Post by: netcoyote on February 26, 2014, 07:13:02 PM
Our last day in the field was a picture perfect fall days under a blue-bird sky up in Winthrop. We finally kicked up some grouse and were having a great day. I just had some pang of feeling like this may be our last hunt. Don't know what caused the feeling, but it was just there.
Last spring as we were getting ready for another season we were doing our usual scouting and I heard my dog yelp out in pain up ahead on the trail. I picked up the pace and saw him coming down the trail holding one rear leg up in the air. He had torn his cruciate ligament.
We spent most of last year trying to get him back in shape with surgery and a lengthy therapy to recover and get his leg back in shape. I though he might be ready for hunting season but it was not to be. Once his rear legs got back in shape, he developed a serious lameness in one front leg. Vet said it may be nerve damage or arthritis, but can't tell without more tests.
We are running out of time. He'll be 10 this year. Not real old for a dog but I really don't think I want to put him through a lot of testing and procedures at this point. Even if I was able to get him in shape, I'm concerned that he might seriously hurt himself in the field because he is such a hard charger. He doesn't even slow down when he is injured and sometimes it's been painful just to watch him try keep hunting when I know he is in some type of pain.
Soooo...my question is, what did you guys with dogs do when your hunting dog gets too old or too injured to safely be put in the field? I tried hunting last season without him and it just was not the same. Do any of you start training a new pup at this time? Do you still get out hunting without your dog? Just wanted to hear what other people have done in this situation.
Post by: Mfowl on February 26, 2014, 07:22:57 PM
Post by: Birdguy on February 26, 2014, 08:30:10 PM
Retire them, spoil them, enjoy them as a pet and not a hunting dog anymore. Its hard but it happens to all good dogs. I have had a few labs throughout my life and eventually they all got retired. I agree hunting the uplands without a dog is just not the same. The thought of bringing in a new pup when the old timer was still around always made me feel guilty as well as the thought of going hunting without my trusted partner. The worst part is when they see you getting your gear together and still get excited like they always did. But that's a part of it and every dog owner has to deal with it in time.
:yeah: There are still some tough times ahead but also some more good times. True, he is not capale of being the dog he once was but he is still the same friend and he has certainly earned a few good years of retirement, just like most of the rest of us. At some point you realize that it is time to take it easy.
Post by: hollymaster on February 26, 2014, 08:35:09 PM
Retire them, spoil them, enjoy them as a pet and not a hunting dog anymore. Its hard but it happens to all good dogs. I have had a few labs throughout my life and eventually they all got retired. I agree hunting the uplands without a dog is just not the same. The thought of bringing in a new pup when the old timer was still around always made me feel guilty as well as the thought of going hunting without my trusted partner. The worst part is when they see you getting your gear together and still get excited like they always did. But that's a part of it and every dog owner has to deal with it in time.
:yeah: There are still some tough times ahead but also some more good times. True, he is not capale of being the dog he once was but he is still the same friend and he has certainly earned a few good years of retirement, just like most of the rest of us. At some point you realize that it is time to take it easy.
+1 on all the above. Except the dog gets a little more spoiled. :chuckle:
Post by: washingtonmuley on February 26, 2014, 08:38:52 PM
Retire them, spoil them, enjoy them as a pet and not a hunting dog anymore. Its hard but it happens to all good dogs. I have had a few labs throughout my life and eventually they all got retired. I agree hunting the uplands without a dog is just not the same. The thought of bringing in a new pup when the old timer was still around always made me feel guilty as well as the thought of going hunting without my trusted partner. The worst part is when they see you getting your gear together and still get excited like they always did. But that's a part of it and every dog owner has to deal with it in time.I agree with the above statement as well. Spoil,spoil,spoil and remember the great times had.
Post by: Goldeneye on February 26, 2014, 09:05:40 PM
To answer your other question. I picked up a puppy about 3 years ago. The old dog accepted the puppy and now they are inseparable. Plus I think it lifted the old dogs spirits a bit after she realized the pup was here to stay.
Here's pic of my old hunter and the young dog from this last season. They were watching me adjust the dekes.
Post by: ghosthunter on February 26, 2014, 09:08:07 PM
I brought her home at 8 weeks and trained her myself with a little help from training groups. She was everything I wanted and we hunted 11 hunting seasons together.
On the last trip to a quality blind not far off the road I took her. Knowing she could no longer do the long hikes out in the field. Swans landed around us but no ducks. I had to watch her because if we left the blind she was so senile that she would forget where I was. She couldn't here any longer because we spent all those years in low blinds and her favorite spot was between my legs under my gun.
Hundreds of hours laying under a tarp in the rain and snow together like young lovers spooning waiting for the first light and the first flight.
I could not bring myself to get another pup while she lived. Felt like cheating to me. So she spent her last days following while I mowed the lawn. And after we were finished naps under the ash tree together.
My wife had approached me more than once that she thought it was time to put her down but I couldn't do it. She was on some meds and was not in pain.
One day after mowing the lawn she went to her kennel and I pulled my lawn chair into the shade of the carport to nap together one last time. I heard her yelp and I knew something was wrong. I found her near her house struggling to take a breath, a rush to the vet and in 20 minutes she was gone.
I thought about it awhile and finally decided that I had one more pup left in me.
Today there is a 16 month lab laying at my feet. She hangs on my every word and is the best 2ND dog I have ever had.
Once you have hunted with a dog, you never hunt alone again. Good luck and when its time get another pup and start again.
Post by: akirkland on February 26, 2014, 09:44:26 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 26, 2014, 10:33:05 PM
Post by: netcoyote on February 27, 2014, 06:46:55 AM
I think I'll judge my setter's condition this fall and maybe put him in the field at that time if he's fit. Maybe just a short trip. I enjoy seeing how excited he gets when I put on his beeper collar. He still trembles with the excitement. He just doesn't know when to slow down so he doesn't hurt himself. That's going to be my job. Guess I'd rather have a few hours in the field than none at all.
Post by: jackmaster on February 27, 2014, 07:08:50 AM
Post by: LndShrk on February 27, 2014, 07:37:58 AM
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Post by: AspenBud on February 27, 2014, 09:33:53 AM
10 is old and yet it isn't. I know of more than a few examples of competition dogs, some pro, some amateur, run past age ten and some have had past injuries.
Something to remember, when a dog injures itself like yours did they tend to rely on their other limbs more until they can put weight on the injured leg again. It's why the cruciate ligament in the remaining good leg will often tear if the injured limb isn't treated and sometimes it still goes.
Post by: netcoyote on February 27, 2014, 10:02:06 AM
Assuming the lameness is now gone my advice is keep the dog in shape, see if the doc will write a script for Rimadyl, and maybe shorten up your outings. Meanwhile buy a new pup or get a started dog to use in the remaining time.
Yea, I've had him on Rimadyl but he just didn't seem to respond well to it. Seems like aspirin worked better but I don't think it's good to have him on a regular dose of either one. Got a vet appointment for next week to see what he thinks.
Post by: wildweeds on February 27, 2014, 01:09:39 PM
Post by: akirkland on February 27, 2014, 01:18:52 PM
Post by: akirkland on February 27, 2014, 01:22:10 PM
Post by: AspenBud on February 27, 2014, 05:30:23 PM
Assuming the lameness is now gone my advice is keep the dog in shape, see if the doc will write a script for Rimadyl, and maybe shorten up your outings. Meanwhile buy a new pup or get a started dog to use in the remaining time.
Yea, I've had him on Rimadyl but he just didn't seem to respond well to it. Seems like aspirin worked better but I don't think it's good to have him on a regular dose of either one. Got a vet appointment for next week to see what he thinks.
It's a long shot, but it might be worth it to have a canine rehab specialist look at the dog. One of my pointers was walking all funny last season, acting like he had a bad case of limber tail and it just wasn't going away. We took him to a rehab clinic and it turned out he had somehow misaligned his pelvis. The doctor there is certified to do some doggy chiropractic work and after some manipulation and a couple days of rest my dog was back to normal. If you want the name of the clinic PM me, they are down in Oregon however.
Post by: Don Fischer on February 27, 2014, 06:07:09 PM
Post by: freberd on February 28, 2014, 06:46:33 AM
her the dogs liver count was doubled the normal range from taking rhymdll after hunting
so the dogs acupuncture and laser therapy vet suggested milk thistle 6 a day and after 2 months liver back to normal range
We had 3 generations of labs expected the oldest to go this first but unfortunately lost her son at 10. So his son is #1 dog now and trying to live up to his daddy's Olympic hunting skills
We just got a puppy and will be training for next season
Post by: AspenBud on February 28, 2014, 07:20:03 AM
Assuming the lameness is now gone my advice is keep the dog in shape, see if the doc will write a script for Rimadyl, and maybe shorten up your outings. Meanwhile buy a new pup or get a started dog to use in the remaining time.
Yea, I've had him on Rimadyl but he just didn't seem to respond well to it. Seems like aspirin worked better but I don't think it's good to have him on a regular dose of either one. Got a vet appointment for next week to see what he thinks.
On a different note, was the surgery a TPLO? If not I would definitely consider a new dog and light duty for your old pal. The cheaper repair jobs tend not to hold up as well.
Post by: LndShrk on February 28, 2014, 07:34:40 AM
I would highly suggest giving a product called Duralactin a Try.. It is a Milk protein that is used to help long term management of inflammation.
It is not a cure for broken things for sure. But I have been giving it to my pups for a few years now (13 yo and 14 yo respectively to the photos above)
They both ran hard on waterfowl until the age of 12. But this stuff really helped them with their joints etc. The yellow I thought was going to have to retire at 10 because he was really having problems after the hunts. That is when I started him on this. Within 2 weeks I noticed a huge difference and he was able to hunt for another 2 seasons.
*****Disclaimer. I have zero interest in this product from a financial perspective. I am only a very satisfied consumer.
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Post by: netcoyote on February 28, 2014, 07:41:07 AM
Assuming the lameness is now gone my advice is keep the dog in shape, see if the doc will write a script for Rimadyl, and maybe shorten up your outings. Meanwhile buy a new pup or get a started dog to use in the remaining time.
Yea, I've had him on Rimadyl but he just didn't seem to respond well to it. Seems like aspirin worked better but I don't think it's good to have him on a regular dose of either one. Got a vet appointment for next week to see what he thinks.
On a different note, was the surgery a TPLO? If not I would definitely consider a new dog and light duty for your old pal. The cheaper repair jobs tend not to hold up as well.
He did not have the TPLO. We opted for the suture type (fishing line) of repair due to his age. We had that done on another older dog (both legs at once) and he held up quite well . I think the greater risk is him blowing out the other leg. That's reason enough to keep him on retired status.
Post by: AspenBud on February 28, 2014, 08:47:31 AM
Assuming the lameness is now gone my advice is keep the dog in shape, see if the doc will write a script for Rimadyl, and maybe shorten up your outings. Meanwhile buy a new pup or get a started dog to use in the remaining time.
Yea, I've had him on Rimadyl but he just didn't seem to respond well to it. Seems like aspirin worked better but I don't think it's good to have him on a regular dose of either one. Got a vet appointment for next week to see what he thinks.
On a different note, was the surgery a TPLO? If not I would definitely consider a new dog and light duty for your old pal. The cheaper repair jobs tend not to hold up as well.
He did not have the TPLO. We opted for the suture type (fishing line) of repair due to his age. We had that done on another older dog (both legs at once) and he held up quite well . I think the greater risk is him blowing out the other leg. That's reason enough to keep him on retired status.
Probably a good choice given you can spend the saved money on a pup. Either way I think you have good reason to consider retiring the dog or cutting back on his time in the field.
Post by: REHJWA on February 28, 2014, 11:34:12 AM
Several of the stories here had my eye threatening to drain...must be allergies.
All my dogs have been measured against my first and greatest dog. But that is only because he was first and will always hold a special place in my heart.
I currently have 2 labs, a 10 and a 2 year old. We hunt sheds, upland and waterfowl.
If it weren't for the puppy I would not have been able out get out 75% of the time.
The hunts I have been able to share with both dogs have been some of the best.
I try to make up for it when i don't take the old girl out. Spoiled...nope...pampered maybe... but always LOVED!
Thanks for sharing and hopefully you find a way to share many more good memories.
Post by: jackson7 on February 28, 2014, 11:55:10 AM
Amazing how attached we get. my female gsp is 12 1/2 and each year I am aware may be her last. That said, she had a great season and continues to go like a bat out of hell.
I thought I might move to a little more grouse hunting versus chukar and pheasant where she would not be doing the big open running as much. Her mother passed last year at 17 and although deaf would still get out and find birds through her last season. granted, she was not hunted as hard but was still a pleasure to have the matriarch out. best to all
Post by: rainshadow1 on February 28, 2014, 12:02:34 PM
Lab, 1/2 black 1/2 chocolate. She was about 12. I had her out hunting pheasant in a really hard wind with the new 1yo yellow lab. She led the charge for about 10 minutes, then fell back, was around me, then gone. I realized she was gone and looked back in time to see her going over a hill 100 yards away.
Hunted the pup for another 1/2 hour, but she never came back.
Went back to the truck and she was lying under the tailgate waiting for us! Believe me, NOT normal! She was a FIERCE hunter. Extremely laid back and a wonderful house dog, but when the shotguns came out, she was bloodthirsty! Absolutely intense, best bird dog I've ever heard of, or seen, much less owned.
She was just done. It was funny how she knew it.
She lived in ease and luxury for another couple years, then got super loving and friendly for about three days, then disappeared. (She never wandered, didn't need to be leashed.) Found her remains a year later, she went off to die alone.
Best dog ever.
Post by: Ridgerunner on February 28, 2014, 07:00:05 PM
Post by: sled on February 28, 2014, 07:23:45 PM
Post by: netcoyote on March 06, 2014, 02:02:06 PM
This problem is here to stay and all I can do is treat the inflammation. He's now on Tramadol, but it only slightly helps and I am leery about increasing the doses. I think I'll also look into the Duralactin as someone suggested.
As far as field work, he's done. We walk for about a half hour every day; it's good for both of us. In the fall, I think I'll still let him run a short time, maybe 1/2 hour or so and judge how he handles it. I just hope someone takes me out in the field a bit when I'm "all stoved up and walkin' like a crab" (a Robert Duvall movie line).
Post by: vandeman17 on March 06, 2014, 02:22:50 PM
My 'best dog ever' quit on ME!
Lab, 1/2 black 1/2 chocolate. She was about 12. I had her out hunting pheasant in a really hard wind with the new 1yo yellow lab. She led the charge for about 10 minutes, then fell back, was around me, then gone. I realized she was gone and looked back in time to see her going over a hill 100 yards away.
Hunted the pup for another 1/2 hour, but she never came back.
Went back to the truck and she was lying under the tailgate waiting for us! Believe me, NOT normal! She was a FIERCE hunter. Extremely laid back and a wonderful house dog, but when the shotguns came out, she was bloodthirsty! Absolutely intense, best bird dog I've ever heard of, or seen, much less owned.
She was just done. It was funny how she knew it.
She lived in ease and luxury for another couple years, then got super loving and friendly for about three days, then disappeared. (She never wandered, didn't need to be leashed.) Found her remains a year later, she went off to die alone.
Best dog ever.
That is a pretty awesome story. I am sure it was tough not knowing where she went in the end but she took care of things her way. We could all be so lucky