Copper has not had much chance to run this year now that all the local fields are off limits to dogs. With my own back problems, I can't walk them enough on leash. His hindquarters have been getting a bit wobbly. He is my 12 year old Aussie basketcase with lots of spinal scarring directly over his hips from some accident as a pup. The hips themselves have always xrayed fine (as recently as 1 or 2 years ago?). I am fairly sure this is mostlyl musclular with some aggravation from the spine scars.
He gets glucosamine, anti-oxidants, and I try to keep his nails clipped though I don't always succeed. He still loves to run, more than Leilah does, and will do so across the house every single night when I get home. He does slip and slide on the wood floors sometimes. I've taught him to not turn until he gets onto carpeted areas for the most part, like agility contacts. He has a very high pain threshold, I call him the lunkhead because of it, and even if he falls, he gets up smiling and silly and running again.
For various reasons, I've decided to try to take him into the obedience ring, and he's doing real well in training. I hadn't realized until I started this training how much his muscles have weakened, it's not so obvious just around the house. He barely has enough push to pick up speed well on a figure 8 or an about turn. All the sitting and getting up from a sit should help, doing more turns too. His head set is very low, which makes it even harder for him to use his back end, when all of his weight is on his forehand.
Here he is pretenting to be a conformation dog a few months ago, his head is being held up a bit, and the fur fluffed up a bit to hide a bit of a swayback, but you can see the imbalance between fore and aft.
<img src="http://www.wonderpuppy.net/misc4/cconf2smb.jpg">
But does anyone have ideas to help him more? Something that won't take it out on my own back too much? He's not toy driven, but he'll do a lot for hot dogs!
PT for weak hindquarters?
PT for weak hindquarters?
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend:and inside a dog, it's too dark to read."
-- Groucho Marx
-- Groucho Marx
Re: PT for weak hindquarters?
deep bath tub or swimming pools are the best but not always practicle but lots of dogs get exercise on peoples tread mills, you have to train them first but once they get the hang of it they seem to enjoy it.....massage never hurst either but does not put stamina back in
LM- he is such a doll! Beautiful dog and I love the lunkhead bit. Now that Honey is so much better with the Gluc/Condr she has been getting she sometimes overdoes it. Couple days ago she came tearing thru the yard ran up the deck steps full speed and something gave out. My heart stopped when she started limping (not using her GOOD leg)...oh, brother.
But very thankfully she was ok in a while. Now when she tries to do that I tell her " EASY- take it easy" and she slows down a bit cause she understands that.
Don't have any ideas really, but she plays a lot in the house which is good cause it limits her range and speed. She's definitely toy driven, but if he is "hot dog driven" (ha,ha)...how about a treat in a kong thingy/ just an idea.
But very thankfully she was ok in a while. Now when she tries to do that I tell her " EASY- take it easy" and she slows down a bit cause she understands that.
Don't have any ideas really, but she plays a lot in the house which is good cause it limits her range and speed. She's definitely toy driven, but if he is "hot dog driven" (ha,ha)...how about a treat in a kong thingy/ just an idea.
Re: PT for weak hindquarters?
I have no access to a pool, but I sure wish! I could use it myself. Treadmill sounds like an idea, but after looking at them online, I sure can't afford those right now. It would have to be homemade or second hand.
I thought about how dressage and gaited horses get taught to use their hind quarters by transferring weight back and lifting in front. One thing I realized I can do is to encourage more head's up attention style heeling for very short periods (under a minute to start with). Bringing the front end upwards will transfer some weight to his hindquarters and make them work a bit harder. Too bad I can't rig him up with side reins and lunge him, LOL.
Mompaws, I know it's SO scary when they've hurt themselves like that! Glad she pulled out of it. Treat in a kong is usually not a very active activity here, they tend to just lay there slurping them once they get hold of them, LOL.
I thought about how dressage and gaited horses get taught to use their hind quarters by transferring weight back and lifting in front. One thing I realized I can do is to encourage more head's up attention style heeling for very short periods (under a minute to start with). Bringing the front end upwards will transfer some weight to his hindquarters and make them work a bit harder. Too bad I can't rig him up with side reins and lunge him, LOL.
Mompaws, I know it's SO scary when they've hurt themselves like that! Glad she pulled out of it. Treat in a kong is usually not a very active activity here, they tend to just lay there slurping them once they get hold of them, LOL.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend:and inside a dog, it's too dark to read."
-- Groucho Marx
-- Groucho Marx
-
Guest
Re: PT for weak hindquarters?
Have you checked out infrared laser therapy? I had a dog years back that had sponddylosis, and was not too comfortable. Using the laser tharapy for a week before the competition, she was high in trial herding sheep.
I now use a portable unit for myself on a daily basis, and for any dog or horse problems. Check out a search.
I now use a portable unit for myself on a daily basis, and for any dog or horse problems. Check out a search.
Re: PT for weak hindquarters?
How would infrared laser therapy help weak his weak muscles? Other than maybe increasing blood flow.
Looking at google, I'm not getting a good idea of how it's used - I see hair restoration, venous ulceration, burns, sterilization and surface antibiotic type stuff. Also seems infrared laser "actupuncture" is used for pain, but he's just weak and not in much pain if at all. I can't find anything about it being used for muscle problems.
I think excersize is going to be the major solution for him, but just trying to figure out how.
Looking at google, I'm not getting a good idea of how it's used - I see hair restoration, venous ulceration, burns, sterilization and surface antibiotic type stuff. Also seems infrared laser "actupuncture" is used for pain, but he's just weak and not in much pain if at all. I can't find anything about it being used for muscle problems.
I think excersize is going to be the major solution for him, but just trying to figure out how.
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend:and inside a dog, it's too dark to read."
-- Groucho Marx
-- Groucho Marx
Re: PT for weak hindquarters?
To be not too technical - the infrared light will stimulate the mitochondria sections of the cells. This will help speed up growth and repair in the area. Yes circulation will increase - brings nutrients there in the increased flow. Also, the immune sytem will be stimulated to send the cells that remove debris and fluid, so that inflammation discomfort is decreased. Doc McKibbon used the lasers (low level) on scar tissue for the race horses. Said it helped remove some byproduct of the scar tissue that is irritating to the area. I`m talking about LLLT --- low level laser therapy.