Limp & muscle building & update

Willo · #1 14-01-12, 12:48 PM

Poor Olli, as if having an allergy to *something* wasn't enough!

On Thursday evening after our training session Olli had a play with a malamute pup and thoroughly enjoyed himself. But after we were home for a bit I noticed a slight limp. Took it easy yesterday but last night he was struggling to get comfortable and was a lot more vocal than he normally is (not sure how that's possible as he's a very talkative dog anyway!) so this morning we went to the vets for a check up (needed to pick up wormers and flea treatment too).

After getting me to trot up and down the waiting room a few times with Olli the Vet is thinking he has just strained himself (front left leg) and so has given Olli some Metacam and issued the 'short lead walk' only for the next week in order to rest up. Doesn't think it's pano but obviously can't exclude it altogether just yet.

However the vet has also said his muscles in his back end aren't as good as they should be so when we can go on slightly longer walks Olli needs to be swimming up to 3 times per week to build up his muscles. Just as well Olli loves water and we have access to both open fresh water pools and there's a doggy hydrotherapy pool within walking distance of my house so we'll be getting a season ticket for that!

Vet has also said that it's going to be worth getting Olli's hips x-rayed and scored in the near future depending on how well the muscle builing goes. Given that that means an anaesthetic, I think I'll be getting him neutered at the same time so as to minimise the anaesthetics he's subjected to.

With regards to Olli's itching we were making good progress until I took him to the beach just after Christmas - the evening after that (despite being bathed) poor Olli didn't know which bit to itch first! So, no more beach walks for the forseeable future which is a shame as he does love the beach and swimming in the sea. Vet doesn't think it is salt that is the issue, more likely to be something with a more complex constitution than salt. Olli's not got any hotspots or scabbyness anywhere on him, just itchiness. So I'm going to try the apple cider vinegar tablets and possibly use some witch hazel in a bath for him. But it'll have to be one at a time with a period of grace in between in case he has a reaction to them too!

So there we go, if it's not one thing, it's another!

LindaM · #2 14-01-12, 12:55 PM

Oh poor Olli, Willo - I hope he is soon feeling better.

I guess the swimming will be good for him

that's were I'm going later - I need my muscles building up to handle this dog of mine

Seriously though I hope he is OK

Willo · #3 14-01-12, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaM

Oh poor Olli, Willo - I hope he is soon feeling better.

I guess the swimming will be good for him

that's were I'm going later - I need my muscles building up to handle this dog of mine

Seriously though I hope he is OK

Thanks Linda, yes I could do with a swim myself but I'm not volunteering for a dip in the pond at Preston Park!

I'm sure he'll be fine eventually :-) At least issues are picked up relatively quickly and it's something I can do something about!

buster237 · #4 14-01-12, 05:12 PM

Jake our rescue german shepherd was limping when we picked him up. Seemed like he hadnt had regalar walks as his claws were excessively long so we took him on short 10 minute walks.When we got home I massaged his legs for about houf an hour. I didnt think it was helping as after 3 weeks he still limped but you could feel his muscle building up and after several weeks he walked normally. Now he's really fit and runs for hours, so you'll find its a slow proccess but results do come so persist with the teatment and I'm sure he'll recover to his normal self

Willo · #5 14-01-12, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buster237

Jake our rescue german shepherd was limping when we picked him up. Seemed like he hadnt had regalar walks as his claws were excessively long so we took him on short 10 minute walks.When we got home I massaged his legs for about houf an hour. I didnt think it was helping as after 3 weeks he still limped but you could feel his muscle building up and after several weeks he walked normally. Now he's really fit and runs for hours, so you'll find its a slow proccess but results do come so persist with the teatment and I'm sure he'll recover to his normal self

Thanks :-)

Prior to Thursday night Olli was running round for hours too so fingers and paws crossed the strain heals quickly! Olli loves being massaged whilst being brushed, lazy beast would lay there all night given half a chance!

Glad Jake is doing well :-)