Luigi and Arthritis

Ruby · #1 03/12/11, 07:09 AM

Is there anything I can give him before bedtime so he won't hurt when he gets up in the morning. I've been noticing he is very stiff when he wakes up. Yesterday he was laying on the sofa and it took him several tries to get up, this morning I was trying to help him and he yelped. He lays on his side with his back against the sofa back and it's like he can't get his legs under him to get up.

I hurt when I get up also so I know what he's going through. Just wish I could help him. I do help him off so he don't have to jump down.

Forgot to say I do give him the over the counter joint stuff from Wal Mart but that don't seem to be helping. He's been on that since we got him and the vet said he had some arthritis.

mekasmom · #2 03/12/11, 08:41 AM

A baby aspirin will help a bit, or two depending on his size. And your vet can give you a script for rimadyl and/or tramadol, meloxacam (metacam). They all work well.

Our old vet swore by DMSO for dogs too. You can get that in the eqine section of the ag store. But it stinks. It does help, and our older dog had it put on her daily.

beccachow · #3 03/12/11, 10:56 AM

Glucosamine and CHondroitin, with some Hyaluric Acid, is a help. Fish oil also a help. The vet has lots of meds to give for pain, they start lower for a while, then move on to the big guns as he gets immune to it.

If you do use DMSO, PLEASE wear rubber gloves to apply it to him. It is readily absorbable through the skin.

Maura · #4 03/12/11, 01:15 PM

Switch him to a BARF/raw diet and you won't need supplements. The bones have everything he needs to support his bones. The meat, tendons, skin, and fat have everything he needs. You should find him feeling better after a couple of raw meals.

Ravenlost · #5 03/12/11, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

Glucosamine and CHondroitin, with some Hyaluric Acid, is a help. Fish oil also a help. The vet has lots of meds to give for pain, they start lower for a while, then move on to the big guns as he gets immune to it.

If you do use DMSO, PLEASE wear rubber gloves to apply it to him. It is readily absorbable through the skin.

This is what we do for our two old fellows. They get glucosamine/chondroitin "treats" every night and fish oil in their food. We also keep Previcox on hand when they are really hurting. We also watch their weight and try to keep them at a good weight. Carrying extra weight is bad for their joints.

Ruby · #6 03/12/11, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

A baby aspirin will help a bit, or two depending on his size. And your vet can give you a script for rimadyl and/or tramadol, meloxacam (metacam). They all work well.

Our old vet swore by DMSO for dogs too. You can get that in the eqine section of the ag store. But it stinks. It does help, and our older dog had it put on her daily.

My husband and I both take Meloxicam 7.5 mg. every day for arthritis. Is that what you are talking about? And could I give that to him. Don't want to do anything that will harm him but it's really hard to see him hurt.

Once he gets up and moving he does good. During the day he runs and plays but it's in the mornings that he hurts.

mekasmom · #7 03/12/11, 06:57 PM

I believe metacam and meloxicam are the same thing canine vs human. I have no idea on the dosages. My less than five pound dogs take one-tenth or two-tenth cc liquid metacam depending on how big the problem and pain are. It's a very small dosage for dogs, but if the dog weighs the same as you do the dosage might be close? You need to ask your vet.

I do believe Metacam aka meloxicam works better than rimadyl from what I have seen in my dogs. I will put links below, so you can research dosages.
http://www.google.com/search?q=meloxicam+dosages+canine&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=HCu&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=X&ei=WAh8Tdj0O6WG0QHT6bnTAw&ved=0CBMQBSgA&q=meloxicam+doses+canine&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=eec7b1769f792670

Ruby · #8 03/12/11, 07:14 PM

No he only weighs about 22 or so lbs.

SageLady · #9 03/13/11, 05:50 AM

Awwww, sorry to hear the little guy is hurtin' and stiff. Both of my shelties developed arthritis and it always made me sad to see them struggling. The oldest one was on Rimadyl for awhile which only helped her a little bit, but made her have doggie alzheimers. She became very senile while on it, but went back to normal when we took her off of it. The younger one had some joint issues even as a very young dog so we put her on Glucosamine and Chondroitin early on. It really helped her, but occasionally she would have a bad day and on those days I gave her a low dose aspirin. She would smile when I would give her one - she knew they made her feel better. I miss my girls. They've both been gone awhile now.... Hope Luigi feels better.

Ronney · #10 03/13/11, 06:59 AM

Why do people persist in becoming self appointed vets! Over the years I have taken on many retired working dogs. Some come to me with the beginnings of arthritis, others will get it as they age, some have discospondylosis but one thing is for sure, no two dogs are ever the same. I've had Metacam work brilliantly on some dogs and be completely useless on others.

Metacam, Rimadyl, Tramadol, Prednisone when in the latter stages, all work well but is better done under veterinary supervision. Glucosamine-Chrondroitin and fish oil are beneficial but will not stop the pain when it gets too bad.

Sorry Maura, I can't believe that a raw diet is going to ease arthritis, not for one moment. My dogs are fed raw diet, we live on a farm, they get mutton, offal and cooked vegetables. They still get old, they still get arthritis. One thing that does help is feeding possum but this can't be done on a regular basis - maybe once a week. Possum is full of oil but has no fat so dogs end up becoming very lean but with a beautiful, glossy coat. The oil helps their joints.

Ruby, get your dog to the vet and find the best way to help him. It is part of your responsibility as an animal owner to do that for him. If they are anything like my vets, they will take x-rays of his spine and hips and then discuss with you the best method of dealing with the problem as well as the pros and cons of the different drugs available.

Cheers,
Ronnie

SFM in KY · #11 03/13/11, 10:49 AM

I've used MSM with some of my older dogs with good results. It's available through most pet supply stores and is very safe. They also have some combinations of MSM and Chondrontin that I know some people have used and feel helped as well.

I personally would not feel comfortable going to anything stronger ... or even aspirin on a regular basis ... without a vet diagnosing/prescribing ... and I'm used to doing a lot of my own routine vet work with cattle/horses/dogs.

Ruby · #12 03/13/11, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronney

Ruby, get your dog to the vet and find the best way to help him. It is part of your responsibility as an animal owner to do that for him. If they are anything like my vets, they will take x-rays of his spine and hips and then discuss with you the best method of dealing with the problem as well as the pros and cons of the different drugs available.

Cheers,
Ronnie

I have had him to a vet. He did say he had some arthritis and told me to give the joint vitimans. I give him and Peanut one EVERY morning and it just don't seem to be helping that much. I just thought there was something I could give him to help with the morning pain.

Ronney · #13 03/13/11, 04:37 PM

Sorry Ruby, I wasn't aware that you had already taken the dog to the vet. If your unhappy with the dog's behaviour don't hesitate to take him back. He doesn't have to live with pain and there are some very good drugs available now and most are not overly expensive - but some are. I'm afraid there is very little that can be bought over the counter that will aleviate pain.

The problem with arthritis is that it continues degenerating the joints and in some dogs it can be quite rapid so constant monitoring of the situation is my by word.

Good luck with him, I hate seeing my dogs get like that and am so grateful for my vets and modern drugs.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Maura · #14 03/13/11, 11:41 PM

Improving a dog's nutrition is never a bad thing. I'd like to see Luigi on a high quality diet before saying that it doesn't work. Doesn't mean he might not also need a supplement or medicine, but I have seen a nutritional improvement give a dog increased mobility.

ErinP · #15 03/14/11, 02:11 PM

We've had good luck with baby aspirin.

I saw no improvement whatsoever with Gluc/chron or MSM...

Rimadyl has probably been our best tool, though. But it can cause liver damage (I'm sure the other more powerful ones can too) so you need to carefully weigh things out...
In our case, our dog was already old enough that we were more concerned with physical comfort than we were with organ failure. Our current "old dog" has been on it for nearly three years and it looks like he'll die of congestive heart failure before his liver conks out.