Laney is my 2nd Golden Retriever and has reached the age of 14. My first Golden, Sandy lived to 14 years as well. For about the last 10 days now, Laney is having a great deal of trouble getting up from the floor. I make sure that I walk her every day, which she loves. It seems that once she can get up and gets walking, she is fine. I have her on an anti-inflammatory, Previcox. Just recently, I increased the dose to a full tablet. Does anyone have any other suggestions or advice. I am going to bring her to the groomer to trim all the hair that grows beneath her feet. I know this is making her slide. My elderly mother lives with me and I am unable to scatter rugs around. Laney sleeps on carpet for the night and is able to get up, but sometimes when she falls alseep on the floor, she is unable to get up. It takes her a few tries. My heart is breaking.

Can you take Laney to the vet. They can tell you if you are giving her the right dosage of Previcox, or might be able to give her something else.
Fourteen years old is amazing.
They also have an area on the forum called Assistive Devices, that helps dogs with walking, standing, etc.
There is something called a Help Me Up harness, but Laney should see the vet.
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...e-devices.html (Assistive Devices)

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[IMG]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215

Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

For the about the last year of Maggie's life we needed to help her up. (She almost made it to her 14th birthday.) Same with Maggie, carpet didn't pose a problem but the hardwood & vinyl did. I figured it was just a sign of old age. It is heartbreaking to see them age.

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**Fraulein "Maggie" Louise 8/2/95 - 7/20/09**
*At Rainbow Bridge but Forever in Our Hearts*

Can you take Laney to the vet to get a check up? With Seniors a thorough vet examination every 6 months is a good idea. We have a similar scenario. We have a 14 1/2 year old Max. I moved from Washington to SC to take care of my 88 year old Mom. I am able to have throw rugs around as Mom still gets around ok. But we took Max to our Vet for a check up. We have him on a glucosamine tablet (Dasaquin or Glycoflex 3) a pain pill-Tramadol. There are devices like Karen spoke about like a help em up harness: Help 'Em Up Harness with Hip Lift | Dog Harness, Hip Dysplasia, Dog Carrier. Max only needs this so that we can lift him into the back of the SUV. But this harness is great for those with rear end weakness. You can hold the back handle to take some weight off their back legs while they are walking. Swimming can also be a great excercise to prevent or rebuild muscle mass loss.

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Try acupuncture by an IVAS certified vet. Worked better than NSAID's for my boy. Many others here have tried it and have great things to say about it. Laser therapy and Hydrotherapy will help too.

This thread may also help you.

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...-problems.html (Supplements, etc. for Arthritis/Joint Problems)


I've been there, many of us have here. So difficult to see them have a hard time. You can still get her out for "walks" when things get difficult. Tucker loved his wagon and once we even picked up a friend.

If you do get a wagon, get the big one!



We were used to hiking miles, something he could no longer do. Can't tell how happy he was to get back out there. That wagon helped me get him back to so many favorite places. He could still walk ok, just not far. Figured I pushed that boy over 30 miles in that rig the month before he passed. The wooded trials, cranberry bogs and the ocean. Would do it all over again too.

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Just wanted to say how much I love this picture and very much missing seeing the pictures of Tucker's adventures! My how loved and treasured Tucker was by you and all of us fans as well!

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I know you said you can't, but we put down runners for old Nellie. She can't walk or get up on the hardwood floors anymore. I built a ramp out the back door so she could get out since she is blind and can't walk down stairs. We also keep the hair trimmed which does help a lot. We also have a belt type thing that goes under her belly to help her when she needs it. A wrapped up towel works just as well if not better and is way cheaper too.

We had to help Henry too in the same way after he had his leg amputated (osteosarcoma). Built a ramp, runners, and so on.

It's hard work. But I know they appreciate it.

Thanks, that means a lot. Someday I will do a huge rainbow bridge post for my guy. In the meantime another pic for you

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That picture is just PRECIOUS!!!

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Kimberly &
Angelina (11 years young)
Cannella (3 years)
& Mystery The Morab (25 years young) (equine)
+ Bear and Romeo (felines)

Thank you for your reply. I am not sure about the harness because Laney has a large fatty lump in her abdomen. Actually, its about the size of a large cabbage, maybe larger. Its been there for approximately 2 years and my vet told me at that time, that she would not make it through surgery to remove. However, my vet said that its actually centered to where its not getting in the way of her hind legs, etc. I have increased her dosage of prevacox to 1 pill a day. My vet said that this is the maximum dose before causing damage to her organs. Any other suggestions would be most helpful. Laney does look forward to her daily walks. Its just difficult getting her up, if she is on the floor.