Spondylitis

My old guy Bailey has it. He came to us with it almost seven years ago,. He's probably 13-15 now. At first we gave him glucosamine,, Glycoflex III then added Metacamabout three years ago, and in this past year Tramadol as well. He does have hip dysplasia and luxating patella's too( have been fixed, but gone again). But, he still jumps! Unless we anchored him he will jump...and it obviously hurts him, he suffers for a day, but still does it. Just now he jumps to eat pears...despite us picking all the lower ones to stop him. He jumps into the car too...will not use a ramp, and hates to be lifted unless he's really sore.

I think the important things are to keep weight down, and keep him moving...Bailey until this year was still walking several miles twice a day. Now just strolls of one or two miles, but still more than many dogs his age. Sometimes he just sits down and stays put!! Time to go home.

I had another rescue with it, his was worse, much younger. It's like arthritis in people, hits each dog differently. You'll probably notice good days and bad. Swimming seems hard for Bailey, and he is very stiff after a swim. Otherwise swimming is a good activity because its not weight bearing. Cold water bothers him too, but he favors cold floors. You might notice his back swinging as he walks because the discs are fused. The more it fuses the more he'll sway.

I'm sorry he has it, it does hurt..but my experience with Bailey has been the more I keep him active the better he is. A day at the vets where he anxious and in a kennel he's stiff and sore for a few days. It certainly hasn't held him back or shortened his life.