Posted by Randy Rader on November 15, 2003 at 16:06:38:
Hi everyone! I have rescued a special-needs Golden Retriever puppy. At only a few days old, the breeder let one of her other dogs chew off his left hind foot. She was going to throw him in her dumpster to let him die. His name is Chance and is 9 weeks old today. Goldies are prone to hip dysplasia and he will be checked at 6 months old for the condition. If he tests positive for it we will have to make a decision to remove the whole leg. As of right now, he seems to be walking and running just fine. When on cement, gravel, or other hard surfaces, he runs and walks just fine. He misses the ground with his leg. But, when he's on grass or other soft surfaces, he'll use the leg. I'm thinking and hoping he'll not have to be fitted with a shoe or other devise as he gets along fine without them. After all, he doesn't even realize he's missing a foot. He was only days old when this happened. His eyes weren't even open yet.
Now, for the questions this has brought me to. I would like to suppliment his diet with MSM. He already gets a dog treat made with glucosamine and chondrotin. Can I just sprinkle this on his food? Can I bake it into a homemade treat or will the heat in the oven ruin the MSM? Is there any measurements to use as per weight? Any answers would be greatly appreciated. I want my companion to have the best life possible. Thank you very much! Randy Rader and Chance