Am I over excersicing my GSD? - Page 1

I have a 11 yrs old GSD. We used to lived in the UK but moved to Brasil last year. I noticed that since we moved her stamina has decreased which I think is due to the hot weather. In the winter months I noticed she was having a bit of problem standing up after going down to do a poo... my that only happened in the mornings. I noticed she takes ages to sit down , she goes down really slowing, but doesnt seem to have any pain.

When she walk I can hear her back legs well her nails, its as if she is dragging not lifting from the floor, i can explain propertly ...

I take her for a 1 hour walk and make her do some mind training excercise and running and retrive. These days when i take her out, she just seems to want to stroll around and sniff the grass...when we get to a street that is the way to the park, she starts to pull back to go home, is she being lazy or I should take it it with her?

I dont want to stop excersising her bcs I want to keep her mobile and slim, but dont want to overdue and make her sore.

Thanks

Have you had her to the vet to check her out? If she is dragging her feet she maybe having problem with her rear end.

i would say she is telling you she has had enough excerse and would like to cut back and smell the flowers. We all slow down as we get older. If you see her gaining weight, cut back on her food. again this could be a medical problem, I would have her checked.

Sounds like she is getting old a stiff. I'm sure her walk is enough to keep her joints working, she is a senior now, no need to push her to "exersize" if she so obviously shows displeasure in it. She is at retirement age, let her do what makes her happy in her last years.

 Have you taken the dog to a veterinarian? It sounds like your dog is probably suffering from arthritis, at the very least. Perhaps also she has a neurological problem common in German Shepherds where they loose the ability to use their rear legs. Dragging nails on the floor is a sign of trouble. No one here can help you figure out what is wrong. See a vet and then follow their recommendations. If it is a progressive kind of neurological problem, there is little that can be done except feed her quality food and keep her weight trim and love her for as much time as you have with her. Some people choose to put dogs in mechanical carts when their legs go out, but that must be a personal decision. It is one I would not choose unless the dog was otherwise in excellent health. Usually, by the time these conditions show up, the dog is old and already health compromised.

Good luck.

Hey Thanks all

I have taken her to the Vet and she said she is getting old and probably doesnt want to exercise too much. No one can really notice/hear that she doesnt move her leg up when walk, the sound of the nail touching the pavement is quiet sutle.

I hear it bcs I am most of my time with her, so any thing different on her I can see it straight way. I though it would be better to ask ppl who had and has GSD :)

She still loves chasing the ball (Although not letting her do this now bcs its too hot) it seems that the walking part is not fun anymore for her :(. Hopefully it is just that, she had enought of the madness :)

I need to compasate not walking her as normal, bcs on the days she doesnt walk for an hour,she gets bored and start to want to play with her ball, but when we walk our normal routine, she sleeps all day long...

Thanks for the replies though much apreciated...

if any of you have any ideas of different exercise, bare in mind I live in a flat, so no back garden :)

Do you have access to a lake,  pond, or swimming pool. Swimming is excellent exercise for the older ones. Releives the presure of the weight on the joints.  She looks like a very sweet old girl. Also I give mine glucosamine, seems to helps the joints. Good luck with her.

I have seen that happen with other GSDs and other dogs as they get older. Did the vet x-ray her?  Mine had spondylosis and I think that is not uncommon.  Basically he head arthritis all over, in this case the toe dragging was due to spinal issues - but degenerative myelophathy can also cause that**. Similar gait. Your dog probably IS in pain.

What followed for us was loss of muscle mass in the back legs and building muscle mass on the front to compensate and complete loss of control of the  back-end over a two year period (this was from age 13-15).  Around age 14, he started to develop a low level of urinary incontinence. My current 11 year old is a bit stiff on the back.

Some considerations

Uphill walking - that is what the recommended to keep muscle mass in my dysplastic 5 year old - and it is not hard on the spine as running and retrieveing. If no hills, what about steps? (Going DOWN steps seems very hard though when they get like that) --but once again - quality of life -- if she does not enjoy it -- - Does she like swimming or walking in water (walking in chest high water is particularly good)

Pain meds - who CARES if they shorten the dogs life if they improve the quality?

Glucosamine supplement (I use Glucsoamine-MSM- Chondroitin)

**we did not test for DM because the test was expensive and not sure it would make any difference in an older dog.

Oh my 11 year old still plays fetch (I play with all three at the same time) but I throw his balls closer and shorter.  I keep his sessions shorter than he likes (he gets 5 minutes, the other two get about 20) and I give him dermaxx when he seems a bit "stiff".   Also salmon oil is a good anti-inflammatory.

hi bruxa, u can depend on homoeopathic medicine ""CONIUM -200""   It is a wonderful medicine for hind weakness especially for a GSD.  u can give first three doses at an interval of 15 minutes.  Thereafter, one dose in the evening.  Next day onwards, give one dose in the morning and one in the evening.  One dose means around 7-8 pills. continue it for 5 -7 days.

hopefully, she will be alright

regards,

She looks like a very sweet old girl.

If she doesn't like walking anymore why make her?  She is OLD.  If she likes to chase the ball a litle bit, why not just let her?  Sure it may be hot there, but it is NOT too hot that you can't throw the ball for her a couple of times. 

TO me,  forcing an old dog to exercise is like forcing an 80yo human to have a job.  If they WANT to that is one thing, but they shouldn't HAVE to. (And it sounds like sheis trying to tell you she doesn't want to be forced to walk.) Why not just let her enjoy her "retirement"?