AboutPatti Expertise To date, I've owned 7 dogs, all of which have lived into old age.
Having cared for them in all stages of life, I feel I can offer sound advice to other pet owners, and people considering getting a dog.
I am knowledgeable about the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog breeds, training and exercise, caring for sick and elderly pets, feeding, as well as many holistic treatments pets can benefit from.
My only request is that you write me using standard English and punctuation.
Experience My life experience in this field is more like "on the job training" rather than an actual degree in animal welfare. You may benefit from my experiences over the past 30 years.
Aside from the dogs I've owned, I'm also involved in "breed rescue" and have fostered several dogs, all of which have been adopted to wonderful "forever homes".
I find helping people who want a dog very rewarding.
Question Hello Patti,
We have an eight year old golden retriever who is starting to
show signs of jiont stiffness. Especially early morning or after he
has been resting for quite some time. His weight is
approximately 75 pounds.
The vet wants to start him on prescription meds "but" the cost is
quite high per pill at one pill per day needed. We realize that as
he grows older he eventually will need the prescription meds
My question:
Are there some over the counter jiont relief products that are
safe for use with dogs ?
Any other supplements you can suggest that will help relieve his
stiffness ?
Thank You ! for taking time to answer.
Have A Happy New Year !
Karen
Answer Hi Karen,
I understand your problem.
I've read that there are veterinarians using Celebrex (Rx) for arthritis in dogs. It is reported to work well. I have not seen any sort of scientifically established dosage though. You should discuss the use of this drug with your vet.
Etogesic, Zubrin, Rimadyl and Lodine are all very good prescription medications for arthritis. Maybe you could price shop for the most affordable arthritis medication for your dog. With any medication comes the potential of side effects. Become familiar of the side effects of any medication you use on a long term basis so you can recognize a reaction before it becomes a problem.
Many of the drugs used in veterinary medicine are also used by people and are availbe in generic form. If your vet's medication of choice is in this group, you might find it cheaper to buy from at your local pharmacy, or online. You'll need the prescription to be written in your dog's name, but yes, a pharmacy will fill it!
The most effective treatment for joint disease often involves a combination of medication and supplements in addition to physical activities.
Though many dogs tolerate buffered or safety coated aspirin, you should know it is not for chronic pain or daily use. In some dogs, it is simply not strong enough or it causes unpleasant side effects such as upset stomach or even intestinal bleeding. Aspirin also appears to inhibit the production of cartilage matrix by cartilage cells, which in the long run is not conducive to a healthy cartilage surface. Aspirin also deactivates platelets (the blood cell responsible for clotting) and thus can promote bleeding should need surgery or trauma occurs.
If your dog's pain is occasional and not chronic, then by all means try using buffered aspirin. Give it at mealtime. Use 5 grain (325 mg) buffered aspirin tablets. A 60 to 80 lb dog may be given one tablet twice a day (every 12 hours) or 1/2 tablet three times a day (every eight hours).
Glucosamine/chondroitin supplements are a very popular supplement used by both humans and animals to both rebuild the cartilage and delay further cartilage breakdown. Glucosamine/chondroitin works best in the early stages of arthritis, while there is still reasonable joint function left to preserve.
It is still somewhat debatable how effective this product is, but it appears to be very safe and thousands swear by it. The most commonly prescribed dosage of glucosamine/chondroitin is 20mg/lb of body weight, or 1 of the standard 500mg tablets per 25 lbs. of body weight.
Like any "natural" supplement, you need to give it to your dog daily for at least a month before you can expect to see any results, so it's best when used in conjunction with a prescribed pain medication. Theoretically, after a month or two of using glucosamine/chondroitin, it may be possible to cut back or even discontinue the use of the prescribed pain medication. It's certainly worth a try, but glucosamine/chondroitin is not inexpensive, so you need to weigh it's cost against your budget, and the cost of prescription medication.
MSM stands for “methyl sulfonyl methane” and represents another “natural” anti-inflammatory agent. MSM is present in most plant and animal tissues and is a natural source of sulfur. One might wonder why a sulfur source would be helpful in treating arthritis. The glycosan inoglycans that enable cartilage to soak up water, and thus act as a cushion for articulating bones, are all sulfates. The idea with this product is to provide nutritional “building blocks” for cartilage repair. Beyond this, MSM seems to have anti-inflammatory properties and may act as an anti-oxidant (a chemical that can fix damaged tissue). Like Glucosamine/chondroitin, MSM is very popular but it's not regulated by by the FDA, so its official effectiveness is still “up in the air.” The standard dose of MSM for dogs is 50mg per 10lbs of body weight daily.
Vitamin E is reported to have moderate anti-inflammatory properties, it is another anti-oxidant and it does seem to help some dogs suffering from arthritis. A standard dose is 2000 IU/day/dog for dogs over 50 lbs. It is a good idea to take a week or two to build up to this dose, and therapeutic benefits can take a month or more to take effect.
Omega 3 fatty acids are another anti-oxidant which has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. While this finding has primarily been utilized in the treatment of itchy skin, many arthritic dogs have also benefited from supplementation. While there are no toxic issues to be concerned with, these products require at least one month to build up to adequate amounts. Effects are not usually dramatic but can be helpful. Try 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food.
Before beginning the use of any supplements you should talk it over with your vet, because of the possibility of drug interactions, and also because your vet needs to keep currant on the status of your dog.
It is best to keep walking your dog even though he has arthritis, since activity tends to keep the joints as mobile as possible. It isn't a good idea to have long weekend walks and no activity during the week or some situation with widely varying activity levels.
At the end of the exercise period, a reduced pace of exercise should be done as a “cool down.” Ideally, a 5 minute slower pace of the exercise is followed by 5 minutes of massage.
Make sure your dog has a warm place to sleep, and has bedding which isn't too soft. Firm foam bedding, orthopedic or "egg crate" foam works well. Elevating your dog's food and water bowls can also help with arthritis pain. By providing raised bowls, it allows the dog to maintain a standing position to reach the food and water without bending over.
It is hard to overstate the importance of weight control. Your dog is not over weight now, and you should take care to prevent weight gain. In at least one study in dogs, weight control was more beneficial than any of the medications used in controlling disability and pain associated with degenerative joint disease.
Massage can be a great way to relieve some of the discomfort of arthritis. Using your fingertips, rub firm circles into the muscle. Then progress to using the palm of your hand. Doing this daily will increase blood flow and make your dog less painful. Read more about how to massage your dog here: http://members.tripod.com/~RavenwoodDals/massage.htm
