Arthritis

[antuk99]

Just a question to ask , my border has been walking rather stiffly lateley & on a recent visit to my vets getting the booster for the Sprocker he had a look at her & said she has arthritis in her front shoulders , have any of you lot had similar , she has had some omega 3 tabs as recomended.

Sorry edited to say she is 7 nearly 8 years old

Edited April 11, 2011 by antuk99

[darren m]

mate read this , taken from another forum:-

 

COPING WITH ARTHRITIS

 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG HAS ARTHRITIS?

 

There are many forms of arthritis, but here we are talking about osteoarthritis. This form of arthritis is a chronic, degenerative joint condition. In the early stages there is inflammation in the joint (heat, swelling) leading to thinning of the joint fluid and damage to the cartilage. This basically means the joint is no longer properly lubricated and bone starts to rub on bone leading to pain. As the condition progresses bone is worn away and new reactive bone is formed. This can reduce the amount of movement in a joint as well as causing pain as the bone forms. But arthritis is not quite as simple as that. Changes in the joint change the way the dog moves and will lead to spasm or pain in muscles which are being asked to work differently.

 

The classic arthritic dog is older (8 years plus) and owners will describe difficulty rising from bed, stiffness at the start of exercise, tiring more quickly or frank lameness. More subtle signs include grumpiness, loss of appetite and general ‘slowing down’. The dog may be reluctant to jump into or out of the car, up and down steps or in working dogs may refuse retrieve he would once have relished. Too many owners dismiss these changes as ‘just getting old’ without realising their dog may be in considerable pain; biddable working dogs especially want to please and will put up with quite a lot of pain.

Arthritis may be seen in younger dogs following joint trauma, surgery or with genetic conditions such as hip dysplasia.

 

Occasionally I see ‘sudden onset arthritis’! It seems that the chronic changes haven’t bothered the dog but an event such as a slip or fall ‘jars things up’ and they never quite settle back down again.

 

In general I will diagnose arthritis on clinical signs alone, especially in older dogs. In younger dogs or where the signs are less clear x-rays may be needed to diagnose arthritis.

 

So, you are concerned, you go to the vet….he says it’s arthritis- what now?

 

DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES

 

KEEP WEIGHT DOWN

The arthritic dog will be doing less exercise than he used to and will often need a change in diet to keep the pounds off. Even if you still go for the same half hour walk the dog will be doing less tearing about now he is older and so burn less calories. Check his weight at the vets (they have big scales!) or look at body condition- you should be able to feel the ribs and see a waist. Reduce his rations or look for a lower calorie kibble. Of course if they can’t go for long walks any more and you cut back their food dogs can get quite depressed- bulk out the diet with vegetables, use treat balls (the biccies trickle out as the dog plays), try a stuffed Kong or a juicy bone to relieve boredom.

 

KEEP ON MOVING

Arthritic joints should be kept gently moving. Initially the dog may need pain relief to get him going (see later). Consistency is the key with arthritic dogs- it is much better for the dog to get the same amount/intensity of exercise every day than to have hard days of work followed by days off. This doesn’t have to mean not working in the early stages though, these dogs live to work! But perhaps just do a half day, use him as a peg dog or be selective of the cover/obstacles you expect him to face. It also does not mean you have to do the same walk every day- pop the dog in the car and visit parks, the beach, woods to stop life becoming too dull!!!!!!! If arthritis follows injury, vets often ‘ban’ ball games as for most dogs they mean leaping in the air and twisting joints….for gundogs this is less of a problem as they should be waiting patiently to be sent for the retrieve! This straight line running is much safer for joints and you can still hide balls and treats under bushes to exercise the nose. Even if the dog is house/garden bound you can still do hide and seek games. It seems several short bouts of exercise a day are better both for weight loss and joint mobility. If a dog is very stiff start with as little as 5 minutes three times a day and build it up from there.

 

KEEP IT COMFY

Think what you would like if you had a bad back….Obviously a nice comfy bed- bean bags and ‘egg box’ foam are especially good as they mould to curves and don’t cause pressure sores on bony bits. The dog can stay in kennels if he wants, but may appreciate a heat lamp (like farmers use at lambing) or you can use wheat heat bags or special heat pads which stay warm for 8hours. Heat can also be used directly on arthritic joints (check the temp on your own skin first!).

Consider a dog coat when your dog is out and about. Picking up dogs can get chilled and stiff between bursts of activity so slip a coat on, certainly it will help get them warm and dry after a days work.

Flat hand massage is also very useful for arthritic dogs- basically this is firm stroking and grooming mitts and rubber zoom grooms are useful tools. This sort of massage stimulates circulation and relaxes tense muscles.

 

MAKE LIFE EASIER

Consider ramps to help the dog get into the car. Remember he won’t cope so well with that polished wood floor so consider some rugs if he is kept indoors. Bean bag beds are useful in cars as they stop the dog slipping around. If he is still working persuade the keeper to make some dog gates so you don’t have to lift him over fences.

 

SUPPLEMENTS

 

There are many joint supplements on the market varying considerably in price and quality. Many are specifically for pets, but there is no reason to choose these over good human products. The important ingredients in joint supplements are;

GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN.

One source suggests a dose of 250-2000mg glucosamine sulphate depending on size of dog and severity of condition. Glucosamine and chondroitin are components of healthy cartilage and there is some evidence in humans and dogs that taking a supplement can slow cartilage degradation in the longer term and reduce pain. They don’t work for all patients and as with most ‘natural’ therapies you may need to give for 6-8weeks before seeing an effect.

 

MSM (methylsulphonylmethane)

A naturally occurring anti-inflammatory, increasingly being found in joint supplements. I have been unable to find any recommended dosages so far.

 

COD LIVER OIL

The old favourite also seems useful in arthritis, a teaspoon or capsule a day is fine for a dog.

 

DRUGS

 

HERBAL ARTHRITIS TREATMENTS

There are many herbal treatments on the market. Most for arthritis include Devils Claw amongst other ingredients. In my opinion there is little evidence that herbs are any more or less effective than ‘real’ drugs or any more or less safe. The makers of herbal medicines are not yet covered by the same laws as drug manufacturers and do not have to test products to show they are safe or effective. I advise a check up with a vet before using herbs to rule out any underlying health problems or interactions with ‘real’ drugs. Just think, willow bark is the original source of salicylic acid, also known as aspirin so its side effects may be the same.

 

NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

These are the mainstay of arthritis treatment. You can use human drugs for occasional stiffness. 250mg aspirin or paracetomol is safe for a 25kg dog. If you need to give a painkiller regularly then one designed and tested for long term use in dogs is safer so visit the vet. People usually want to start with a low dose or occasional use but because of how the nervous system work it is better to start by using the full dose and once the dog is going well, reduce to the lowest effective dose. There are many drugs available so if one doesn’t work or causes side effects your vet may advise another one.

 

STEROIDS

These have more side-effects than Non-steroidals but are very useful as the pain progresses. A combination drug, PLT remains a favourite of mine as it seems to help when all else fails and euthanasia is the only other option.

 

INJECTIONS

An injection called cartrophen is available which is meant to stop joint pain by stopping the damage to cartilage and the thinning of joint fluid. The vet gives an injection weekly for 4 weeks and it is repeated as required. Studies show it to be as effective as painkillers but I am not convinced of this in practice. I think it is useful after joint surgery though.

 

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

ACUPUNCTURE

This is probably the most valuable of the complementary therapies. You can argue whether it works on mystical Chinese principals or not, but for musculoskeletal pain it works. You will need to be referred to a vet who does ‘needles’ as only vets can treat animals. Most animals will need up to 3 treatments each a week apart with top up treatments as symptoms recur. Not all animals (or people) respond, but 60-80% will improve.

 

COLLARS

There is no scientific evidence for magnetic collars, but anecdotally they seem to help arthritic dogs and have no side-effects. Copper collars seem less effective and can stain the coat.

 

PHYSICAL/TOUCH THERAPIES

Physio and massage will help dog arthritis just as they help humans but there are few people practicing in this country who actually know what they are doing. At home you can do flat hand massage and use zoom grooms as I mentioned before. You can also use gentle physio- flexing and stretching the joints but never further than the dog is comfortable with. If you want to see an animal physio your vet may be able to advise.

 

HYDROTHERAPY

Again, there is still only anecdotal evidence on its effectiveness in dogs, and finding a pool with suitably qualified staff can be a problem, as with physio.

 

HOMEOPATHY

I am not yet convinced by homeopathy, but if you do wish to try it then see a homoeopathically trained vet rather than off the shelf remedies as the choice of remedy depends on assessing the whole animal rather than just looking at its symptoms.

 

So, there is my chapter and verse on chronic pain management! May it keep your dogs working for many years to come!

[mushroom]

Get to the livery and buy a tub of glucosamine it won't cure it but given everyday in the food helps My ex has a 15 year old dog that still runs around like a puppy and he's 30 kgs so not a small dog. Don't get me wrong he does get stiff but nothing like he should, even the vet's are dumbfounded lol

[helenthomas]

My old Otterhound suffered from this. I kept her weight to a minimum which helped no end, gave her salmon oil with her food and in cold weather a coat that covered her shoulders helped a lot. Helen.

[apache]

There has recently been a big study in humans looking at glucosamine and arthritis and found there is absolutely no benefit.

 

Keep the dog lean, regular exercise and anti-inflammatories from the vet when needed. Don't ever forget it's a very painful condition that many owners under-estimate. Just because the dog isn't crying in agony doesn't mean it's not in pain.

[UKPoacher]

I can say from first hand experience and from other friend's experiences that Easiflex is a terrific help to athritic dogs.

 

Whilst dogs don't normally cry out in pain they show it in other ways; panting is a sign, as is lethargy. A dog that is constantly trying to sleep may be attempting to lessen the pain.

Edited April 13, 2011 by UKPoacher

[mushroom]

There has recently been a big study in humans looking at glucosamine and arthritis and found there is absolutely no benefit.

 

Keep the dog lean, regular exercise and anti-inflammatories from the vet when needed. Don't ever forget it's a very painful condition that many owners under-estimate. Just because the dog isn't crying in agony doesn't mean it's not in pain.

 

 

Wow didn't know that!

 

What I do know is the vets reaction to how cooper is still like a pup even with his arthritis and I pretty sure placebos don't work on animals