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#1
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Running the shepherd
I posted this question in my other post but it either wasn't answered (which
is fine) or I missed the post. Firstly though I'd like to express my appreciation to the group for their helpful advice and GREAT! topics. I've learned a lot and hope to continue learning. Here's a recap of my dog (his name is wolfie). He's a 7yr old GSD with minor hip problems (he does the bunny hop when he runs but walks, gets up and takes stairs fine). He's on 3 tablets of glucosamine a day. I've found the liquid stuff but will wait until the pills are finished to try it. He's also on nutro's senior dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin. Right now he gets 4 daily walks with at least 1 of them being a good run in the park (playing with his Kong or a ball and running around with my other dog). I also have about 12 stairs leading up to my apartment that he's got to take at least 5 to 6 times a day. My question is, Is this a good routine to keep his hip joints flexible and problem free (as much as it can be for now). Should I cut out the runs or keep it to just one (he sometimes has 2) or is running a good thing? Thnx again guys for being so informative. I would be at a loss without you all. Cp |
#2
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"dotmcs" wrote in message ... Well toned muscles are really important to showing few or no symptoms of bad hips. Keep Wolfie on the glucosamine, in my opinion, and as long as he exhibits no signs of being sore or lame, I say go for it. Swimming is also a wonderful exercise that puts no stress on the joints, if running gets to be an issue. These are just my thoughts on things, but having an eleven year old GSD, with severe hip dysplasia in one hip, I prefer to see them pain-free and having fun. Here's wishing Wolfie many more pain-free years. Thanks for the well wishes! I've talked to the lady who owned him before me (we just got him a week ago) and she said he didn't seem to like water. He played around it but would not go in. I haven't tried it myself but we don't really have a dog friendly pool around here so it's going to be a bit of a search to find something. I do live by the lake but it's been closed due to high bacteria counts. My take on it... if it's not fit for me to swim in, then it's not safe for my dog either. He's a 7yr old GSD with minor hip problems (he does the bunny hop when he runs but walks, gets up and takes stairs fine). He's on 3 tablets of glucosamine a day. I've found the liquid stuff but will wait until the pills are finished to try it. He's also on nutro's senior dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin. Right now he gets 4 daily walks with at least 1 of them being a good run in the park (playing with his Kong or a ball and running around with my other dog). I also have about 12 stairs leading up to my apartment that he's got to take at least 5 to 6 times a day. My question is, Is this a good routine to keep his hip joints flexible and problem free (as much as it can be for now). Should I cut out the runs or keep it to just one (he sometimes has 2) or is running a good thing? |
#3
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"dotmcs" wrote in message ... Well toned muscles are really important to showing few or no symptoms of bad hips. Keep Wolfie on the glucosamine, in my opinion, and as long as he exhibits no signs of being sore or lame, I say go for it. Swimming is also a wonderful exercise that puts no stress on the joints, if running gets to be an issue. These are just my thoughts on things, but having an eleven year old GSD, with severe hip dysplasia in one hip, I prefer to see them pain-free and having fun. Here's wishing Wolfie many more pain-free years. Thanks for the well wishes! I've talked to the lady who owned him before me (we just got him a week ago) and she said he didn't seem to like water. He played around it but would not go in. I haven't tried it myself but we don't really have a dog friendly pool around here so it's going to be a bit of a search to find something. I do live by the lake but it's been closed due to high bacteria counts. My take on it... if it's not fit for me to swim in, then it's not safe for my dog either. He's a 7yr old GSD with minor hip problems (he does the bunny hop when he runs but walks, gets up and takes stairs fine). He's on 3 tablets of glucosamine a day. I've found the liquid stuff but will wait until the pills are finished to try it. He's also on nutro's senior dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin. Right now he gets 4 daily walks with at least 1 of them being a good run in the park (playing with his Kong or a ball and running around with my other dog). I also have about 12 stairs leading up to my apartment that he's got to take at least 5 to 6 times a day. My question is, Is this a good routine to keep his hip joints flexible and problem free (as much as it can be for now). Should I cut out the runs or keep it to just one (he sometimes has 2) or is running a good thing? |
#4
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cplus wrote:
also on nutro's senior dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin. Right now he gets 4 daily walks with at least 1 of them being a good run in the park (playing with his Kong or a ball and running around with my other dog). I have heard from a friend with a dysplastic GSD that retrieving games may be too hard on the hips, because of all the stops and starts. You might want to check with the vet to see if it is okay. Other than that, I think that you're doing great, and if you can induce the dog to go swimming, that would also help greatly. Suja |
#5
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cplus wrote:
also on nutro's senior dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin. Right now he gets 4 daily walks with at least 1 of them being a good run in the park (playing with his Kong or a ball and running around with my other dog). I have heard from a friend with a dysplastic GSD that retrieving games may be too hard on the hips, because of all the stops and starts. You might want to check with the vet to see if it is okay. Other than that, I think that you're doing great, and if you can induce the dog to go swimming, that would also help greatly. Suja |
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