Life with dogs

Sometimes Mickey has trouble getting up. It seems like he gets about halfway, then he kinda twists and his legs don't straighten and he ooches around and it takes a little effort for him to stand properly. He doesn't yelp. Doesn't seem to be in pain. He just gets stuck.
I know he has hip issues. His rear legs move in unison when he runs, he can't run flat-out, and he has the tell-tale bunny hop. He used to be able to sprint fast enough to run King down--much to King's amazement letmetellyou--but for the past 6-9 months, he chases King for a little bit, then peels off. He still has some bounce, but something's missing. Given that he's 2-3 years older than I originally was led to believe, I guess it makes sense. Elderly dog with hip issues, hello.

He needs help getting into the truck now. I carry one of those tire ramps around for him to use as a step stool.

He's on Level 3 Glycoflex, and omega 3&6. Even the SAMe he takes for his liver is supposed to help with osteoarthritis.

He could use a little more exercise. Lately he hasn't done much more than run out to do his business. Exercise is supposed to help.

I admit to being a little squirrely about the can't-get-up part. It reminds me of Prince, who started having trouble with his rear half and was later diagnosed with GSD myelopathy, which led to us having to put him down. I'm not seeing the same signs with Mickey, who doesn't have any GSD blood anyway, and I'm 99% sure we're dealing with a combo of age and bad hips. But he turned out to be older than I thought he was, and every day he gets a little older still.

Life with dogs

Sometimes Mickey has trouble getting up. It seems like he gets about halfway, then he kinda twists and his legs don't straighten and he ooches around and it takes a little effort for him to stand properly. He doesn't yelp. Doesn't seem to be in pain. He just gets stuck.
I know he has hip issues. His rear legs move in unison when he runs, he can't run flat-out, and he has the tell-tale bunny hop. He used to be able to sprint fast enough to run King down--much to King's amazement letmetellyou--but for the past 6-9 months, he chases King for a little bit, then peels off. He still has some bounce, but something's missing. Given that he's 2-3 years older than I originally was led to believe, I guess it makes sense. Elderly dog with hip issues, hello.

He needs help getting into the truck now. I carry one of those tire ramps around for him to use as a step stool.

He's on Level 3 Glycoflex, and omega 3&6. Even the SAMe he takes for his liver is supposed to help with osteoarthritis.

He could use a little more exercise. Lately he hasn't done much more than run out to do his business. Exercise is supposed to help.

I admit to being a little squirrely about the can't-get-up part. It reminds me of Prince, who started having trouble with his rear half and was later diagnosed with GSD myelopathy, which led to us having to put him down. I'm not seeing the same signs with Mickey, who doesn't have any GSD blood anyway, and I'm 99% sure we're dealing with a combo of age and bad hips. But he turned out to be older than I thought he was, and every day he gets a little older still.