Labrador has slipped a disc
Discussion
Hi all
Welcoming thoughts from this great forum.
Earlier this afternoon our 11 year-old black lab slipped a disc. He s a fit, active, lean boy with no underlying health conditions. In the last couple of years he s had barely perceptible stiffness in his hips that has responded well to a vet-approved, non prescription supplement.
He and I did a good hours walk on the common 1st thing this morning where he was trotting about, playing with other dogs and generally being his normal self. He was fine when we got home and, just after lunchtime, he was lying on the rug in the sitting room next to where I was sitting. He went to get up, yelped in pain and couldn t take his weight on his hind legs. He was getting distressed and wet himself a bit so Mrs H and I bundled him into the car and took him to the local emergency vet.
By the time we got there and got him booked in, he was calmer, in less obvious pain and could bear his weight on his hind legs, albeit was limping a lot. The vet checked him over thoroughly and prescribed Tramadol and Robenacoxib. She also told us that he needs rest and to avoid straining his back so he s basically off games for 4-6 weeks. By the time we left he was walking better and not in any pain.
At the moment, he s a bit woozy from the drugs but I m worried about how, physically and psychologically, a fit, active Lab is going to cope with short bodily function walks round our garden, on a lead for 4-6 weeks.
Fortunately my wife works from home so she can sit with him all day whilst she works but I d welcome any tips on how to keep him stimulated and happy whilst he can t exercise
Welcoming thoughts from this great forum.
Earlier this afternoon our 11 year-old black lab slipped a disc. He s a fit, active, lean boy with no underlying health conditions. In the last couple of years he s had barely perceptible stiffness in his hips that has responded well to a vet-approved, non prescription supplement.
He and I did a good hours walk on the common 1st thing this morning where he was trotting about, playing with other dogs and generally being his normal self. He was fine when we got home and, just after lunchtime, he was lying on the rug in the sitting room next to where I was sitting. He went to get up, yelped in pain and couldn t take his weight on his hind legs. He was getting distressed and wet himself a bit so Mrs H and I bundled him into the car and took him to the local emergency vet.
By the time we got there and got him booked in, he was calmer, in less obvious pain and could bear his weight on his hind legs, albeit was limping a lot. The vet checked him over thoroughly and prescribed Tramadol and Robenacoxib. She also told us that he needs rest and to avoid straining his back so he s basically off games for 4-6 weeks. By the time we left he was walking better and not in any pain.
At the moment, he s a bit woozy from the drugs but I m worried about how, physically and psychologically, a fit, active Lab is going to cope with short bodily function walks round our garden, on a lead for 4-6 weeks.
Fortunately my wife works from home so she can sit with him all day whilst she works but I d welcome any tips on how to keep him stimulated and happy whilst he can t exercise
Stu R said:
We have a 9 year old black lab that just recovered from the same. Hydrotherapy was recommended as helping the recovery and shortening the time. Worth asking your vet about. Ours lives on the lakefront so is basically a fish, so he took to it rather well.
Thanks and interesting. We have the worlds only hydrophobic Labrador so may not work for us but we’re taking him to our own vet tomorrow so we’ll discuss - many thanks againWas going to say the same...had a few labs one that had hip issues and swimming was perfect. Most labs love it too. It would turn a hobbling old man in pain into a slow but pain free happy boy.
Coincidentally, as an ex rower and keen cyclist I've had a lot of back issues over the years. Swimming was what stopped me having to have surgery. I'd got as far as a nerve route block and no amount of physio had helped. It really is a magical exercise for back...boring as all hell though.
Cross posted - if he hates swimming that's a challenge. How food orientated is he? You might be able to get him to enjoy it was his favourite tidbit.
Coincidentally, as an ex rower and keen cyclist I've had a lot of back issues over the years. Swimming was what stopped me having to have surgery. I'd got as far as a nerve route block and no amount of physio had helped. It really is a magical exercise for back...boring as all hell though.
Cross posted - if he hates swimming that's a challenge. How food orientated is he? You might be able to get him to enjoy it was his favourite tidbit.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
. How food orientated is he? You might be able to get him to enjoy it was his favourite tidbit.
This is the Lab that, in his life, has stolen and eaten:A 2 Kg sirloin of beef
A whole chicken carcass
300g of fois gras (including packaging)
A doner kebab with chilli sauce, dropped by someone a few paces in front of him
The rotting remains of a long-dead Canada goose (the last remnants of which he ‘dabbed behind his ears’ as a happy reminder of a lucky feast
It’s fair to say that, even by the standards of a Labrador, he’s a greedy f*cker
ClaphamGT3 said:
TGCOTF-dewey said:
. How food orientated is he? You might be able to get him to enjoy it was his favourite tidbit.
This is the Lab that, in his life, has stolen and eaten:A 2 Kg sirloin of beef
A whole chicken carcass
300g of fois gras (including packaging)
A doner kebab with chilli sauce, dropped by someone a few paces in front of him
The rotting remains of a long-dead Canada goose (the last remnants of which he dabbed behind his ears as a happy reminder of a lucky feast
It s fair to say that, even by the standards of a Labrador, he s a greedy f*cker
Hope he gets well...it's hard seeing an active dog struggle.
ETA...on that theme, my old Lab ate an unwashed takeaway curry tray that we'd left on the counter with the aim of clearing up in the morning. He had glitter poo for two days.
He also mugged an old man who'd just left the local bakery. They used paper bags so he ripped it open and scarfed down the bread rolls. My late father was not amused as he was dog sitting.
Edited by TGCOTF-dewey on Sunday 10th May 19:55
ClaphamGT3 said:
Stu R said:
We have a 9 year old black lab that just recovered from the same. Hydrotherapy was recommended as helping the recovery and shortening the time. Worth asking your vet about. Ours lives on the lakefront so is basically a fish, so he took to it rather well.
Thanks and interesting. We have the worlds only hydrophobic Labrador so may not work for us but we re taking him to our own vet tomorrow so we ll discuss - many thanks againHope everything works out well for you.
ETA: forgot to say, the tank is empty when they enter, so that may help with the hydrophobia!
Edited by -Cappo- on Monday 11th May 07:44
ClaphamGT3 said:
GiantEnemyCrab said:
There are dog c/ animal chiropractors but no idea on how sensible they are in fixing stuff.
Thanks but, on something as critical as a slipped disc injury that could paralyse him if exacerbated, no pseudo-science quack is going within a million miles of him
ClaphamGT3 said:
GiantEnemyCrab said:
There are dog c/ animal chiropractors but no idea on how sensible they are in fixing stuff.
Thanks but, on something as critical as a slipped disc injury that could paralyse him if exacerbated, no pseudo-science quack is going within a million miles of himGassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff