My sweet dog!

hopefull

hopefull

Cathlete
We just got back from taking our beloved boxer to the vet. Shoot, I am crying as I type this. He has a torn AC. He wasn't using his back leg at all, but we thought he had just gotten something inbedded in the pad of his foot, or been bit by something. We also found out that his hips are in terrible shape (a common ailment with boxers). The bad hips caused the other, because he swings his hips so funny it caused him to step down wrong causing the injury. It is going to take an astronomical amount of money to operate on him, and then it might not fix the problem. The vet says he probably only has about a year before his hips are so bad he won't be able to get around at all. I love this dog, my heart just wants to break out the credit card and let the vet operate, but there are a lot of practical reasons for me not to give into this temptation. Right now I am going to pray that God does miracles on pets that we love very much. I was thinking maybe someone out there knows of something that works on arthritis in dogs????? I just can't stand the idea of putting him down, but I will not let him be in terrible pain. He is only three years old. My almost three year old daughter loves him totally. They make some of the cutest "Saturday Evening Post/Norman Rockwell" pictures together. You know love sometimes just doesn't make sense! I think my credit card company will love me this year. Will the bank give personal loans for vet bills? Probably not, There isn't a whole lot of colateral in loving a pet.
;( ;(
Hopefull
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your dog! :( I'm a pet lover too and have 2 very spoiled kitties.

Have you tried a different dog food? Perhaps Canidae? Canidae has a website (my kitties eat Felidae and like it). This food doesn't have the nasty stuff that most pet food has - beaks/claws/etc and filler. I think there's a kind that's good for sore joints too - I can't remember the name of it.

I read somewhere that going vegetarian is very good for joints - this was for humans, I don't know about dogs but it's worth checking out! I think health food stores sell vegetarian dog food - you can check around online too.

How about MSM for dogs? Ask your vet. My mom gave our dog (sheltie) MSM for her arthritis.

Or...seek the advice of an herbalist.

Good luck!!!
 
I so know how you feel. I would do anything for my animals. It just tears you up sometimes. I started giving my Wolf cross a combo of Glucosamine/Chondroitin about 5 yrs ago. As a big dog I could see he started having problems. He is now 15 and still getting around, but much slower. I get mine at Swansonvitamins.com, and started first thru Drfosterssmith.com. I wil be saying a prayer for you..:)...God Bless...Carole
 
Im sorry to hear about your boxer's diagnosis! I understand your pain since our animals are just like our kids! I have 3 akitas and my oldest is 10 and over a yr ago I touched his hip and he yelped! I took him to the vet right away and he simply said his hips are starting to go ,since he is an X large breed this is about the time you see the warning signs of aging! He gave me meds for Coty and said to consider an operation soon! I took him home cuddled up with him on the couch and clicked on the tv! I was flipping through the channels and Andrew Lessman was on HSN,he's a walking encyclopedia about health, hear I am listening to all these testimonials of people having arthritis and Joint problems and I was petting Coty and he did another yelp! It was a huge coincidence like he was telling me to order these Glucosamine plus Chondroitin, Cartilage and Joint Support! I picked up the phone to order, what the heck if there were no signs of improvement I was sending them back, but here I am a year and half later on autoshipment and Coty is doing GREAT! He has some more pep in his step too! This may be crazy to others but when it comes to us animal lovers, we will do anything to keep our babies around ;-)
http://www.hsn.com/cnt/prod/default...1513204&sz=0&sf=&dept=&cat=&subcat=&gs=&attr=
Good luck to you and you are all in my prayers!
 
One of my dogs (age 10) pulled up lame and we were relieved when the x-rays indicated arthritis in the knee rather than anything spinal. We took advice straight out of the book "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" which included a homeopathic remedy and vitamin C. You can probably find the book in the library, it is in its second edition. Since your dog's situation is somewhat different, the remedy will probably be different, but for little Trillium, for whom her beloved walk had become a drag (literally and figuratively) the remedy worked, and after a couple months she is back to scaling the highest furniture in the house as well as running her little legs off outside (she's a basset).

I also know of someone who had a boxer cross that had the same ligament tear. They were able to have the surgery and it was a success. Try to find a vet with experience if you can. Good luck and let us know.

--Ann
 
Hopeful,

I am so sorry for you. I had the most wonderful Newfoundland, who at a very young age - also 3 or 4 - tore his AC. We operated at a cost of $1000. Bigger dogs are more expensive as I'm sure you already know. Next year, he tore his other AC, as we were told was likely to happen. Again we operated. Thankfully, although a large dog by even a giant breed's standards, he had no hip problems. But arthritis set in quickly and he was never very mobile or painfree afterwards. It could not have happened to a sweeter, more patient or loving pooch and it breaks my heart to this day how his mobility was curtailed for the rest of his short life. Glucosamine seemed to help; he was also on Rimadyl but I'm not sure how much that helped. Last week I had a dream he was still with us, larger than life as always but mobile and able to run around with me like he did before his injuries. We had such fun in that dream. You are being faced with what I think is one of the hardest things in life and my heart goes out to you.
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. My hear goes out to you. I can understand your concern of spending so much especially if it might not fix his problem. I will pray for that miracle!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
My 7 year old American Eskimo had problems in his back, so bad that he couldn't jump on the bed. The vet gave me this medication that he said was for post operation pain. It was in this seringe that allowed me to just shoot the liquid in his mouth so he couldn't put up a fight. It worked wonders. He has been just fine for the last six months.

I do get paranoid sometimes and carry him up the stairs...just in case. ;-)
 
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. have you looked online for equipment made specialy for dogs that can't use their hind legs? I have watched on TV they make special kind of like wheelchairs for dogs that are paralyzed in the hind quarters.
I sure hope there is something they can do to help your dog, also call a vet school at the local college to see if they can offer you help at a cheaper price then a vet can? I heard sometimes they do that.
 
I'm sorry about your dog. It would be an easy answer if the surgery were guaranteed to help, but you're in a tough situation. Give him some love for me, please.

I give my arthritic dog baby aspirin, but she only has it around some scar tissue on one leg and only needs it when it's cold or if she's been overly active. All it does is relieve pain and reduce inflammation (which can cause further damage.) (DON'T give it without talking to your vet! The side effects could be worse than the benefits for your dog!)

{{hugs}}


{{and a petition to St. Francis}}
 
For arthritis and joint trouble go to DrFosterandsmith.com I think that is the website if not you can get to it from yahoo. they make great non prescription medication for dogs with joint trouble. I have a friend that also breeds Pomeranians and shows them and her one dog is well known for jumping fences LOL anyway ended up with a bad knee and needed surgery for it and she started feeding her some of that stuff and has noticed some improvement. aslo I heard someone give their dog Coral calcium that had a tumor and the tumor is now gone, also they make MSM for dogs.
 
I'm sorry that I can't help you with advice but I will keep you and your pup in my thoughts and prayers.

Shelley
 
Hopefull,

I'm sorry to hear about your Boxer's problems. I know other folks have used Glucosamine products for arthitis problems with their animals (dogs and horses) and had very good success.

Might I also suggest that you go to another vet for a second opinion?? In particular, maybe a vet who specializes in the type of hip problems you mention. There may be other or better options than trying an operation that might not work.

BTW - Do you know the name of the hip condition? I have a Boxer myself and I'm curious.

Take care. {{HUGS}}
 
Hopeful I feel your pain and I am praying for you baby. I just had to put my beloved Petie down in Sept as he was only 3 but he got lyme disease that affected his kidney. The hard part was we had to do it on his birthday:-(. I would take Francine advise and call that company and try it> maybe it will be your miracle:)
 
Did your vet give you any suggestions? I would IMMEDIATELY put him on Glucosamine/Chondroitin and MSM. I'd also talk to the vet about Rimadyl or at least giving him Acription daily.

As far as the ACL, get a second opinion. Make sure surgery is necessary. Find out if the hips are that bad if the ACL will tear again, etc. and a future prognosis.

My puppy's littermate tore her ACL a month or so ago and luckily she will most likely not require surgery. BUT she has to be kept quiet and off the leg almost 90% of the day. Always walked on a leash and right now they are doing water therapy with her.

GOOD LUCK and sending big hugs your way.

I'd also contact your breeder. Most ethical breeders have a contract that guards against HD at least until the dog is 3-4 years old and as such would refund your money or send another pup. I know this does not make your heart feel any better about your current dog but may help in the future. Also see if they will help financially.

Colleen
 
Thanks so much for all your ideas, prayers and sweet words. I opened a word document and copied and pasted all your suggestions, and we are going to get a second opinion. We took GW (He's named after the cat in an old John Wayne movie called "The McClintocks")to this vet because she was close and he gets carsick, big time! She seems like a good vet, but it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. She even said she wasn't an expert with ACL's. The pain meds the vet gave him have helped he is getting around better today, and seems a lot more comfortable. My poor hubby couldn't sleep last night for fretting over this. He said when he did go to sleep all he did was dream about GW.

Thanks Again!
Hopefull
 
Glad to hear GW is getting around better today! Keep us posted on him! Still thinking of you all!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
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