My Ridgeback, who is 13 years old and in declining health, tore her CCL and meniscus. Surgery is just not an option due to her age. She has run her last run. She would go on runs with my wife at least 3 times a week for 5-6 miles each trip. It is what she lived for, what she was bred to do. This will kill her emotionally and eventually physically. Tears me up to see this happen to her. The wife has been asking about not taking her on runs lately due to her age, and I told her that Nala would rather die running, than die not being able to run.

Sucks, man.

Hate to hear that.

Just not much we can do for her now. She doesn't seem to be in too much pain, so am keeping her off the pain meds. I may add glucosamine as supplement to keep her hips and joints smooth as she will have added pressure. Any thoughts?

Tonight's update - Nala ate a full meal tonight and not quite as tender as yesterday. Still no weight she can put on her back left leg, but she is managing. Unfortunately I don't know how she will have a BM, but I bet she will figure it out. But right now I can see she still has spirit and fight in her eyes, but can sense the frustration. Darn tough dog. And a sweetheart to boot. Hang in there girl.

I love Ridgebacks. Sorry to hear about her injury. Keep her comfortable and give her lots ot TLC.

She will be well taken care. I wish we could just have one more run, chasing down a lion at 40 mph. She has the memories I know, she'll wake up at night with that look in her eye after a dream of chasing. Then sigh, and go back to sleep. Like all of you out there, your pups have given you so much peace, pleasure and forgiveness. Even more so when they are your partner in the field. Words can't describe. One day she will have a special spot under our hickory tree, right next to Pepper, our Dalmation 25 years ago.

Tonight's update: Nala is hanging in there and learning to hop on 3 legs. She is actually able to put a bit of weight without pain on the bad leg. Spirits still up. I am hopeful she will figure this out and get to live a few more months fairly normal, not just being able to run.

Prayers for Nala.

Ridgebacks have a special place in my heart - Nala's in my thoughts, as are your family - I'll be looking for your updates.

She knows you love her. Sorry to hear this.

Thanks gents for the kind thoughts. Nala is slowly going now. Has not eaten in a day and pain is setting in her joints in her good legs due to compensation to her injury. She has always been a fighter and I know she will be to the end. She spent the first months of her life in a hospital after dealing with dermoid sinus, a potentially fatal illness for Ridgebacks. But this is one tough breed! We treasure each day she is with us. We named her Nala, after the movie Lion King, where the queen was a lion hunter. Ridgebacks are from Africa, and were bred to hunt hunt lions because of their speed in tracking them down. Those of you who have had Rhodesian Ridgebacks understand their unending loyalty to their family. A big, beautiful imposing animal. Yet gentle as can be to their family. Nala has never really been a gun dog, just not in her blood. But there have been countless trips to the ranch where she has been my sole companion. I will try to look up a pic and post. Thanks again.

My Shepherd/Rott is getting up there in age, and the arthritis is starting to get to him. I started him on the Synflex liquid, and he's shown marked improvement. No more limping after getting up after naps, more active, generally a happier dog. According to my vet, the liquid is generally more effective, as the actual dosage of glucosamine can vary in pill form.

AMAZON

Amazon is about the cheapest I've found it. Pour it over her food like gravy.

Best of luck to her.

Thanks Shotgun, I will check that out!

A few pics of Nala about 6 or 7 years ago. She is not doing much better today. Will not eat much, probably due to the pain meds. But I can still see fight and spirit in her. I am going to cut her pain meds in half. Mama has her on glucosamine pills, which she does swallow, but I am going to order the liquid supplement as suggested by Willie. Good news is she went out to the barn today and did her best to chase a chicken!

Back then she was 88 pounds of solid muscle and a loving heart. She is now down to 73.

Nala update. Got the SynFlex in and she is actually eating more when I drizzle it on her food. She is gettin around a little better, she can put a little weight on her bad leg now without pain pills. Her benign growths are getting larger though, and looks like they are pressing on her lungs. Doc said not much to do about that though. Her check up came back clean, just the age issue and busted knee. Still in good spirits the last couple of days.

sorry to hear

sorry for your loss

Sorry to her that..

Guys, she's not gone just yet! Appreciate the thoughts!

Update 8/3/13
Have had Nala on SynFlex for over a week now. She seems to have less pain but still is losing her leg due to the injury. She sleeps or lies down now about 20 hours a day and eats only every other day. Mom went out to the lake yesterday to run and she was heartbroken she couldn't go and started whining. She has begun to realize she will never run again and for her that is the end. I can see now in her eyes she is fading. Yet she is still fighting. Day by day now. Hang in there girl! You have always been a fighter.....

Hang in there man, I know it isn't easy.

A few years ago I had to put my 12 year old Golden Retriever to sleep. Actually, I was out of town and my wife had to take him to the vet. After he was gone, They packed him in a nice box and I picked him up when I got back into town and buried him underneath the big tree where he chased dozens of squirrels. I'm a 59 year old guy who has lost both my parents and 2 siblings, and I think losing Reveille hit me harder than any of those. He loved to run in the yard or the field and for the last few weeks he was just about unable to walk. I sat with him for hours and talked about the "good old days". He would put his head down on my knee and just doze off.
Now that he's gone, I like to think that he's somewhere better, where the squirrels aren't quite so fast and the birds don't fall in the stickers. About two years after he died, I got another Golden, and I learned that two dogs that are almost identical in appearance can be complete opposites in personality.
Also, I keep remembering the old saying, "I just want to be half the man my dog thinks I am".
Good luck with Nala. I hope the medicines help.

I have been gone from the boards a while, but came looking for your thread....Nice to see your pics - Nala is a beauty! There truly is no closer friend than your heart-dog. Our time with them is never long enough. Hang in there.