Arthritis in dogs

**Downriviera** · May-23-09, 05:49 PM

My 9 year old Labrador is having some stiffness in her back hip. Thinking about trying Rimadyl or Deramaxx meds. Anyone have any experience with these meds? Better to buy from vet or petmeds.com? Thanks.

**Trumpeteer** · May-23-09, 06:01 PM

We had our previous dog, Murfi, a 9 lb. yorkie on Deramax for about her last six years and it did wonders for her. Besides, try it and if it doesn't work try something else.

**Big Dog** · May-23-09, 09:23 PM

My daughter gets glucosmine, contridin formula from her vet for a 16 year old cat and it works great.

ccbatson · May-24-09, 04:32 PM

Some veterinarian studies [[not very good ones) and flawed European studies in Humans tout Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate. Better studies find no difference. On the other hand, there is little downside...and most dog foods have it added already. Rimadyl works fairly well [[as an anti inflammatory) particularly when there is a flare up [[ie, when inflammation is active).

9 years old is a bit too old to consider joint replacements...but it may be an option.

**DetroitTeacher** · May-24-09, 04:37 PM

Rimadyl is tricky...the dog has to have regular liver funtion tests. My 13 yr old lab mix is on it on days she seems a bit stiff. The vet didn't recommend everyday for her because of her liver test. He said once in a while is fine. It's also quite expensive but I figure my dog is worth it...she's a great pal and companion and a member of the family! My dog LOVES these lil happy pills and will gobble one up without having it rolled in cheese. She had one this morning and was outside a bit ago chasing a squirrel on the power line. She even jumped a few times. She hasn't done that in a while. It's nice to see her so active...walks around the block still seem to be a bit much for her on her off pill days.

ccbatson · May-24-09, 04:38 PM

Trying tried and true NSAIDs [[Ascriptin is a favorite of some vets) might be a better idea.

**Trumpeteer** · May-24-09, 05:17 PM

Like I said, Deramax works great. Try it, you have nothing to lose. Liver function tests are part of it all.

**Crystal** · May-24-09, 05:39 PM

We used Previcox for our elderly Lab, Luna Blue [[1993-2008), in the last year of her life. It seemed to work really well. The best price we found was from entirelypets.com.

Good luck!

**jiminnm** · May-24-09, 05:52 PM

We gave our cat gloucosamine for the last 6-7 years of her life and it greatly improved her mobility. I suggest checking out on-line vets for it, as we paid about half what our vet charged [[from www.medi-vet.com).

**East Detroit** · May-24-09, 08:24 PM

We used this stuff and it worked great.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=19868

**Downriviera** · May-24-09, 09:49 PM

The dog food I use does have glucosomine chondrotin in it, and about six weeks ago I also started to add a tablet of it to her food in the morning as well. I got a ten day sample of deramax from the vet that I'm going to try.

ccbatson · May-25-09, 07:52 PM

Ask about Ascriptin [[or equivalent)...it is dirt cheap for one thing.

**Downriviera** · May-25-09, 08:08 PM

I'll ask my vet, thanks.

ccbatson · May-25-09, 08:12 PM

No problem. One other thing to be aware of is that dogs manifest discomfort and pain in ways foreign to us humans. It may be easy to miss the signs.

**Downriviera** · May-25-09, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Crystal

We used Previcox for our elderly Lab, Luna Blue [[1993-2008), in the last year of her life. It seemed to work really well. The best price we found was from entirelypets.com.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info and the pic of Luna Blue, she was a beauty. I'm on my third black lab, first lived 13 years, my second one lived 15 years.

**SCS_Scooter** · September-06-09, 05:14 PM

Both my gals are on Glucosamine supplements and one is also on Metacam and Tramadol. [[12 year old collie) She has arthritis in her spine. Those drugs are worth every penny. [[make that every DOLLAR! They aren't cheap) The liver function thing seems to be with all those drugs. Sadie is also on Phenolbarb for seizures so she goes in for liver work-up every 6 months anyway. It gets to the point that you wonder which is worse, die from liver failure or from a seizure because you didn't use the meds. I love them both and would pick up pop cans on the freeway if that was the only way to make sure they got what they need.

**Trumpeteer** · September-06-09, 09:24 PM

We did that for our previous dog, Murfi, an 8 lb. mix rescue dog. Wound up giving her shots and her staying at our vets for five days on IV's. We'd do it again in a heartbeat if need be. We now have another rescue, Annie B, who's about 2 years old. You're doing the right thing.

**Gistok** · September-06-09, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by ccbatson

9 years old is a bit too old to consider joint replacements...but it may be an option.

Ah... the perks of the monied class....

They may not want to fork out extra to provide health care for the poor and uninsured [[they clear their conscience by calling it a bad word..."socialism")... but you can bet their pets are well cared for.....

ccbatson · September-07-09, 11:49 PM

Glucosamine is now added to most commercial dog foods [[although studies do not support benefits). Ascripton [[aspirin) is a cheap option, Rimadyl a little less cheap, Corticosteroids may help temporarily, and Ultram [[a mild opiate) might also help [[but watch out for constipation/obstruction).

**Downriviera** · September-08-09, 08:29 AM

Vet recommended buffered aspirin for the cheap option.

**Trumpeteer** · September-08-09, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Ah... the perks of the monied class....

They may not want to fork out extra to provide health care for the poor and uninsured [[they clear their conscience by calling it a bad word..."socialism")... but you can bet their pets are well cared for.....

perk 1
Noun
Informal an incidental benefit gained from a job, such as a company car [short for perquisite]

Being able to care for your family AND pets is not a "perk" of the "monied class". Bottom line, my pet, my decision, MY money. Give all of yours you wish to those "less fortunate" but don't force me to do so. I contribute to many charitable causes of my choosing.

**Gistok** · September-08-09, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

perk 1
Noun
Informal an incidental benefit gained from a job, such as a company car [short for perquisite]

Being able to care for your family AND pets is not a "perk" of the "monied class". Bottom line, my pet, my decision, MY money. Give all of yours you wish to those "less fortunate" but don't force me to do so. I contribute to many charitable causes of my choosing.

Gee struck a nerve did I Trumpeteer?? All well and good... except no one was talking about YOU!!!!

But it's interesting that you think more highly of your pets than those who are less fortunate... people in the past did that as well... during the periods of serfdom and slavery....

**Trumpeteer** · September-08-09, 02:29 PM

Never said anyone was talking about me but was just replying to your comment. The only "nerve" struck was the constant inference by some that those who have made their own way "owe" what they have to those who are declared "poor and uninsured". If that's what one CHOOSES to do that's great. If not, it's still their choice. You apparently assume that those who want to take good care of their pets " think more highly of your pets than those who are less fortunate". You can't have any idea what those pet owners do of their own choosing to help the "less fortunate" so by assuming - you know the rest.

**Gistok** · September-08-09, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Never said anyone was talking about me but was just replying to your comment. The only "nerve" struck was the constant inference by some that those who have made their own way "owe" what they have to those who are declared "poor and uninsured". If that's what one CHOOSES to do that's great. If not, it's still their choice. You apparently assume that those who want to take good care of their pets " think more highly of your pets than those who are less fortunate". You can't have any idea what those pet owners do of their own choosing to help the "less fortunate" so by assuming - you know the rest.

Trumpeteer, I appologize for being a little snarky in my response, having a bad day... but one cannot help but get tired of cc's incessant droning on about his health care scares, and how the current system is the best we can have....