Dog who was almost put to sleep after suffering from bad arthritis is back on his feet

Bill was so poorly with arthritis that euthanasia was considered

IT’S the news every dog owner dreads — your faithful companion has become so poorly that vets think it would be kinder to put him or her to sleep.

It was a fate that had been suggested for Bill the spaniel, whose arthritis had become so bad that euthanasia seemed to be a very real option.

However, thanks to the PDSA, Bill is walking again and seems to be a lot more like his old self.

When the condition had got to its worst point, Bill was barely able to get out of his bed.

Even when he did, his walking was affected, with the dog, 11, only able to drag his back legs across the floor.

Owner Doreen Fawcett, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was absolutely devastated.

She couldn’t believe how quickly the condition took a hold of him, and Bill became a shadow of his former self.

“Bill has suffered from arthritis for several years and was on medication for it, but a few months ago, he suddenly became really poorly,” Doreen reveals.

“He collapsed and couldn’t walk at all. He just went downhill so quickly, it was absolutely awful. I was crying my eyes out because I knew he was suffering so much.”

When Doreen took Bill to PDSA’s Newcastle Pet Hospital, they did some x-rays to assess the extent of the condition.

PDSA senior vet, Clare Hinchliffe, said: “We carried out tests which showed that Bill had spondylosis of the spine, a degenerative condition, as well as narrow space between his spinal discs.

“He also had severe arthritis in his hips and knees which was causing him constant pain.

“Because Bill’s condition was so severe, we had to consider putting him to sleep, but we decided, with Doreen’s approval, to try a different treatment.”

He had already been taking an anti-inflammatory drug, along with a joint supplement, but PDSA had something else in mind — as a last resort.

“We don’t tend to use this combination of drugs as a standard long-term treatment for arthritis in dogs, but in Bill’s case, it was the only option,” explained Clare.

It seems to have been worth it, as the benefits kicked in and everyone could see the difference.

“PDSA have been wonderful and, thanks to the new treatment, Bill is so much better,” says Doreen.

“We see many cases of arthritis where the pet can be helped not only through veterinary care, but also through weight reduction and appropriate levels of exercise,” says PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman.

“Recognising symptoms and taking early action can alleviate pain and slow progression.”

PDSA fast facts about arthritis —

Over a pet’s lifetime, the smooth joint surfaces can be worn away, which can result in inflammation of the joints, stiffness and reduced mobility, resulting in arthritis.
Obesity can lead to the onset of arthritis, as it causes additional pressure on the joints.
Advances in veterinary medicine mean there is a range of treatments available to help manage arthritis and put the spring back in your pet’s paws.
It’s important to keep pets mobile, even in their twilight years. A walk to the end of the road or a trot round the garden is plenty.
For further information about PDSA and free pet health advice visit www.pdsa.org.uk

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