Chronic illness and taking care of Dobes

Dont feel so bad, I also suffer from a debilitating, chronic, illness that doctors have still not figured out. I have good days, weeks, months and bad ones. My dogs adjust.
Some day's, I feel good and can do more with them, other days we have cuddle parties in bed, all day. Once your dogs get used to not running every day, they will get better and better at days when they just have to take care of mom.

I know it is hard. I am only 28, but have suffered from a progressively worsening disease since childhood. Hang onto the joy your dogs bring you. That is the brightest hope I have in my life. I care for them the best I can and they care for me, in return.
Its amazing what you can do with a dog while sitting in one place. Teach them tricks that don't require you to move around, too much. Make special toys full of yummy treats and hide them around the house for the dogs to find. Just be creative and have fun with your kiddos.

texaslassie said:

These days it seems I develop more and more health issues. I'm sliding into 50! Fi-Ty YEARS OLLLDDDDDD
Is there anybody here with a chronic illness or disabled that has a Doberman?

Click to expand...

Ahhhh Sally O'Malley!!!

Being only 2 yrs your junior I'm not as athletic by a long shot as i used to be. I know it's humbling, not being able to do what you could even a couple of years ago.

One thing I did that helped run our girl's donkey off when she was young and nearly inexhaustable was to use a broom or some thing on a stick & line to "lunge" (sp) her like a horse....it worked nicely without killing me.

You being in Tx(I'm originally from tx) could see if your dogs like slaying "water dragons" on a not so hot day w/the hose & sprayer to see if they'll run their butts off chasing the stream.

Our girl also LOVES to chase after streams of water from a water gun.

I hope that helps and am sorry you're not your usual. It's hard.
I've seen some quite out of shape people tho w/dobes. I consider myself out of shape but figure I can still do stuff and "had my day".....but now have to face the fact that from now on I will always need a dog that has an "off" switch, and fortunately our girl has that.

I'm another chronic pain sufferer, and work with a pain management specialist. I am probably more active than you can be right now. But I sure hope you get some relief soon!! I'm sorry to hear that.

I am fortunate that my dogs do play well with each other, they all love frisbee or fetch so if we dont' get out, I can throw something for them. 2 love a Flirt Pole although I can't use my new one with my back issues but my hubby can. I have 2 herniated cervical discs, bilateral carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis and a thoracic issue. About a year ago after years and years of pain, I finally got a referral to a fantastic pain mgmt specialist who has adjusted my meds and I feel so much better.

Even 30 minutes a day of running/play is more than many many dogs get. You could also give them things like kongs, safe bones (rawhides, whatever you like to give the dogs) for chew toys for mental stimulation.

I do thank every one hear for their thoughtful suggestions. I have a treadmill that they could probably get on if I could get my husband to help me with this solution. I have numerous types of kongs for them that I stuff with different treats.


If I took them to a daycare they would only be allowed by themselves since my female is very dominat and aggressive towards other dogs :/. My male has cataracts on both eyes which can't be removed since i've already tried that and he had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia and almost died on the table. He's very skittish around other dogs. I don't really know if he wants to play with them or hurt them!

They just seem sad, depressed as am I. I know they are pulling vibes from me and it's way sad.


I'll do the best I can I'm not giving them away that's for darn sure. Heck there's dog owners all over my neighborhood and you'd only know they even

had a dog because they bark at us from behind their prison wall :busted_red:

my husband constructed a type of accordion gate that goes across the front of the garage and my Dobes are able to go out front and see what the heck is


going out there or sadly be in that yucky back prison yard where they can only bark a hawks flying above.

Illnesses stink for sure, for us or our precious babies.

Thanks for reading. This site is so informative for me that it's a center icon on my iPad!