My dog is suffering from arthritis. She’s around 10 and a shepherd/lab mix. What should I do?
I’ve read some websites, and there are a lot of opinions! Some recommend Rx meds, but warn of possible dire side effects to the liver and kidneys. Can I just give her aspirin (5-10 mg/lb)? Does liquid glucosamine work? Her dry Nutro contains this already.
The only safe ONLY safe meds that can be given to dogger for pain is baby asperin…83 mg…That’s it…Anything stronger and you need to see the vet…Pleeeease don’t even think about acetomenophen (tylenol) or ibuprophen…you’ll destroy her liver..
When my old german shepherd-akita mix dog developed arthritis, I did go to the vet and I did put her on Rimadyl. She did well on it, though of course there is always a concern about side effects. You can give dogs aspirin- get the correct doseage from your veterinarian- but that can have side effects too, as in humans. (NEVER give tylenol, it’s toxic to dogs.)
You could start with the correct dose of aspirin after she has eaten (never on an empty stomach) before she goes to bed. (Remember that aspirin is a blood thinner, so if she gets cut she won’t clot as fast.)
Also, be aware that she may need to cut back on exercise. Arthritis is no fun, and it doesn’t get better by doing tons of exercise. Respect the fact that she is ageing.
Keep her weight down, as being fat is really hard on arthritic joints.
I’d give the chondroitin and glucosamine a try too.
Make sure she sleeps in a warm, dry, comfortable bed. Nothing is worse for arthritis than hard surfaces, damp and cold air.
Good luck!
I would try to get her some meds from the vet.
But my mom gave her dog the joint medicine (an austrailan shepherd, who was hit by a car when he was a puppy – not when we had him and had a pin put in his hip. Since shepherds already have bad hips he got them when he was about 8. We had him until he was 13 and his back gave out on him and he had to be put down. But I truly believe those joint meds helped him for those 5 years. Ask your vet for advice.
But you can also give them baby aspirin, just not all the time.
have you had this conirmed by a vet and not just websites? if so you need to make everything as easy as possible to be accesible to her. food, bedding, and ensure she is on medication precscribed by a vet. dont expect exercise from her or climbing stairs. arthritis hurts, particuarly if its cold. so if its a cold day/night get one of those heating beds for her, they help a lot.
Please Please Please never give your pet any human medication even aspirin without talking to your vet. Aspirin as any NSAID can cause stomach bleeding even in low doses and if your pet has an underlying liver issue it could be a big problem for your pet. There are safer more effective medications available for your pet that your vet can recommend.
Products you can use without a prescription are MSM and glucosamine and condroitin sulfate which have been proven to improve joint function and even rebuild cartilage in humans and animals.
Symptoms are subtle to start with such as decreased interest in activity or lagging behind on walks and progress to more obvious ones:
difficulty getting up and down
reluctance to run, jump, or climb stairs
stiff, sore or swollen joints
limping
sensitivity to cold
behavioral changes such as aggression, withdrawal or irritability
Treatment – while there is no way to reverse the problem at present, arthritis can be treated with medications or less often, hip-replacement and other types of joint surgery. Most dogs will improve with anti-inflammatory medications which can reduce the pain and swelling of damaged joints caused by osteoarthritis and increase mobility. Be aware; however, of possible side effects involving the digestive system, kidneys, or liver.
When it comes to treatment of arthritis in dogs, many pet owners and veterinarians take an integrative approach, combining prescription medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with supplements and alternative treatments such as acupuncture. Some of the more popular and sometimes effective supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin, msm, ester-c, and hyaluronic acid. Many dog owners have reported positive outcomes using these natural supplements.
Weight loss can help relieve stress on joints. Older large-breed dogs tend to be overweight. This discourages them from getting the exercise they need and may aggravate their arthritis. The more weight on those poor old joints, the harder it is to move
around.
Prevention is one of the kindest and most effective measures you can take. Keeping your dog in shape through regular exercise and proper nutrition for optimal health is your best line of defense against this painful disease, as well as your best approach after your dog has been diagnosed. Another key is to maintain proper weight and limit snacks and foods that can aggravate inflammation.
Much can be done to make arthritic dogs more comfortable and improve their lives.
prevent stressing weak painful joints or falling down – place gates across stairs
elevate food and water dishes
portable ramps or steps – for home and vehicle
rubber place mat to stabilize food and water dishes that slip on bare floors while your dog is eating
cushion joints – orthopedic dog beds at least four inches thick
The bottom line is arthritis in dogs needs veterinary care. if you suspect your best buddy has arthritis, follow
the advice of your veterinarian.
A product I have had really good luck with is called Syn-flex.
http://www.activexamerica.com/index.php
It is for dogs and cats. My cat had arthritis bad and was really suffering. She is 19. I gave her syn flex and after about a month she was running around. That was almost two years ago and I just give her some every second day now.
Another good product is called “Dog gone pain”
http://www.doggonepain.com/
my dog got arthritis and with in a year it got so bad he couldn’t move we ended up putting him down if he starts getting it real bad like she can’t even climb up a step then it’s time to her down