Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 23

Thread: It's arthritis.

  1. #11
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    2,598
    Thanked: 2588
    Not that I have noticed. But he's 13 and probably a bit more achy than your dog!

  2. #12
    Senior Dog
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Central NJ
    Posts
    2,603
    Thanked: 2277
    Agree with the other posters re: adding supplements and limiting activity. Maybe not eliminate running entirely, but try to cut back on the frequency, especially anything that would involve twisting. Regular exercise (and keeping weight down) is very helpful in managing arthritis, but you want it to be lower impact, such as walking or swimming. I do understand about not wanting to steal his joy though ....

    Also wanted to add that Mulder has been on Rimadyl for about a year now, with no problems. Scully took Deramaxx for several years, also uneventfully. Neither drug seemed to make them spacey, although Scully was eventually put on Tramadol in addition, and that one can make them a bit sleepy.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

    Hidden Content

  3. #13
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,081
    Thanked: 4633
    Quote Originally Posted by MontananDakota View Post
    Thanks Berna, how much of these do you give to Cookie?
    - glucosamine and chondroitine (depending on the product, it's usually written on the label)
    - devil's claw (included in the product, I use Flexadin)
    - basil (when I cook his veggies, I add 4-5 leaves. I cook veggies twice a week but I don't always add basil - maybe every other week)
    - turmeric (1 teaspoon)
    - spirulina (2-3 teaspoons)
    - vitamin C (I can't find the suitable one here so I don't add this, but people are using it with good results. I thing it's 500mg the dosage, correct me if I am wrong)
    - salmon oil (I give raw salmon but the dosage is written on the label)
    - apple cider vinegar (I tablespoon)
    - kefir (3+ tablespoons)

    These can't hurt, but they may help, so why not give it a try? Since you have a senior dog, it's a reasonable assumption that he may have some arthritis, and these may help with the pain.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  4. #14
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    1,078
    Thanked: 451
    so all of these are every day except for basil?

  5. #15
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,081
    Thanked: 4633
    Well, I give Flexadin daily, one pill. The rest perhaps every other day, for example one day apple cider vinegar with kefir and the next day spirulina with turmeric. These are pretty safe to feed every day but I don't think it's necessary. I feed salmon twice a week (be careful with raw salmon though. Ours here is safe but I've been reading about some parasites in salmon from the Pacific). I don't feed dairy products when I feed fish (may upset their tummies). That's all. With two acl injuries and ED, he is doing great

    Also, as others have mentioned, keep his weight down. You want him on the leaner side, to alleviate the pressure on the joints.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  6. #16
    Best Friend Retriever LucyTudeOn4Feet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Tampa Bay
    Posts
    538
    Thanked: 332
    Regarding the bed and jumping on and off. I discovered this at a hotel where the bed was too high for Lucy to even get on. We took two cushions from the sofa, stacked them on top of each other, and it was just the right height and firm enough to be a step up for her halfway. It would be easy enough to fashion something like this at home from a short ottoman, or craigslist sofa, instead of buying or making a set of stairs. The unexpected good thing about it, too, was it was wide enough that it didn't matter if she approached it dead center and straight on.
    Of course, she didn't know what was expected of her with it, I had to leash her and lure her with treats through several training sessions and then refreshers during the weekend, but she got with the program easily enough.

  7. #17
    . . . keep 'em moderated Calley's Family's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Here in the Present
    Posts
    467
    Thanked: 467
    Midnight has been on Rimadyl for the last year and a half. Blood panels are important as NSAIDs can be hard on the internal organs. Calley was recently diagnosed with arthritis all over her spine she was in extreme pain. She is now on Rimadyl and Tramadol. She is doing great with it. Midnight went on Tramadol after his recent cancer surgery. He is now doing better than he has for 18 months. We let them run when they choose. We did keep Calley quiet for the first couple of weeks after her diagnosis to let things calm down. Tramadol has made a huge difference for both dogs.
    WE ... ARE ... CALLEY'S FAMILY!
    John & Jeannie, humans to:
    Hidden Content
    Tava - b 4/12/2015 gotcha 7/11/2015
    Haleigh - b 3/2/2015 gotcha 2/4/2017

    Forever in our hearts:
    Michaela Calley Eileen, CGC - b 12/14/2002 d 1/28/2018
    Midnight Valentino, VGB - b 8/18/2003 d 5/4/2015

    No Bad Days * Positive is How We Live * Practice Aloha

  8. #18
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    SE, PA
    Posts
    4,406
    Thanked: 1992
    My Emma has hip and spinal arthritis, she is 9 y/o. I started her on Hylasport, vitamin C, salmon oil daily and vitamin E (3x's weekly) and noticed a great improvement. I will not use NSAID's but do keep Tramadol in hand for emergency use. Liver function tests are absolutely necessary if you do use any of the NSAID's, every 3-6 months. Giving a dose of Pepcid can help with the intestinal upset that often occurs with the use if NSAID's. Laser therapy is also very helpful for Emma.
    Hidden Content

    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  9. #19
    Puppy stewbert's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    north jersey
    Posts
    18
    Thanked: 3
    He does need exercise, in moderation. We've had very good luck with Adequan. We currently have an 11 year old yellow diagnosed with arthritis and IBD. We administer Adequan every other week and she swims, weather permitting, and runs off leash in the woods. I do try to watch/curtail her cavorting with our 2 year old Chessie and 6 year old chocolate though as they'll run over her. Our first yellow was arthritic from the day we brought her home from the shelter. She received cold light laser treatments that I swear made a difference. Seems like smoke and mirrors now since our 11 year old does not respond to it but it may be worth the $30 or so a treatment for a few weeks for your boy and you decide.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to stewbert For This Useful Post:

    Charlotte K. (08-16-2014)

  11. #20
    Senior Dog Charlotte K.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    somewhere out there
    Posts
    938
    Thanked: 581
    Quote Originally Posted by stewbert View Post
    He does need exercise, in moderation. We've had very good luck with Adequan. We currently have an 11 year old yellow diagnosed with arthritis and IBD. We administer Adequan every other week and she swims, weather permitting, and runs off leash in the woods. I do try to watch/curtail her cavorting with our 2 year old Chessie and 6 year old chocolate though as they'll run over her. Our first yellow was arthritic from the day we brought her home from the shelter. She received cold light laser treatments that I swear made a difference. Seems like smoke and mirrors now since our 11 year old does not respond to it but it may be worth the $30 or so a treatment for a few weeks for your boy and you decide.
    Lots of good ideas in these posts! Stewbert, where do you get laser done for $30? I have heard twice that price. It is said to be helpful for injuries as well as chronic conditions like arthritis.

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •