Hey all

She doesnt like swimming when we lived in England, I used to take her hiking for 3 hours at this amazing place. there was a lake there and she would not go in...I tried a few time during summer but she didnt even want to have her paws wet...she refuse to even step in a bit of water on the streets...:) My niece says my dog thinks its a cat, cus she also likes to chew wool !

RacingQH it is Very hot, its about 30 degrees and the sun here burns intensely, hard to explain. They say the dog will play untill he drops , that they cannot set a limit...not sure how true is that. I need to walk to the park (the place I throw the ball and stuff) and that is the place she doesnt want to go...but i take her anyway...I have been walking slower with her...

She is not used to all these heat, we used to live up north in the UK, very cold. Soon enough the summer will pass and hopefully she wont feel soo hot and tired.

I used to take her out 6am for an exercise session before going to work...now i take her out around 9am for exercise, at 6am only for her to do her business...

I take her out 5 times a day plus one to exercise her...she is incontinent since she was spayed, about the age of 2 , she has been on propalyn for all these year which helped her a lot.

I will take easy with her...after all i dont want to inflict any injures on my dog. I really appreciated all the replies...some forum you post you never get a reply...

Congrads on this forum :)

Thanks

Bruxa....

 If I may suggest....I would not have so much of the hardwood floor open for her to lay on. It is very hard on them the older they get, to get up from that slippery surface. I found with all 5 of my old GSD over the years....they did so much better with a large rug over a hard slippery surface. The rug will take a lot of stress and pressure off when they try to get up. Just a suggestion.....

MaxBear

Now that you have mentioned the floor. I quickly did a test, asked her to sit on the wooden floor and then asked her to sit on the rug, she was very quickly to sit on the rug but took a while to sit on the wooden floor...she probably feels unstable on the wood floor.

Thanks for pointing that out!!

Yes she is getting old and things aren't going to improve alot even with meds or supplements.   I'd just give her all the TLC you can and consider whats next.   Let her set her own pace. Make the most of time.

I have had these dogs all my life and have had to say goodbye to some over the years.   We all face the same thing.

Just know when its time and be ready to show her that love too.

She reminds me of my Hiedi in the face..

Best wishes for you both.

kerschberger.com/Zyflamend.htm  what I use for my old boys.  (but i'm going to give the conium 200 a shot too in addition)

then,  degenerative myelopathy"   Its a sign of the dragging feet.   its the degeneration of the spinal cord, so the signal to the brain becomes slower/weaker.   Its a nightmare and I feel that the gold bead implants ie: permanent acupuncture has helped with his arthritis as well as styme the DM.

http://www.wholepetvet.com/goldbead.php

Bruxa,

It sounds like your old lady is starting to suffer from Degenerative Mylopothy.  The good thing about this disease is that they are not in pain, they just can;'t feel their hind end.  the bad thing is that it is irreversable.  It may not be arthritis at all or it may also be arthritis.  Many6 vets misdiagnose it all the time thinking it is GSDs with hip problems.  Check out Dr. Clemons site in Florida as he has done much research on the problem and makes some recommendations.  It is probably what gets the majority of GSDs in the end. 

One thing that helps is exercise.  I think it is great you are walking with her and still playing ball with her.  I'm sure the heat is also coming into play here.  Maybe you could walk her in the evening or early in the AM before it gets too warm, that would help her feel better out and about, especialy if she is lounging in the AC during the day.   Who wants to walk when it is hot? 

I'd definately keep up the exercise but try to do it in the cool of the day.  You sound like a very dedicated owner.  She clearly has lead a nice life and it looks like she will continue to do so!

Good luck,

Susan

MaxBear

Now that you have mentioned the floor. I quickly did a test, asked her to sit on the wooden floor and then asked her to sit on the rug, she was very quickly to sit on the rug but took a while to sit on the wooden floor...she probably feels unstable on the wood floor.

Thanks for pointing that out!!

The heat could be a factor - the older dogs are not as heat tolerant as the younger ones.

If conditions are ok to excercise her some though, I would still keep it up.  I know it sounds harsh but if you don't keep those old bones moving things deteriorate a lot more quickly, IMO. -- whether it is DM or just spondylosis, excercise and weight cotnrol are still called for. 

I really think an x-ray is in order because if it involves arthritis then pain meds are in order and if it does not then you know. I don't think there is a definitive diagnosis of myelopathy without an expensive myelegram. 

Someone said an 11 year old GSD was OLD.  Well, guess it is all relative...........you may find a few more good years in the old girl.

I didn't get to read through everyone's replies so sorry if I'm repeating something.  She's getting old and is probably not into as much activity anymore.  She will let you know when she's tired and doesn't want to exercise anymore.  Do you have her on any joint supplements?   ie:  Glucosamine.   That's a good place to start.  I think someone said that a spine xray is a good thing as that can show if she has arthritis in her back, which is quite common as they get older.  Watch for other neurologic signs though too.  Dragging feet, which could indicate something more serious.  ie: DM as someone else has said. 

Acupuncture tends to work well in these older dogs too.  There are anti inflammatories for dogs too, but they have their own set of problems too.  ie:  Rimadyl or Deramaxx.  You have to weigh the good with the bad on these pain meds too.  They can cause G.I. problems or liver/kidney damage.  They do seem to help the older guys though and if the dog is having a lot of pain.  A lot of times these will be used in conjunction with Tramadol.  I work for a vet and we have a lot of older dogs on these pain meds and it definitely increases their mobility and comfort levels.  Some dogs even puppy like they feel that good.  However, before even starting any medication like that it's important to have a dog's bloodwork checked (liver and kidneys) and check bloodwork every six months or so. 

But, like I said you have to weigh the good with the bad on those pain meds.

sknrcgylseyr;woct;wqou'w49;mc[4w954p o;erfgcn o;wqcrny8e9 cwq398y4nc cq9epy8nrcfp9q3 q8p9cyn