Help! need advise!

C

Copper_Shelties

Forums Novice
Hi! I got my first sheltie in 2000. I was 6-7 yrs old. He died the day after thanksgiving 2012.
its almost aug,5,2013 and I think im ready for a new sheltie. I've found one in my price range but he has hip displasia* spelled wrong im sure* and its caused from 5 yrs of a too small cage only coming out to breed. My older boy was just a pet but we lived in the country so we never kept a collar or even a nametag or any other id around him. I now live in an apt complex. Yes I have access to a fenced dog park any day in the wk. But what type of collar or harness should be best? What about dog food? How much exercise is ok? I don't want him over doing it and injuring himself further.
any comments and tips are greatly. Appreciated.
 
Hi. Dysplasia and arthritis often get mixed up. Dysplasia is misshapen bones, sometimes a dog can just live with it, the problems come when it progresses to arthritis, which it often does.

It sounds like this dog could have arthritis. You need to find out if it does have arthritis because it gets pretty expensive and can be time consuming to manage a dog with arthritis. Before committing to this dog definitely find out more. I have two dogs with arthritis and on top of all the supplements, medication, vet visits, physio, they need at least two or three short walks a day to keep the muscles around the joints strong. It is also distressing managing the arthritis as it gets worse.

I don't want to put you off, but if money is an issue you may want to look into a rescue that doesn't already come with health problems.

As for collars - a martingale collar or harness is best for a sheltie, because of the fur they can slip out of normal flat collars.
 
*Caro said:
Hi. Dysplasia and arthritis often get mixed up. Dysplasia is misshapen bones, sometimes a dog can just live with it, the problems come when it progresses to arthritis, which it often does.

It sounds like this dog could have arthritis. You need to find out if it does have arthritis because it gets pretty expensive and can be time consuming to manage a dog with arthritis. Before committing to this dog definitely find out more. I have two dogs with arthritis and on top of all the supplements, medication, vet visits, physio, they need at least two or three short walks a day to keep the muscles around the joints strong. It is also distressing managing the arthritis as it gets worse.

I don't want to put you off, but if money is an issue you may want to look into a rescue that doesn't already come with health problems.

As for collars - a martingale collar or harness is best for a sheltie, because of the fur they can slip out of normal flat collars.
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... if you have "connected" with this dog and want to give him the best life he can have then go for it taking the above post to heart. It will cost more $$, maybe, than a dog without hip dysplasia or arthritis but it is certainly worth it if you can afford it and live with the condition. I would definitely consider hydro therapy, massage or acupuncture/pressure if you do adopt him. Good luck !!
 
Hip dysplasia is a condition whereby the ball joint, made up of head of the femur and the acetabulum, does not unite properly due to the acetabulum being too shallow to encompass the head of the femur. Think of a ball sitting into a cup. If the cup is nice and deep the ball will stay in if it is covered with tape ( the muscles ). It the cup is shallow, even the tape won't keep it in unless it is strong enough to prevent movement. It is the action of the head of the femur sliding around in the shallow cup that causes the arthritic changes. An xray will confirm whether this dog has hip dysplasia, or if it's muscling isn't developed enough.
There is surgical measures that can be taken but it is really expensive and not always successful.
We are going to try hydrotherapy with Tinsel to try to improve his muscling as walking on hard surfaces is painful to him and defeats the purpose of trying to prevent the inevitable arthritic changes. Hopefully, once his muscles are stronger, thereby holding his hips together better, we can start doing more walking to try and keep them that way.
We do have him on supplements and occasional pain meds. I don't foresee a long life for this dog of mine but we want to give him the best life he can have. The mill that he came from has a lot to answer for when they stand in judgement. He is only one of the 527 dogs that lived this horror. I think I would have still taken him in for foster/ then adoption regardless of his condition but it has been a long and expensive road for sure.
 
Hi; welcome to the forum!

You will get lots of great advice on this site. Wishing you the best of luck and please post a picture when you get your new fur baby :smile2:

Kimberly
 
I may start some thing here but I really think you need to look else where. This has to many red flags and sounds like it is a puppy mill and could end up coasting your more money and heart break. I am sure there are breeders in KY that get you on the right path.
 
Sumac3890 said:
I may start some thing here but I really think you need to look else where. This has to many red flags and sounds like it is a puppy mill and could end up coasting your more money and heart break. I am sure there are breeders in KY that get you on the right path.
Click to expand...

I second this! Both hip dysplasia and arthritis can be very expensive to treat and it sounds like this dog comes from a shady back ground to begin with. You really don't know what other issues this dog may come with, health wise or behaviorally.
 
Is your Sheltie coming from a Sheltie Rescue? If so I would think they could advise you on what they have been feeding him and cost of treatments up until now.
I use a Martingale Collar they work well for Shelties if they are fitted correctly your Sheltie won't be able to back out if frightened. He may have some fear issues living his life in a cage. I'd worry about taking him to a dog park as well it may be too much for him to handle and I have never been fond of them anyway, too many injuries occur there not to mention the illnesses that get spread. With his health issues it would be best to take him on short walks on his leash to see what he can handle and for his overall safety.
 
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