Benny's leg - again!

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Benny&Co
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Benny's leg - again!

Post by Benny&Co »

Poor Benny, just been to the vet again about his left back leg (recovering from suspected ruptured cruciate ligament injury back in May).

Vet found some inflammation to the meniscus ligament today in his joint and now he has to have his Loxicom anti inflammatory routinely, every day, for the next six weeks.

We've to monitor and see how he goes, if no better in the New Year, then he'll be referred for an arthroscopy.

I tried him on a dog glucosamine preparation, but it didn't agree with him. Vet suggested I try an alternative brand........

They have a new veterinary nurse there it seems - as I was weighing Benny, she said he looks fine then jumped on us saying Benny is obese, whilst starting to get bags of Royal Canin food off the shelf!!!!!

I told her that I don't think he is obese and that he has Burns food currently, the type of which is good for controlling weight.

She then stormed out of the waiting room, slamming the door behind her!

I know how important it is to not let him get overweight, especially with his leg injury. Vet himself didn't mention Benny's weight.

He only has gentle walks presently, is there anything else I could be doing?

Do you think Benny looks obese?
Image

It's probably a difficult task asking you this from the picture. Anyway, I'm going to monitor things and see if there's anything more I can do.
Bev x
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albertajune
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by albertajune »

Poor Benny. He and you could have done without this problem again. As for being obese, he looks fine in the picture from what I can see. Does he have any waist? Someone told me that if a dog has a waist it is probably not overweight.
I don't think that animals are any different to us when not as mobile as usual. Just eating the same amount of food but not having enought exercise will put on a little weight. I should know!!! =win= I think the nurse sounds very rude and maybe over zealous. I'm sure that you are a responsible owner and would know if he had a weight problem and do something about it.
Let's hope the boy will soon be more comfortable. >tree<
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by MissEllie »

poor Benny {hug} He looks gorgeous in the photo and if the vet didn't mention his weight I wouldn't worry too much.
As June says the nurse sounds like she was being a bit over zealous - maybe she's newly qualified and still finding her feet (although that doesn't excuse rudeness). :?
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by Benny&Co »

Thanks June and Ellie for your support {hug}
Bev x
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by HensAloud »

Poor lad, not fat, I'd tell the vet what happened, they can't afford to treat you badly, they should be jumping through hoops to help, there are plenty of vets out there. I even negotiate a discount on Kea's tablets as its a monthly order, bad manners is unacceptable {warn}
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mrs boodles
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by mrs boodles »

absolutely no call for bad manners and rudeness from from nurse or anyone at vets, benny does`nt look overweight to me either.
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Linda S
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by Linda S »

Benny looks fine to me to Bev )t' you love that boy so much that there is no way you would allow him to be to heavy knowing it would do him no good. I wouldnt have been able to keep my trap shut either and why should you when she was so rude. If you dont want to say anything yet If she is rude again i would def take it up with the vet, goodness knows how many other people she could be nasty with. {hug} Lindaxx
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by chickenlicken »

Benny & Co, take no notice of that nurse. Your dog is not overweight. These people are schooled in the ways of trying the hard sell of Royal Canin or Hill's science plan! We had the same thing at our vets with a new nurse when we told her that we feed our dogs tripe along with their regular dry kibble. She didn't agree with the tripe nor the dry kibble (Arden Grange) We also use Cestem wormer and they tried to get us back to Drontal simply because they hadn't heard of it. Drontal is more expensive, especially buying it at the vets.
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Annie
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by Annie »

My former vet used 3 criteria when judging a dogs shape
1 - The chest should be deeper than the abdomen
2 - When viewed from above there should be a defined waistline
3 - The rib cage should covered with flesh but you should still be able to feel it when you run your hands lightly over the dog.

From your pic - Benny looks good.

Probably the most important thing you are already doing, short quiet walks, no balls, no tuggers, no stairs ,preferably no climbing on the furniture as even that can put extra strain on the joint/ligament.
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bluebell
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by bluebell »

Annie is right about the criteria to assess obesity.

I cannot comment on the nurse - no need ever to be rude. We sell Hills Vet Essentials and Script food. We do NOT hard sell to clients. I am sure Benny's weight is fine - what weight is he exactly?

Regarding obesity - and just to give a different perspective on things - nothing at all to do with this thread - we regularly see hugely overweight pets, many a time we have had dog owners say there aren't feeding their pet and exercising the legs of them to find that the food they say they are feeding did not include the toast for breakfast, dental sticks, chews, cows milks, cheese, biscuits, humans food scraps and goodness knows what else and they wonder why vet is beside herself!
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by bluebell »

Just an afterthought - you mention Benny can just have gentle exercise, if you are insured your insurer might allow hydrotherapy as part of the policy - worth looking into.
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by Benny&Co »

Thanks all of you, much appreciated {hug}

That's a good idea Bluebell about the Hydrotherapy, I'll look into that this morning - Benny absolutely loves the water too.

)t'
Bev x
Our family: my-Lovely-Hubbly and I, Benny and our two little Ladies - Betty and Gloria.

RIP dear little Ladies - Lottie, Cottie, Elsie, Dottie, Hilda and Margie. You may have gone, but are never ever forgotten.
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by Benny&Co »

bluebell wrote:Regarding obesity - and just to give a different perspective on things - nothing at all to do with this thread - we regularly see hugely overweight pets, many a time we have had dog owners say there aren't feeding their pet and exercising the legs of them to find that the food they say they are feeding did not include the toast for breakfast, dental sticks, chews, cows milks, cheese, biscuits, humans food scraps and goodness knows what else and they wonder why vet is beside herself!


Oh yes Bluebell, we see that whilst out and about too - especially with Lab doggies who are hugely overweight.
Bev x
Our family: my-Lovely-Hubbly and I, Benny and our two little Ladies - Betty and Gloria.

RIP dear little Ladies - Lottie, Cottie, Elsie, Dottie, Hilda and Margie. You may have gone, but are never ever forgotten.
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by wendy »

I see many overweight dogs in my line as well. Usually puppies which is worse. All that weight on those small, forming bones.
Owners do get told if I think their dogs are too heavy. It is a pet hate of mine.
Not one of my 16 dogs have been overweight, I am much better keep them lean and fit, than I am me {rofwl}
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Re: Benny's leg - again!

Post by jannie »

So sorry to hear that Benny is still suffering with lameness too. Hope he gets better soon. {hug}
As you know we are having the same problem with Barney }hairout{ .. cruciate problems have been ruled out but he still suffers from lameness.
The specialist vet .. after exploring every avenue .. has come up with the theory that Barney is doing himself no favours preferring to sleep beside me on the sofa. The reason being that .. if you watch a dog waking up they gracefully stand up and stretch out their spine and back legs .. but sleeping on the sofa their first action on waking is to jump off the sofa .. We have bought him a nice comfy bed to sleep beside me on the floor and I have to say I think the vet may be right .. when I can persuade him to sleep on the floor }hairout{ he gets up and stretches before walking and his lameness isn't there.
I am hoping that with some perseverance, by the time I'm back on my feet, we will be able to start building up our fitness together ready for our long country walks. )t'
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