THE look on Zumi's face said it all.
She was more than unimpressed with my attempts at helping her. She might as well have been rolling her eyes at me in a dismissive gesture and holding up one paw saying, "Talk to the paw."
I had placed a mounting block up to my truck in order for her to get into it with ease. A mounting block is really nothing more than a set of stairs allowing a rider to step onto the back of a horse more easily.
At 10 years of age, and with hips that are slightly dysplastic, Zumi needs assistance to get into my truck, even though she hates to admit it and cowgirls up by trying her darndest to jump in like the agile dog she once was.
Her hips no longer have the strength to propel her the three feet necessary to get in the back. Piper jumps in like a gazelle. I actually think I see him sticking his tongue out at her as he springs up four feet in the air and gracefully lands inside.
This year has been a bit tough on my Zuzu-bean (her nickname). Age seems to have caught up to her a bit and even though her energy is still high, her hips are beginning to force her, and me, to alter our routines. When I found out she had dysplastic hips nine years ago, she went on supplements the very next day. Anything natural I could find that would slow the progression of her eventual discomfort I included in her diet. I chose foods that would reduce inflammation in the body and build or at least maintain lean, supportive muscle mass and connective tissue.
It was important to keep her weight down so I also kept her active by hiking at a pace she set, rather than one I set, and I think it paid off because other than her inability to jump into my truck you would never know she had hip dysplasia. She is lean and fit with well-developed muscle mass through her hips, legs and back.
Hip dysplasia is a condition that causes an abnormal development of the hip in which the hip joint rubs against the socket.
This condition can cause severe pain for a dog due to inflammation, arthritis, bone spurs and bone deterioration. In very severe cases this condition will cause the hip to actually slip in and out of place.
Hip dysplasia can begin to develop at a very early age and will cause symptoms such as lameness, walking with an abnormal gait and difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying down position. Even though many people still associate hip dysplasia with German shepherds, there are many breeds that are prone to this condition, even some mix breeds are showing symptoms of hip dysplasia.
At one point in history a diagnosis of hip dysplasia was a death sentence. Many dog owners made the decision to euthanize their dogs upon the diagnosis because the dog would be in pain and the cost to treat the condition was high. Expensive surgeries
Humans' names: Rhys and Harrison Brown Pet: Karl, a two-year-old Labrador retriever mix Favourite activity: Karl enjoys hiking on the North Shore trails, when he isn't relaxing on the couch.
If you would like to appear in Pet Pause with your pet, please send information to [email protected]. Be sure to include name, breed and the age of your pet as well as your phone number. were often recommended and the recovery time and physical therapy was extensive. But with modern veterinary care and increased knowledge about the condition and dietary needs, things have changed.
Depending on the degree of dysplasia, many dogs, like Zumi, live long, active lives with the condition without the need of surgery. What works for me and Zumi may not necessarily work for you and your dog as each dog and diagnosis is unique.
The best advice I can give, if your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, is educate yourself then discuss the varied treatment options with your veterinarian. If you are unsure, then get a second opinion. Then start a course of dietary supplements and modify their exercise routine so that their physical activities do not exacerbate the condition.
