture left on their coat and skin. The nice part about a waterproof dog bed is that your dog can lay on this type of pet bed without getting it soaked on the inside where the water stays put. These beds are made for this so they do not get ruined every time your water soaked pooch rests on them. For those dogs that prefer to stay out on the porch or outside near their kennel or dog house, they are much happier on a waterproof bed than a conventional one that soaks up the water. It's not only a comfortable resting spot for sleeping and lying down, but it will last longer too.
Not all dog beds are the same just as not all dogs age the same. When your dog gets older, he or she will most likely develop the same types of aches and pains due to joint problems that humans do. When your dog starts to slow down due to joint pain, inflammation and arthritis, the best thing you can do is to look into getting them a memory foam dog bed.
As soon as your are aware that you dog is suffering from orthopedic issues, the floor is simply not a good place for them to sleep. Even a conventional dog bed just will not do. The even balance of a dog's weight is more important at this stage of their life than at any time before. A bumpy or uneven bed is not good for the existing joint pain and can actually worsen the dog's problems over time.
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March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
Start her on glucosamine tablets, giving the appropriate doses daily.
Exercise her, very gently, very easily, exercise her. She can move, she just doesn’t want to. Allowing her to stay in an immobile state only worsens her condition (especially if its early arthritis). Motivate her to move, get a lead on her, and take her for a five minute walk every hour to keep her up and moving, and to hep her joints.
Cold weather can be horrible on dogs with joint problems (ranging from Hip Dysplasia to arthritis), if you let them stay immobile, it essentially ‘freezes’ the joints, making any pain and irritation much worse when the animal does decide to move.
Speak to your vet about a safe exercise plan for her situation.
Do not try to move her legs while she’s laying down, moving joints in a motion in which they were not designed to do, and especially while she’s in pain, can seriously injure, her, and it may cause her to defend herself (which means you may get bit). Dogs are very primal when it comes to pain, they defend when they’re hurt, and will do so no matter what.
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
You may want to try to exercise her legs while she is laying down, if it doesnt seem to bother her. Like move them in the bicycle motion. Also if she has a collar on, you may want to take it off. My dogs are always miserable when I put a collar on them. Good Luck!
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
For all dogs with his dysplasia, rising from a down position is always difficult and uncomfortable. It sounds like you are doing all you can short of having her hips surgically repaired (if that is an option). As you probably already know, the disease is degenerative and her comfort level will only deteriorate. Just keep in close contact with your vet and be sure to ask if what else he can prescribe if the current meds aren’t doing the job. Sorry for you guys
– sounds like you love her very much. Hugs.
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
Have her inside more. She should go out to play and potty. The cold must be miserable for her…even with pills and a heated bed.
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
A massage might help.
I cant remember the name of the product, but I will email it to you if I do. It showed a video of a dog dragging its back legs one day, then trotting the next day after taking the product.
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
I’ve heard wonderful things about Cetyl M which you can find online. Even better than Glucosamine. You might want to do some research on your own and bring to your vet if he/she isn’t familiar with it.. and bravo for being such a caring dog owner.
March 13th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
I would like to see her get short walks spread evenly through the day. If she could get a long cloth ( winter scarf ) looped under her belly up to your hand and you could keep some of her weight off the hip until the blood flow stops the pain. Like in the beginning of a walk. Her own blood will warm the joint just have to create some motion to make her blood flow faster. I have a bad hip and walking often without sitting for too long helps me best. My best medicine is activity and a hip massage from hubby. But don’t try massaging your pup. It can be painful at times.