Thursday 12 October 2017

No more jumping for Millie...

We haven’t done too much the last couple of weeks. Been going dog training and Millie’s been helping me at my trick training classes! They’re going well and everyone seems to be enjoying them. https://youtu.be/sBJBFZMiXvo


However, on Monday at dog training, we were doing a recalls and Millie wouldn’t lay down. When she finally did she got straight back up again. I thought she was just being difficult, but I left her in sit in the end. Then she didn’t want to get in the car. Again, I thought she was just being awkward. When we got home though, she jumped on the bed and yelped, then I realised she was in pain, not being difficult. I thought she’d probably twisted something. On Tuesday I didn’t do much with her, but she was struggling to get on the bed and sofas, still yelping a few times. She was also struggling to go up the stairs. Yesterday she didn’t seem so bad. I though whatever she’d done was getting better. I took her training and she seemed fine. However, when we were leaving, she struggled to get in the car. Outside she went up the kerb and yelped. I had to lift her on the bed as she couldn’t do it. She was clearly in lots of pain. 

I called the vet first thing this morning and booked her in. The vet examined her and poor Millie really cried. The vet said she has arthritis in both her hips, but the right is particularly bad. She’s on metacam for a week and we have to go back and review next week to decide the best course of action. There are lots of options to help relieve the pain, it’s just finding what works best for her. 

Fortunately, she will be able to live a happy, comfortable life but she’s not allowed to do any jumping or anything else that puts extra pressure on her hips. i.e. no more riding her scooter or hind leg tricks. Her exercise is important but she should do too much of it, so will have to reduce the length of our morning walk as well. 

Poor girl, she’s been so brave. 


As if to try and cheer us up a little, her rosette came when we got back for coming 3rd in the September Obedience Challenge.