r/WhiteSwissShepherds

After having Anatolian Shepherds for a few years I felt like it was time to switch it up. I’ve had a GSD/husky in the past, and I’m so excited to work with a driven, biddable breed!

Hi everyone I wanted to share a bit of our journey with our sweet senior girl, Shelty, because I know how heartbreaking it is to watch our active, goofy Swiss Shepherds start to slow down. Shelty is 13 now, and as you all know, this breed lives to move and be with their people. A few weeks ago, her arthritis hit a really scary tipping point. It started with her slipping on our tile floors, and then it rapidly progressed to where she couldn't even push herself up from her bed. Her back legs would just completely give out. Seeing a dog whose mind is still so sharp and eager be trapped in a body that won't cooperate is absolutely devastating. My family and I were a wreck. We honestly thought we were nearing the end and had to have some really tough conversations about her quality of life. We took her to our vet, and they were amazing. They put her on a solid regimen of pain medications and joint supplements to get the inflammation under control. But the biggest game-changer was something I hadn't really considered: they recommended a heavy-duty orthopedic brace for her hind legs.

The meds helped the pain, but the brace gave her back her confidence. It provided the mechanical support her weakened joints desperately needed so she didn't feel like she was going to collapse every time she tried to shift her weight. It’s been about 3 weeks since we started this routine, and the difference is night and day. She isn't running any agility courses, but she can stand up by herself, go potty without falling over, and she’s actually walking around the house and yard again! Our whole family is just so incredibly relieved. Seeing her smile and wag her tail again means the absolute world to us. We know we can't reverse the clock, but being able to give her dignity and mobility back for her golden years is the greatest gift. If you have a senior WSS who is struggling with their legs, please don't lose hope! Sometimes they just need a little extra physical support to keep going

They call me a Good Boy, I am 3 years old and 
I love eating and running. 

Swiss at heart, but made in the 
Czech Republic and I live in Poland