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Originally Posted by Connie  Great thread, Denise, and I think everyone will be interested in learning more about LP. Libby has grade 2 LP and I am giving her Flexicose which is a liquid glucosamine complex, in hopes of keeping it from getting worse and relieving any pain. Here is the site: Liquid Glucosamine Complex FlexicoseŽ I just noticed, while doing a search, that I can get it cheaper on Ebay, so I'll buy it there next time. I also take Flexicose and notice a huge relief in my joints and also give it to Maddie. She doesn't have a problem, but I want to keep it that way. My vet also told me to keep Libby skinny, and then she'll have a much better chance of it not getting worse.
When Libby was first diagnosed, she had done it while jumping off a chair. She had problems for the next week or so...when she'd run, she'd let out a yelp from pain and she'd hold up her leg quite often and limp when walking on all four. She's been good since then except for once, and I notice that the cold bothers her and she begins limping. We keep an area of the grass shoveled for them to potty in, but Libby...she just HAS to walk through the deep snow to do her thing. LOL
Libby gets lots of exercise in the house, and in the sping/summer/fall, I try to walk her each day. I could be wrong, but I think it's good to walk them and strengthen the muscle and ligaments around the knee. At least that's what I was told when I had a knee injury...so I figure that would hold true for dogs too. I don't walk her if she's hurting, but as long as she's showing no signs of distress, I'll keep exercising her.
I also feel so bad for everyone having to deal with LP in their babies. I feel fortunate that Libby's is only a 2 and I'm hoping and praying to keep it that way. Hugs to all of you who are having to deal with LP surgery. |
Connie,
I believe I read about the supplement you gave to your yorkies in another thread. I have ordered the flexicose in the hope it would help my 2-year-old baby, Sugar. The doctor hasn't given her a final diagnosis yet, but from all the information I have been reading and vet's preliminary check-up, I believe Sugar has LP just like many other yorkies I have read about here. She showed some signs of LP for a few days (trying to get up but dragging her back legs after naps), got better, then her right back leg started to hurt after a fight with my other yorkie, who likes to attack Sugar's back leg. Then, Sugar started limping while using four legs, raised the injured leg while standing, avoiding to put her body weight on that leg. .... She is on pain medicine right now for 5 days ... I am hoping to get the flexicose ASAP and see if it will do some magic work on Sugar. I am worried that she will not be able to keep other legs healthy if she can't keep the balance, so I have been limiting her jumpings up and off the couch, up and down the stairs. She can still run quite well, even though she is not really using that leg that much. Do you think walking her is okay when she is still limping? I know she needs to lose weight because she is 10.7 lbs. Losing weight will help her for sure, but can she really go out and take the walk when she is still limping? I am hoping she can recover the right back leg on her own, it's been 8 days since she got injured and the 5th day since she started her pain medicine. When you walk Libby, do you only walk her when she walks normal on all fours? What you said makes sense, but I don't know if she will strain her other legs more and lead to more injuries if the leg with LP is still not functioning as normal as can be....Thanks a lot for reading my entry. Anyone who likes to help provide the feedback would be much appreciated!!!