Snow Was Falling!

Today, on this rainy day when we woke up with a thin layer of snow, it is a perfect day to look back at the news we received at the end of last year. On the second to last day of last year, we unfortunately also received another message that we were not immediately happy about. On December 30, we took our Skipper to the vet. We had the feeling that something was not quite right, which turned out to be true: we do not have a definitive diagnosis because X-rays must be taken for this. But there is a big chance of arthrosis or HD in his left hind hip. It could also be a combination of both conditions. And our Skipper is only six years old. We are not happy about such news. But yes, it is not entirely unexpected either, unfortunately. Skipper is a large German Shepherd of 45 kilos, so the risk was certainly there. German Shepherds are unfortunately known for this, and the bigger the dog, the greater the chance of these kinds of problems. But still... we had hoped that our Skipper would escape that dance.

However, when we noticed that he didn't always want to climb on the couch anymore, and occasionally squeaked when he did, it was time to go to the vet. Of course, we first watched it for a while, the first time we noticed it he had also been super active during the day with digging, which could also have been some muscle pain. But when it happened more often we started to keep a closer eye on it. And then there comes a moment when you say, "Okay, this is not just some muscle pain". Skipper loved the trip to the vet. He has always loved car rides, and luckily we were spared the banging fireworks there. That Skipper was in the mood was clear, he pulled so hard on the leash out of enthusiasm that the snap hook broke off, and so Skipper suddenly walked through the village center without a leash. We didn't think that was such a good idea, but luckily our leash has a second snap hook so we could safely take Skipper with us. And then the moment at the vet, he liked her, also allowed her to check his hips and stretch his legs, only there too he indicated that he did not like it. Again, without x-rays no definitive diagnosis can be made, but the conclusion is indeed that there is a problem in his left hind hip. And that could be both osteoarthritis and HD. What now? We got Metacam from the vet, an anti-inflammatory and painkiller. And I have been giving him that for about a week now, at the moment I notice a difference ... He no longer shows any pain and climbs happily on the couch again. In that respect, I can say, "Yes, the Metacam works". In about a week, our vet will call to discuss the next steps, then we will probably lower the dosage so that we eventually end up with what is the lowest possible effective dosage for him. As with everything, Metacam also has possible side effects.

What Else To Do?

And these side effects have made us, in addition to the Metacam, delve into what else we can do to make Skipper's life as comfortable as possible. Daily walks are of course part of his routine. This helps keep his muscles strong. But the balls that he loves to chase, that is unfortunately not so good for him. Of course, he has to be able to remain a dog, and that means that he can still play with balls, only ... with a little more control. And in the summer? Then hopefully swimming will become a permanent part of his routine. Water is ideal: it relieves his joints and trains his muscles at the same time.

Supplements

He is now also getting extra supplements with Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Whether this will have an effect remains to be seen, but I want to try it anyway. In this case, it is something like, "If it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt". Let's hope that it does something and contributes to him staying pain-free and happy for as long as possible.

What are arthrosis and HD?

Of course, it is important to know what you are going to treat, and although there are similarities, the conditions are essentially very different. With arthrosis, the cartilage in the joints is affected. The cartilage inflames and slowly disappears, causing the bones to rub against each other. This is painful and makes movement more difficult. HD, or hip dysplasia, means that the femoral head does not fit properly in the hip socket. This causes instability, which in turn leads to wear and tear. It is more common in large dogs and can be very painful if left untreated. HD can contribute to arthrosis.

How We Want To Help Skipper?

We have already received many tips and here are a few things we are doing for Skipper now (or want to try soon):

• Exercise, but with care: Short, regular walks are better than long ones. So instead of a long walk each time, Skipper now goes out more often and we walk a little less long. This way we still keep his muscles strong, but without overloading his joints.
  
  

• Keeping an eye on his weight: Every extra kilo is an extra burden on his frame. Fortunately, Skipper is already at a healthy weight, but of course, that has to stay that way.
  
  

• Comfort in the house: We have a smooth floor at home, and that has advantages for me in keeping it clean, but disadvantages for Skipper to stand on. So now we are going to look for a few nice rugs to throw on that floor, which will ensure that he has an easy grip on the floor. We also want to see if an orthopedic dog bed is feasible, and whether he even wants one. He is a dog that gets warm quickly and then lies down on the cold floor himself.

• Warmth: In the winter we make sure that he stays nice and warm. Dogs with osteoarthritis often benefit from warmth, because it relaxes the muscles. So even though Skipper gets warm quickly, we now throw a blanket over him more often when he is sleeping in his basket. I have lined his basket with a soft filling on the inside.
  
  

• Adjustments: A step for the couch or a gangplank for the car can help him just that little bit. We want to make it as easy as possible for him. Fortunately, we are both handy and have the means to make this for him. So that is a project that we will start very soon.
  
  

A New Routine

With this diagnosis, some things will change, but with some adjustments and good care, he can still enjoy life for a long time. That is what we are going for. He deserves the best. It makes me happy to see that he is still cheerful. That big wagging tail when he greets me in the morning is just priceless.

We enjoy him every day. He is only six, and we hope that we can and may give him at least six more beautiful years, of course even more ... but we will see how far we get together!

Do you perhaps have any tips or experiences with dogs that have arthrosis or HD? Please share them! Everything that can help to make Skipper's life better is welcome.