I took my seven year old lab out on Saturday morning and she did outstanding. I made it a point to take it easy so that I don't have any issues with pain and stiffness. Everything went well and I took her out Monday for some marks just to have some fun. Now she is so lame (left back quarter) that she can barely walk. I am really worried that her hunting days are over.

Sorry to hear Gdogg, I had the same issue with Molly last season. She has rested all off-season, and was planning on going real easy on her when duck season starts, but listening to you I will go even more easy. I got my fingers crossed she can make it thru this season.

Hey Gdogg- have you tried giving her dog asprin and glucosamine? I give my dog glucosamine year round for his hip/joints, and it really seems to help. I also give him dog asprin in the beginning of seasons/after long hard days, and it really helps him recover. You should be able to get both at any pet store, and they aren't that expensive for large bottles.

Good luck with her. it is always hard having to retire a good dog.

no way Dixie stays down for the count

Daisy just turned 5 years old yesterday. Thinking about her hunting days being half way over (or more) makes me sad.

Best wishes.

Ed & Daisy

Sorry to hear that Gdogg.

Dixie gets a daily glucasomine and chrondritin (I'm sure my spelling is off) supplement and she has been doing so well. My wife walks/runs two miles Monday-Friday. Her weight is awesome, she has great energy but this lameness is seriously worrying me. It looks like I will be going to my other lab, it's just not the same. Thanks for all the kind thoughts.

Sorry Gdogg...I hope Daisy gets to feeling better!

That stinks Gary. Let us know any updates...

It is tough Gary. Bullet is now reduced to pond hunts. I have really had to change my way of thinking about hunting and is part of gettitng these beaver ponds up and ginning again.

It is sad to see them go from king of retrievers to sore and arthritic. He spent all those days for me, the rest are for him. I will change the way we do business.

The hardest think I had to watch was my Brittany get too old to hunt. When he died I quit hunting for a year. His name was Kaycee and he was a good dog.

My wife's Springer Spaniel is about 16 years old. She can't harly walk across the room. The vet has her on glucosomene. Somedays are better than others.

Just not fair that a house cat will live 20 years and a hunting dog is an old person at 8 years. (I apologize to the cat people reading this, but that is how I feel.)

I hate to hear it Gdogg. I have Redbone 4 years and I can see how he's starting to slow down.

Bummer. Maybe she just pulled a muscle or something. 7 isnt that old

Rimadyl works wonders

X2
Get your dog on glucosamine & chondroitin ASAP. I have tried several different brands of joint supplement for my lab. The stuff that I consider magic in a bottle is Consequin DS. It's more expensive then the other brands but worth every penny.

x2

Sorry to hear that, get har on gluc and a coated baby aspirin the night before the hunt, and after the hunt. Ive noticed a big diff

Sorry bout that. Had my old yellow lab hurt his shoulder one time in a muddy rice field retrieving a snow goose. Took him to the vet and it turned out to be a pinched nerve. Hopefully you have the same luck and she heals quickly for ya. Well pray for ya.

Not much of a change. Everytime I come home, she has high energy and is ready to go....however she puts only a small amount of pressure on her leg. I know I'm being a puzz but it is breaking my heart.

Perhaps it was a random injury that she will recover from vs a reoccurring one...at least that's what I hope.

damn Gary sorry to hear that! Dixie is one bada$$ dog.

btw teal are showing up!...

7 not old, tell us more about what her symptoms are. Is she not putting weight on a rear leg?

Hope she comes around.

Sorry about your girl. Hope she recovers.

For all you guys who are giving your dog supplements. Dog supplements are so expensive it's a rip off. You can buy supplements are the drug store for humans and adjust the dose to match your dogs weight and its a fraction of the cost.

Had to give my old black lab glucosamine and chondroiton for sev years before he passed and it help my pocket book. Hope it helps.

She has had some stiffness/soreness in her left hip area after a hard work out. I would give her one anti-inflammatory and she would be fine. My wife joggs with the dogs every morning for about two miles and she has been doing great. She hunted with me on the opening morning and everything was fine. On Monday, when I was throwing some marks, she back lame after the 8th or 9th mark. I immediately stopped, took her back to the truck and even today she puts little pressure on her left leg. She may have been a little better this morning. I'm crossing my fingers.