it's always something. oh well, haven't visited with my vet in a few weeks.

had an appointment for 2 dogs later today, but dog 3 decided she didn't want to be left out, and somehow got a nice 2" gash on her haunch. needs some stitches.

things have been a little hairy incorporating grandpuppy into the pack. she doesn't know her own strength. we think she is a pointer/rott mix. so she has a bird dog brain and a hard body. not full rott size, like cesar says- gladiator spirit, but playful as all get out. wants all the other dogs to play, but just bowls them over every time.
she is pretty jealous of my boxer, who is jealous of every one and every thing. so the 2 of them have done some sniping. i think boxer also is not feeling good, which is why she has an appointment today. she is just lumpy and grumpy. not playing. not joining the fun. she has a sort of gimpy back end, which she came with. hasn't seemed to bother her too much, but she seems to limping a little more. so, xray time, i guess, and lab tests, and stitches, and and and.
oy.

the boxer has bad spondylitis and bad hip joints, and is in serious pain, all day every day.
shit. i was not thinking of this dog as anything a but a happy, silly, youngish dog. the vet said after looking at her xrays, that he didn't want to touch her.
shit.
well, we are going to do our best to keep her comfortable. but son of a bitch.

Googled spondylitis. That doesn't sound good. How old is your Boxer? Did the vet offer any treatment?

start her on some enteric aspirin, move up to rimadyl, then move up to steroids. she has a great spirit, and you would never know. just yesterday she was wiggling and giving me the bow. she is the silliest boxer i know. they are tough dogs. but she is clearly having a hard time.

She sounds like a sweetie.

You know, I had a lab who had arthritis for years. It started to get bad when he was about 8 and we went the route of aspirin to rimadyl. He did well with it for another 5 years. His last year (his 6th on meds) we started looking into options to help him get around - they have harnesses you can put around their waists to help them up and ramps that can help them get in the car and up and down stairs.

Check out http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php They have loads of information for you to help give your Boxer a long and happy life even with her disabilities.

Edited to add: Oh yeah, they also have physical therapy and massage therapy for dogs now too. Not sure how far you're able to go but just laying out the options.

we have had her for 4 1/2 years. she has no gray hair, or anything indicating that she is a senior citizen.
she was in pretty sad shape when we got her. i think my vet is a master at not looking for things that have a bad prognosis. sigh. i feel terrible that she was probably in pain for a long time.

we will see what we can do for her. disabilities is one thing, chronic pain is another. as a victim myself, i will try hard to put my feelings second and her quality of life first. i do know this about boxers in particular, although probably most dogs, they do not let pain get in the way of fun and love if they can help it. my last boxer lived with terrible spondylitis for years, and never let on.