cycas Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 My mother's collie x Ronnie has just started to have problems with his back legs: he did a 'roly poly' on Christmas Eve when out walking, and couldn't get up without help, then a couple more times since, his back legs have 'gone' and he's needed help to stand up again. Otherwise he seems healthy, though perhaps a bit old for his age (I suppose it's possible that he is older than we think, she's had him for about 10 years, but he came from the Dogs Trust so I suppose they could have been given the wrong info when he was handed in). Obviously he will be off to the vet, but I wondered if anyone had any ideas or tips for managing this? He is small for a collie x, I think about 15 kilos, he's mixed with some sort of small terrier, probably, but there is no way my mother, who is in her 70's, will be able to carry him. She lives on the edge of Dartmoor and they walk on the moor at least two or three times every day. Usually near the edges so there is usually someone about if she needed to call for help, which is something. He's already getting glucosamine supplements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Has she thought about trying a magnetic collar? They seem to have a pretty good success rate. Also wonder if hydrotherapy would help? In a practical sense, could she carry something with her that she could use as a "sling" for the back end - as he's quite little it wouldn't have to be too heavy a material, I wonder if something like a TTouch bandgage even would work in that situation, just to support him underneath and help him up/walk back home/to the car? Or get him one of those harnesses with a handle on the top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 What about trying a Ruffwear Harness as a way to help him up if he goes down, or to give him a bit of extra support if needed? As you know, I had a similar situation with Musky - he was too big and unwieldy for me to support him with a single handle, but on a smaller, slighter dog I think it would have worked well. There is also this sort of simple support lead for the back legs http://www.bottomsupleash.com/ which might be worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane-f Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 You could get a harness with a handle, Andrea22 on LL made this for a dog that had - had some type of stroke, from what i know it did help a lot, and they was able to support the dog when she needed it. http://www.lurcherlink.org/llink/forum/vie...asc&start=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 The Ruffwear one is what I was thinking of, I couldn't remember the name - and as my brain is still halfasleep I initially wrote coat rather than harness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 What sort of glucosamine is he on? If he is on the tablets it's worth switching him to Synflex, which is liquid glucosamine which works much better in my experience Would also suggest the Ruffwear type harness, though you can get the cheaper Eurohike version from Milletts I think (alternatively look on eBay for them). For a small collie she would need a small one as the medium would be too big. I also found these, the Hang On Harness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Good idea about the harness, I will suggest it. He does have a harness, as he pulls and the collar tends to make him cough, so it should be a fairly easy transition to one with a handle on. I'm not sure about the glucosamine: I recommended Synflex, but I'm not sure she agreed with me that it would be better than whatever she gets from the vet. (Mothers! ) Thinking about it, I wonder if she is letting him overexercise...? He's always been a very nervy dog with endless energy and she walks him offlead - I looked at that bottoms up lead, and he's nowhere near that stage yet, most of the time he's trotting along shoving his nose into stuff and roaming all over the place. I wonder if he's overdoing it chasing rabbits and doesn't know when to stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) She could very well be over exercising him. Milly has severe HD and I have to be careful not go overdo it with her or else she will limp afterwards. Maybe he could be kept on lead for one or two of the walks and just let off for a run for one of them? Edited December 27, 2008 by merledogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma_pen Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Hydro would be good for him, and if he can manage any, short amounts of hill walking too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Hydro would be good for him, and if he can manage any, short amounts of hill walking too. Hah, he probably does about 2 hours of hill walking most days: they always get at least 4 walks a day, usually 2 or 3 across Dartmoor... I think they are probably overdoing it, that's why his back legs are giving way, he's worn out. I have suggested shorter walks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I didn't think Gracie would see Christmas 2007, her back legs were so weak, she started doing hyrotherapy and had her 17th birthday the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landofholistticpets Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 According to Traditional Chinese Medicine and quoted in the book "Manual Of natural Veterinary Medicine" weak hind limbs derive from problems with the Gall Bladder. It is said that the Gall Bladder provides an external axis for movement and blockages (of Acupucture Points) squeezes off the flow of energy that passes beneath them to the legs. Two appraoches are required - an examination of the diet being fed and I suggest a trip to a qualified veterinary acupuncturist http://www.abva.co.uk/find.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 There are many causes of weak back legs, Gracie was because she had walking problems with all the things wrong with her, Tommy had weak back legs because she had kidney failure, arthritis can also cause this. Only a vet can diagnose what is wrong not us, even highly qualified homeopaths should not be diagnosing problems, owners can take their dogs to them once they know the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landofholistticpets Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 even highly qualified homeopaths should not be diagnosing problems, owners can take their dogs to them once they know the problem. I did say " a qualified veterinary acupuncturist" - The reason for this is 2 fold - firstly as an Acupucturist he would understand the issue associated with the Gall Bladder. Secondly, an Acupunturist or Homeopath should not be treating dogs unless qualified as a vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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