Back Legs Problem
Bubba is soon to be 11 years old in a couple months. a few weeks ago we were going downstairs where the computer room is and had already went down the six steps from the living room(2-story) to the foyer and then six more steps to the downstairs area.
I forgot something and told Bubba to stay there while I went back up to the kitchen. Of course, he didn't listen and came back up those last six steps to the foyer area but never got all the way up. When I looked his front paws were on the slate foyer but his back legs were still on the last two steps. He looked frantic so I grabbed his front two legs and pulled him up. Chalking this off to maybe he couldn't get traction on his front paws due to the slick slate I overlooked it.
This past Saturday we had gone out on the deck to go out in the back yard and there's 12 steps to go down. No problem, he's negotiated up and own those steps for years. He got to the first couple of steps and tumbled all the way down 10 more steps and landed in the yard. I was scared stiff he may have broken a leg, cracked a rib or worse yet, his back or neck. He sat there awhile and I felt all over him for problems but he got up and walked away like nothing had happened. No chancing another event like that I decided we won't go down those steps again.
Last night as we were getting to go out back for his last potty break around 8:30 we went down the steps inside to cut through the garage and out the back door. He got down all steps but as he made it down to the parquet floor his back legs were spread out like an eagle-one going to the left, one going to the right like someone trying to learn to skate. He stood there temporarily and then walked toward me but he was still walking with both feet outward. After about six feet of walking like that he finally straightened them out and was fine.
Part of me wants to blame this on his being overweight and being 10 years old. Another part wants to think the worse as being maybe the onset of DM. After what I explained, I'd appreciate any insight into this. We go to the vet today as I'm not waiting anymore for my guessing.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by D46 on
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I think in a nutshell our biggest problem has been twofold. First, Bubba is not a very active Corgi. I watched him a lot when I went to get him at his breeder's as we were friends and I stayed with them over the weekend. Compared to the other roughly, 30 Corgis she had he was probably in the top five least active. Some you could throw a ball at and they'd chase it as long as you would play.
Secondly, like most, he loves to eat as I think I've mentioned, and of course most of them do. MY problem is I love to feed him-not from his bowl as I feed him from there twice a day, one for breakfast and again at supper time. I give him treats throughout the day by hand, not large ones but those like Old Mother Hubbard's "Bitz" which are tiny treats. In the late evening around 8:00pm we'll have snack together. His usually consists of maybe a handful of Cheerios and half a piece of cheese that I tear in strips of three to make it last longer or I'll give him 6-8 of Old Mother Hubbard's Peanut Butter biscuits(about an inch and a half long). I give him a few cheese cubes at bedtime he always comes in the kitchen when he sees me making the coffee for the next morning, washing a few dishes, etc and I know what he's come in there for-cheese cubes. I did that once and he's remembered it and comes back every night for a few more.
I've never given him junk food like hamburgers and fries from McDonalds, Tacos or anything greasy. Meats consist of primarily boiled chicken breast and a NY Strip steak on occasions like his Birthday or other times I just feel like getting him one. Of course, I don't give him the entire steak but cut up little pieces and save the rest for the next day.
Bubba is a Class A begger. As soon as he finishes eating he'll walk around a bit and then come over to me for a hand out of what I'm having. As I look down at Valentino deep brown eyes, I melt and give in to him. It's sort of funny in a way. We eat in the living room so when I give in he'll walk around the coffee table and come back for more. When I give him a small piece of what I may have...green beans or pieces of chicken, he'll take it, walk around the coffee table again and come back once more. I don't know what the deal is with walking around the coffee table.
I have to take the blame for his being overweight-there's no denying that. It may sound odd but I just enjoy feeling his soft, wet, whisker mouth against my hand when I feed him anything by hand. He takes whatever AI give him as softly as a month old baby. Maybe it appeals to my "parental" instincts.:)
"Beware of Log"-I love that!!
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I just ran across some pictures I took about five years back when he was even a chow hound back then begging for what I was having-a fried baloney sandwich.
http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Bubba/100_0494.jpg.html
http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Bubba/100_0492.jpg.html
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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My Corgis get a total of about 400 calories a day.
Check the calories of those cheese cubes. I am guessing he is easily getting 150 to 200 calories in cheese, which is about a third to half of the total calories he should be getting all day.
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I got curious and went upstairs to check. The package says a serving, which they call approximately 6 cubes, are 110 calories. That's nearly 20 calories each. He probably gets six of those a day.
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Break one cube into six pieces. He truly won't notice the difference. :-)
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I agree. But I would start by breaking them in half then into fours over time. Also, I wouldn't break them apart while he was watching. I would cut up a bunch of things in the sink if necessary and store them in covered containers that he can't see though so he never knows what is in the container and how many are left in the container when he gets a treat. That way he still gets five treats but he doesn't notice they are slowly getting smaller and there is more to beg for. I also use the cue "done" to let Sully know when treat time is over. I combine it with the sign language hand signal for "finished" that you can Goggle or just improvise. I just say in a cheerful but firm voice "done" and Sully walks away or gets me to turn my back on her until she walks away. It does work if you can be firm and calm. I also make Sully work for every treat. Even just sit, stay, down, come, anything to make it less of a "given" that you can increase to more activities. For example, sully has to pick up her toys, bring me my shoes, sit, come, that sort of thing. It isn't much, but it's some activity and it makes her more eager to please rather than just beg for a hand out. Worth a try and fun!
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The little Old Mother Hubbard Bitz treats he likes are only 2 calories each and he gets the funniest look on is face eating them. Once I learn how to use the "Live View" of my camera I'm going to have to tape that face as I give him those. His eyes get big and you can see the whites in them at the top. It's hilarious. You'd think he was getting Lobster.
I'll cut his cheese cubes in half tonight and use two. That way he'll still get his four he's use to but half the calories. I tried giving him two the other night and he kept hanging around for more. Who says they can't count? He sees me put my hand in that bag four times so now I'll have them in my hand and just pretend to reach in the bag four times.
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Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on
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Also look for less caloric snacks. Ruby and Cassie think a carrot stick is about the best thing that ever came along.
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Gosh. Sounds like he's getting a lot more calories than he can burn off. You know...my own back hurts a lot less since I lost 30 pounds...it stands to reason a dog's hip or back pain would be eased by getting rid of the extra avoirdupois.
Dogs, unlike humans, do not eat for emotional reasons. They eat to stay alive. Since he's staying alive in spades (and maybe about to come out on the other side...), he'll be fine if his food intake is cut back. He won't even notice, except for being in the habit of begging. Take a favorite toy or ball and toss that for him when he wants to sponge a treat.
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I wish I could take 15 pounds off him and put them on me. I should weigh about 160 pounds but weigh 135-138. I'm afraid it's not that easy. I think Bubba eats because he never gets full!! He's got a never ending stomach. It's for sure he's not starving but never seems to get full like we do. I get full I quit. He just wants to keep going.
I'd love to see him 35-40 pounds again but that would take a long time to achieve.
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I lost a LOT of weight due to health problems a few years back and my body took a very long time to get used to taking in enough calories as I recovered. When I am full I stop eating as well as well, but I am sure I could train myself to eat more and more if I snacked all day everyday. I think many animals eat whenever food is offered since they have no idea when more is coming and they are sort of programmed to hunt and scavenge. They can sense time but they may not know exactly what to expect so they take advantage of any opportunity to eat and they have no idea what is the correct amount of course. I trained my body and mind to finally take in more food after years of being too sick to eat. I am finally at a more normal weight. Even a very slow weight loss or gain, depending on need, can occur if you just take small steps. Bubba doesn't care about his health as a human would so he has to take cues from you as you know. As you describe it, Bubba's snacking and your hand-feeding is reinforcing for you so it will be hard to stop, but a substitute behavior, even cuddling, may help you redirect him when he gives you those puppy eyes. I know they are powerful tools but I would rather ignore the sad "feed me" eyes than have to see his pain-filled eyes when the weight-related complications catch up. I know nothing about the weight loss pet foods but I think slowly tapering him off his regular ordinary food would be the best strategy. Of course, I am not a vet so someone else here, or your vet may have better ideas.
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