what can you do to help a dog with hip problems?
- Thread starter Tay
- Start date
blems?
i have heard many things..for one.. the supplements. A friend of mine had a collie that was 17 almost 18 when finally laid to rest. She swore by "the missing link" a supplement that she obtained from her vet (if that isn't the right name i will ask her tomorrow) and i know there are lots of other types out there that people believe help. My mary has the problem not in her hips, but lower in her hocks. I use heat therapy for her, on her bad days i give her a good hot soak or use moist heat packs on the joints to give her relief, if we are in a poor phase i give her one buffered aspirin a day, if we are more affluent then i get the arthritis meds from the vet. If i know we are going out where she is going to exert herself i make sure she has the aspirin in the morning and a hot soak that night. I am not sure if the hip problems you ask are arthiritis or hip displayisa..that would be another story all together and i have not had experience it that so will leave it up to other forum members. There is a way you can use a towel or you can buy a lift if your dog is large to help them off the floor too. I do not want Mary sleeping on the floor for i know that makes it worse yet too padded of a bed makes it hard for her to get up and down. THere are heated beds sold in some of my pet magazines and arthritis mattresses i wish i could afford. IF you could give a bit more info that would help! tellington touch too is a massage i try nightly in hopes that it brings her relief, it certainly cannot hurt. I will find the link.
Also provide a warm bed especially on cold nights. Lettng them lie on hard and/or cold surfaces (like kitchen tile or even wood flooring) can make them cramp up bad and be extremely painful when they wake up. Makes them stiff and sore. Also massaging the area gently but firmly after they are lying for a while can feel really good
