My dog has mobility issues and is a very picky eater. What to do?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oreo. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian soon. It sounds like she is experiencing multiple issues. If she is painful, she will experience difficulty with her mobility. This can also affect her appetite. The veterinarian will examine her and determine the source of her mobility issues. Laboratory work may be recommended to determine if there is another cause of her decreased appetite and if she is healthy enough for pain medications. In the meantime, carry her as much as possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

First I would recommend to have Cloud examined by her veterinarian. Cloud is old enough that she may start to exhibit the beginning signs of hip dysplasia or other growth abnormality. Large and giant breed dogs are prone to the issues and the issues are best addressed while the pet is very young to avoid permanent changes to the body. The veterinarian will need radiographs to look at the joints and determine what to do next. At home you can give her supplements. Start giving an omega 3 fatty acid (Nutramax makes a nice product) can help with natural inflammation control. Make sure to get one meant for pets. Go ahead and start her on a joint supplement. Dasuquin is a good product for the joints. It will help to keep the inflammation in the joints lower and this will decrease pain. If you are interested in a diet change, Royal Canin makes a diet called Mobility Support which has green lipped muscle as an ingredient and pets tend to do very well in it. You cannot use this though until Cloud is adult sized as it is not formulated to support growth of puppies. I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Olivia. As they age it can be so difficult as their internal organs are functioning perfectly but their bodies are developing arthirits which can be crippling. I would start her on some joint supplements if you haven't already. I like dasuquin and flexadin. You can actually do both as long as your seaparate each one by 12 hours so you would give dasuquin in the AM and flexadin in the PM. If she has trouble slipping on slick floors I would consider buying some Dr. Buzby's toegrips to help with traction. You can also start her on an omega-3 fatty acid to help with her joints. I would also talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and inflammation if needed. You don't have to give her this daily but just on the days that she is having a tough time. Although, if every day is tough, then don't hesitate to give it. Finally, I would consider getting her some acupuncture as this can really help relieve pain if you can find one in your area. The goal with geriatrics is to give the a good QUALITY of life over quantity so focus on her pain relief and her mobility to see if you can help her feel better. I hope this helps !

I am so sorry to hear this. I would make sure she is on a joint supplement - I like dasuquin or flexadin. I would also look into the orthodog hip hound brace. I have had some of my geriatric patients who this has help tremendously with getting up. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on everyone. I would also talk to your vet about whether or not she needs a daily anti-inflammatory to help keep her comfortable. Finally, if you can find a vet in your area who specializes in acupuncture and Chinese herbs, this can be a tremendous help to increase the STRENGTH and decrease pain in an arthritic dog. I hope this helps!

Sounds like your dog is having quite a few mobility issues. I'm not sure your how old your dog is, but with these symptoms I would suspect an older dog. There are things you can do to help (to a point) like adding a ramp or pet stairs to make going up and down easier, a good memory foam bed to soothe achy bones, glucosamine will help lubricate her joints so she moves a little easier, your vet may be able to offer some pain meds for the bad days but these are all temporary solutions. If she is an older pet this is where considering quality of life becomes important. She may be an older pet where these conditions get worse until she can't get outside to the bathroom and get to the food bowl. Simply getting to the necessities becomes a chore, that is not a life. It would be best to let her have her dignity and let her go if that is the case. Enjoy the time you have left together.

Unfortunately it sounds like Bailey has joint pain or arthritis possibly of the hips or spine. X-rays may help to provide more information on the exact site of the problem and it sounds like he requires additional pain relief from prescription anti-inflammatories. Acupuncture and chiropractic care can be helpful also and weight loss is definitely recommended to remove additional strains, my preferred option here is hills metabolic mobility diet which is supplemented with joint support, natural anti-inflammatories and promotes healthy weight loss whilst preserving muscle strength and fitness

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. Her legs may be hurting as well from something like a soft tissue injury or back pain for example which may be causing her to not eat well. I recommend that you have Zoey evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!