Blackbriar 8,569 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 My problem relates to one of my pet dogs, but I'm hoping that the experience some of you guys have with working dogs will be able to provide some advice. One of our dogs is a Mastiff X bitch - she is 6 years old and weighs a little over 40kgs, so she is not overweight. We usually walk every day, up to about 3 miles, but in the last few weeks I've noticed her struggling, so I've been reducing the distance and frequency of her exercise, to help her recover. We're now down to 1.5 miles every other or even every third day, but this evening she can barely walk and her back legs appear very stiff, though she doesn't seem to be in pain (at least I hope she's not!). Can anyone suggest an exercise regime that will keep her fit (for her age) and allow her to recover ? Are there any good supplements I could give her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Forgot to say she was at the vet about 8 months ago, and they said her joints were OK then - we walk on soft ground and she's never liked running. Sorry to go on for so long, but thanks for reading. Cheers fellas Blackbriar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 My problem relates to one of my pet dogs, but I'm hoping that the experience some of you guys have with working dogs will be able to provide some advice. One of our dogs is a Mastiff X bitch - she is 6 years old and weighs a little over 40kgs, so she is not overweight. We usually walk every day, up to about 3 miles, but in the last few weeks I've noticed her struggling, so I've been reducing the distance and frequency of her exercise, to help her recover. We're now down to 1.5 miles every other or even every third day, but this evening she can barely walk and her back legs appear very stiff, though she doesn't seem to be in pain (at least I hope she's not!). Can anyone suggest an exercise regime that will keep her fit (for her age) and allow her to recover ? Are there any good supplements I could give her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Forgot to say she was at the vet about 8 months ago, and they said her joints were OK then - we walk on soft ground and she's never liked running. Sorry to go on for so long, but thanks for reading. Cheers fellas Blackbriar could be a trapped nerve or any number of things, until you can find the cause then a recovery program would be impossible to put together Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackbriar 8,569 Posted November 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Might help if I add that she rests for 3 or 4 days, she's fine again.When we set off she is OK and moving well. We get back, she lies down for an hour and wakes up as stiff as a board! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mintstick999 485 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Try swimming her instead of walking, less strain on the muscles. atb Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackbriar 8,569 Posted November 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Try swimming her instead of walking, less strain on the muscles. atb I wish I could, Minty - the big, daft lump's scared of the bloody rain! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cookiemonsterandmerlin 145 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 I used a product MSN by NAF its a horse joint supplemnet it worked wonders on a our ageing lurcher Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bird 9,916 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Try swimming her instead of walking, less strain on the muscles. atb I wish I could, Minty - the big, daft lump's scared of the bloody rain! it might be HD mate, i used to keep bullmastiffs, and big breeds like these have bad hips.If it was my dog i would get her x rayed, then you know, and the vet may help you with what ever. another thing get some more weight of her, the lighter the better. get her down to just over 80lb. Both my dogs were big feckers but knocked alot of weight of them. proper Working bullmastiffs that were used for work in the 1930-50s were only -100lb tops, more like the Alunt of today, do the above Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackbriar 8,569 Posted November 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Try swimming her instead of walking, less strain on the muscles. atb I wish I could, Minty - the big, daft lump's scared of the bloody rain! it might be HD mate, i used to keep bullmastiffs, and big breeds like these have bad hips.If it was my dog i would get her x rayed, then you know, and the vet may help you with what ever. another thing get some more weight of her, the lighter the better. get her down to just over 80lb. Both my dogs were big feckers but knocked alot of weight of them. proper Working bullmastiffs that were used for work in the 1930-50s were only -100lb tops, more like the Alunt of today, do the above It's crossed my mind a few times ! She's a Bullmastiff X Rottweiler ! Weight-wise, I can still feel her ribs and her back end is pretty slim - she's a bit flabby round the belly but I can't talk............ Thanks Bird - I'll keep an eye on her weight but I think you're right about the vet trip if she doesn't improve soon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stripes 401 Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 Have you checked her feet, has she cracked pads, dont really know the breed to give any sensible advice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sowhat 1,572 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Cortaflex is good for joints http://www.cortaflex-online.co.uk/ How Cortaflex Works To repair cartilage and improve synovial fluid the body needs glucosamine and chondroitin but, taken orally, these have too large a molecular size to be effective - they just don't get absorbed into the joints where they are needed. Cortaflex contains the much smaller molecules of the constituent parts of these two substances and is much better at getting into the joints... the result: the body has more of the necessary building blocks to heal its joints. And it's not just people, Cortaflex works for Dogs, Cats and Horses too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keepdiggin 9,561 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 3 cod liver oil tablets a day Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 3 cod liver oil tablets a day ffs it will be able to squirt shit in a rabbit's eye at fifty yards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keepdiggin 9,561 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 3 cod liver oil tablets a day ffs it will be able to squirt shit in a rabbit's eye at fifty yards My dogs have never had any problems mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 3 cod liver oil tablets a day ffs it will be able to squirt shit in a rabbit's eye at fifty yards My dogs have never had any problems mate but can they do it at 90 yards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keepdiggin 9,561 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 3 cod liver oil tablets a day ffs it will be able to squirt shit in a rabbit's eye at fifty yards My dogs have never had any problems mate but can they do it at 90 yards no further then i'm afraid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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