Hips and Bones

Question
Hi Trish,

Thanks by the way, your advice and information has helped my wife and I raise the most wonderful little dog.  She is eight months old and people can't stop talking about how she is the most well manared and well adjusted dog they have ever seen.  Between you and the Cesar, The Dog Whisperer, we have been able to think like a dog and then with your information, think like a Pom.

I searched through the archives and believe the answer is going to be glucosamine, but wanted to see if there were any other diet requirements she may need to protect her bones and hips.  Over the past two weeks, I have seen her pull up limping a couple of times and just recently saw her really take a nasty fall off the coach.  I am scared that this will be a little early for her to develop arthritis.  Is glucosamine the answer, or is there some calcium supplements that would work as well.

Thanks again for all of your help, our dog would not be the same without your advice.

Brian Starkey

Answer
Thank you for your nice comments!

Glucosamine is a great idea.  You can also offer crushed calcium or a calcium pill in a treat.  Whatever her body doesn't use will be expelled.  You can't OD in it. :o)
From your description it sounds like she may have luxating patella's and if kennel rest and the glucosime doesn't help then she may need some help from the vet.  Please get more than one opinion as many vets rush to surgery when it isn't always necesary.

A bad fall, a bad jump can cause an injury to the knees or hips so she will need kennel rest to help it heal.

Best of luck.
-Trish