Worried about my Alsatian

[wobbler]

Can you ask a relative or friend to take you and the dog to the vets?

 

[buggi]

if you phone the vet there might be someone in the area that does "taxi service/ambulance" for animals.

 

[Dewi]

We've had similar with our 12 year old GSD in the last few weeks. He was fine one day then his legs just collasped and couldn't even get up to eat

Vet thought it was arthritis and his heart, he's now on vivitomin and the difference in a few days in huge. He's not his old self but he is clearly still enjoying life and keen to go out for walks. Vet says big dogs age 8 times faster which makes him nearly 100 so just gentle walks and be prepared as the drugs eventually stop working. He's got a good quality of life and not suffering so we're making the most of the time he has left...

 

[newb]

We've had similar with our 12 year old GSD in the last few weeks. He was fine one day then his legs just collasped and couldn't even get up to eat

Vet thought it was arthritis and his heart, he's now on vivitomin and the difference in a few days in huge. He's not his old self but he is clearly still enjoying life and keen to go out for walks. Vet says big dogs age 8 times faster which makes him nearly 100 so just gentle walks and be prepared as the drugs eventually stop working. He's got a good quality of life and not suffering so we're making the most of the time he has left...

That is lovely and sad at the same time.... I love my GSD and threads like this worry me about what will happen in a few years.

 

[krushavik]

There is the best vet ever in St Helens on Cowley Hill Road it use to be called Tandy Hughes and Morton when my dog had Parvo one Christmas Mr Tandy stayed with in the surgery even had his Christmas lunch there. Dog pulled through. Thats dedication. Take the dog there they will see to him. Don't give him human Ibruprofen this causes small cyst on the liver which can turn canceruss. All the best to the dog.

 

[fossyant]

Deffo go to the vets. Glucosamine isn't a proved drug for arthritis (I've been taking it and it's done bugger all). See if you can get a friend/relative to help.

 

[Becs]

Don't give him human Ibruprofen this causes small cyst on the liver which can turn canceruss.

Where did that come from?
Don't give him any kind of human drug, paracetamol will send him into liver failure, ibuprofen will give him stomach +/- colon ulcers and renal failure. Glucosamine shows no benefit in proper clinical trials (ie the unbiased ones not conducted by companies that sell glucosamine). Just stick him in a taxi or get a friend to give you a lift, or pay for your vet to do a home visit. There is nothing more frustrating than people bringing their animals in too late and then expecting the vet to work miracles when the animal has been going downhill for 6 months!

 

[Archie_tect]

If not the vet, you could contact your local PDSA- do they still do the mobile clinics?

I know the cost can be high but it's worth the relief he'll get, instead of carrying on in pain- the way that animals do.


Edit: looked up PDSA and got RSPCA mobile vet clinic based in Oldham/ Bury branch who you could call for advice... link attached:
http://www.rspca.org.uk/inyourarea?...col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2

 

[Simba]

He looks to be walking fine now, he doesn't look in pain and is in high spirits. I will monitor him for the rest of the week and then if he carries on falling I will take him to the vets.

 

[krushavik]

I only put this comment just in case someone gave him the advice to give the dog human drugs, trying to warn him against them. Thats where it comes from.

Where did that come from?
Don't give him any kind of human drug, paracetamol will send him into liver failure, ibuprofen will give him stomach +/- colon ulcers and renal failure. Glucosamine shows no benefit in proper clinical trials (ie the unbiased ones not conducted by companies that sell glucosamine). Just stick him in a taxi or get a friend to give you a lift, or pay for your vet to do a home visit. There is nothing more frustrating than people bringing their animals in too late and then expecting the vet to work miracles when the animal has been going downhill for 6 months!