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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Does anyone's basset seem to get stiff after
exercise?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Rolph started agility three weeks ago and much to my surprise
he loves it. However, the day afterwards he is reluctant to walk very far (in
fact refuses to come for his daily walks) and looks as though his legs are
stiff.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Rolph is not yet 5 and usually goes for at least two
walks a day - one long and one medium, total 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. He gets daily
supplements including <A class=spell
href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ei=iuFISrTdD5arjAfNovRj&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=glucosamine+and+chroditium&spell=1"><FONT
color=#2200cc><FONT size=3>glucosamine and
chroditium</FONT></FONT></A><FONT size=3> </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>He has never had a paticularly free gait and when he
was about 2 1/2 limped for a long time. The vet never really got to the
bottom of it, despite Xrays, blood tests etc. I put it down to having come
out of a poor rescue kennel aged 2 years 4 months, where he had little exercise,
and then had lots of walks with me. Also the kennel was not heated and he
spent a long cold winter in it with only another dog for warmth (I
believe). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>He is in the beginner agility class, so none of the
equipment is particularly high and he is not going fast. This is a very
professional training environment where they take the dogs' health very
seriously, so I am confident he is not being asked to do anything damaging. He
is also a good weight for his size.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>He is not limping. He will run if there is a treat in the
offing and doesn't seem to be in pain, he just seems stiff, maybe a bit achey. I
don't want to stop taking him to agility as he clearly loves every moment, but
at the same time I don't want to risk his health. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Could this just be stiff like I would be if I tried to
ride a bike, just because I would not be used to it? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Has anyone had experience with anything like
this?</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Sally with Rolph and Clara, UK</FONT></DIV>
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