Arthritis and sunbathing
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Arthritis and sunbathing
Submitted by summer on April 20, 2010 - 11:23pmSince the weather has gotten a little cooler here in Texas, our 8 year old Spanky INSISTS on sunbathing. He will give me headbutts, loud barks and growels for an hour or more in an attempt to manipulate me into letting him out to lie in the sun. When I take him out, he is on a leash and lays down in a sunny spot in the grass right beside me on the patio.
If it is too hot outside, I don't let him go out, (except to potty, and then right back in). When we do go out to sit in the sun, I bring him in at the first sign of a pant. We are seldom out more than 5 minutes. When I bring him in, he gives me an irritated look, like I am taking away all his fun. Is this attraction to the sun typical of senior bulldogs?
I am wondering if the sun on his back feels good on his arthritic hips and back? He doesn't limp badly, but the vet has shown me the x-rays and he does have arthritis. He is red/brindle and white. The darker color fur on his hips and back feels very warm after 5 minutes. Has anyone else noticed this in their dogs?
Thanks for the responses.....
guess his love of the sun is typical for bulldogs!
Thanks for the responses.....
guess his love of the sun is typical for bulldogs!
Ollie loves the sun too but...
he's white and they are prone to skin cancers. He just had a mast cell taken off his neck, so I have to make him stay inside. They both love to lay on the patio, I think it feels good on their joints.
Kathy, Ollie and Chester
Ollie loves the sun too but...
he's white and they are prone to skin cancers. He just had a mast cell taken off his neck, so I have to make him stay inside. They both love to lay on the patio, I think it feels good on their joints.
Kathy, Ollie and Chester
Matilda, too
When Matilda begs (which means she loudly barks, very demanding) to go out to lie in the sun it's my first hint that she is not feeling well. I'm not sure why, but it must feel good to feel that warm sun on her body. We too, have to be very careful not to let her have to much. Down here in Florida it's no more than 5 minutes and into the house we go for ice cubes, another favorite of hers.
Alison with Matilda at my side
Matilda, too
When Matilda begs (which means she loudly barks, very demanding) to go out to lie in the sun it's my first hint that she is not feeling well. I'm not sure why, but it must feel good to feel that warm sun on her body. We too, have to be very careful not to let her have to much. Down here in Florida it's no more than 5 minutes and into the house we go for ice cubes, another favorite of hers.
Alison with Matilda at my side
My girl with HD loves to sunbathe
But, Adequan works great for arthritis.
My girl with HD loves to sunbathe
But, Adequan works great for arthritis.
My Rocky loves the sun
he would lay in it all day if I let him, I just make sure he has lots of water, and not for too long, I know the sun warms my bones
![[linked image]](http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m389/ammamom2008/GetAttachment1.jpg)
My Rocky loves the sun
he would lay in it all day if I let him, I just make sure he has lots of water, and not for too long, I know the sun warms my bones
![[linked image]](http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m389/ammamom2008/GetAttachment1.jpg)
Sun bathing is fun...but...
its is one of several signs of hypothyroidism. Not saying that he has this condition, but "heat-seeking" is one of the signs along with weight gain, lethargy, and of course low thyroid production (but you need that tested, its not a visual assessment). I mention this because it often comes about with older dogs...but if he's normal for his age, don't give it another thought.
Sun bathing is fun...but...
its is one of several signs of hypothyroidism. Not saying that he has this condition, but "heat-seeking" is one of the signs along with weight gain, lethargy, and of course low thyroid production (but you need that tested, its not a visual assessment). I mention this because it often comes about with older dogs...but if he's normal for his age, don't give it another thought.
Thanks
I figure if it is not comfortable for me, then it is too hot/cold for him. Since I don't have a fence, I am always with him as he is on his leash.
Thanks
I figure if it is not comfortable for me, then it is too hot/cold for him. Since I don't have a fence, I am always with him as he is on his leash.
Average weight
Spanky weighs 50 lbs. According to his vet, he is a perfect weight for his frame. I will keep an eye on him though. I did not realize that dogs get hypothyroidism. I have it myself and take medication. Thanks for the info!
Average weight
Spanky weighs 50 lbs. According to his vet, he is a perfect weight for his frame. I will keep an eye on him though. I did not realize that dogs get hypothyroidism. I have it myself and take medication. Thanks for the info!
Bella and Gus love the sun...even not being seniors..lol
it is really cooling down here lately.
I put out the bullies and they will lay for hours in the fenced in yard.
yesterday was way too cool out for me..lol but the bullies love it at this temp
I think spring and fall are the best months for a bully anyhow..not to hot, not to cool, just right temp
yesterday we had a high of 14C here..
Bella and Gus love the sun...even not being seniors..lol
it is really cooling down here lately.
I put out the bullies and they will lay for hours in the fenced in yard.
yesterday was way too cool out for me..lol but the bullies love it at this temp
I think spring and fall are the best months for a bully anyhow..not to hot, not to cool, just right temp
yesterday we had a high of 14C here..
Solar energy
Almost all my Bulldogs (nr. 4 is now sleeping on my coach) love(d) the sun. The older they got, the more they seem to move on solar energy! Zorro will move through the room, moving with the sunrays and even has his own sunchair!
Heat feels good for old bones, so why not give him as much as he likes?
(my first Bulldog would bake in the sun, on the tiles, against a brick wall - once we had his sister over for holidays and they would walk across the garden, from the shade to the sun to the shade to the sun etc). BTW I'm in the Netherlands so it doesn't get really hot!
Ineke and Zorro
Solar energy
Almost all my Bulldogs (nr. 4 is now sleeping on my coach) love(d) the sun. The older they got, the more they seem to move on solar energy! Zorro will move through the room, moving with the sunrays and even has his own sunchair!
Heat feels good for old bones, so why not give him as much as he likes?
(my first Bulldog would bake in the sun, on the tiles, against a brick wall - once we had his sister over for holidays and they would walk across the garden, from the shade to the sun to the shade to the sun etc). BTW I'm in the Netherlands so it doesn't get really hot!
Ineke and Zorro