Betty is a toy poodle and has lived with us on a 5 acre lot for about 7 years. She was my daughters dog (who is now living in the UK).
Betty is 10 1/2 years old. We have no experience with toy poodles but I don't think she is the usual version. She is all dog with all the hunting instincts. Occasionally she will catch something and now reckons if she catches it she will eat it. There is no chance of getting it off her. She is quite partial to crimson rosellas if she can corner one.
About 18 months ago she really slowed down and then started limping on her right front leg. The problem is in the elbow joint. When I found the sore place she bit me. Thats one way of finding out.
The vet has given her some anti inflammatory drops and manipulation which did help but like all these things you don't like to give drops like that the long term. It didn't stop her limping. We also tried acupuncture with limited success although it did help her back legs. We are no longer doing that.
We have used alternative medicine for many years hence I looked for a herbal alternative.
Your drops have worked and Betty is much more agile and she has got her feistiness back. She doesn't run around the place like she used to except if she thinks she might kill something and she is a bit stiff when she walks but there is no sign of the limp or favoritism of her sore front leg. Her front shoulders must be a bit tender as she hesitant going down steps. I she wants to get of a chair we get the woof to let us know. That doesn't surprise me as from time to time she has dug holes in our garden deep enough that all you see is her tail. When she was younger she never walked but always ran everywhere.
We are giving her 10 drops twice a day.
I think there is an old injury in the right leg elbow and she has simply worn out her shoulders. When we go for a walk around our block she gets tired sometimes and wants a pick up but I think that is just getting older.
I thought a photo might give you a bit of an idea of what she is like. She is such a feisty animal. Here she thinks we are starving her and she needs to help herself. She dragged the bag out of the pantry worried it until she could get it open and then helped herself. Bit hard to be cross with her really after all that.
I guess you can get the idea that we think she is a unique little dog.
Thanks Tony
