Elliot

[Gustav]

My mum was walking her dog the other day when she saw Elliot who is a 2 1/2 year old Black Labrador, and she said that he was walking very badly with his back legs!! This is tricky to describe but here goes: He seems to walk from the hips and not bend the hock joint. like people who can't bend their knees do, sort of swing from the hips. She is very worried about him and tried to tactfully say to his owner that this isn't right!!!! And maybe he should take Elliot to the vets?!! And he said, oh no he doesn't need to go to the vets he's always done it! My mum is sure that it's never been this bad before, but what can she do? If they aren't willing to take him to the vets, she can't force them to take him, and they seem to be looking after him properly in other respects (apart from feeding him low quality dog food!! Yuck!!).
He was going to be a Guide dog (seeing eye dog) but apparently he failed because he couldn't sit still long enough, This would suggest a hip/leg problem to me!!!!

It's such a shame because he's a lovely dog, and at 2 1/2 he should be running about happily, not waddling like an old man!!
Sorry had to vent, makes me feel sad!!!

 

[Renee750il]

That is so sad! I don't know quite what to tell you . . . if someone could video Elliot's gait and show it to his owners along with a video of a normal gait for a young Lab they might see the difference.

 

[Beaglegal]

Poor Elliot...I agree that the owner should be given the videos to see that Elliot is not in a good state...and I hope the owner is not one of those irresponsible poeple around...who claims that their pets are ok, when they r not....n just refuses help and advice!

 

[smkie]

Wish i knew something that would help..Mary has a bad hock in the back from arthritis..that makes her leg very stiff, but it did'nt develop until a year ago and arthritis meds help a great deal. i assume that if people children can get arthuritis..maybe young dogs can too..but don't know for sure.

 

[Gustav]

The thing is that they have had Labradors before, so surely they must know that there is something wrong with him!!!!

Mum rang her friend who is the local dog warden, and she said she would keep an eye out for him, she said that if she saw him she would give the owners a bit of "friendly" advice, but really there is nothing she can do legally as they aren't breaking any law, they aren't starving him, or abusing him (other than neglecting him!) And she also said there is no way that she can prove that he hasn't had any medical attention.

Seems a bit hopeless for poor Elliot!! I may have another go at convincing them to let me have him next time I go over! Gus adores him!!

 

[Renee750il]

You're a dear! Not many people would actively 'court' a dog that they knew was going to need veterinary attention!

 

[Gustav]

Thanks! I could'nt live with myself if I just left him there!! He's such a happy friendly chap even in spite of the bad legs, that I really think he deserves better!!

Also Gus is very particular about his four legged friends! He loves everybody human but there are only a couple of dogs that he actually gets along with and Elliot is one of them!!