To give or not to give pain medicine for slight arthritis (how much, shepherd)
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I have a 14-year-old Shepherd/something smaller mix. I just took her for her annual physical. She's very healthy... the vet says she has the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys of what she'd expect to see in a 2-year-old dog. she's also at an ideal weight for her size (40 pounds). The only exceptions to her health is she now has hypothyroid (and is on medication for that) and she has mild arthritis.
My question is about the arthritis. Like I said, it's very mild. I looked at the list of symptoms in arthritis in dogs. The last one (bolded) is the only symptom she shows.
Walk stiffly
Limp or favor certain limbs
Show stiffness or discomfort when getting up from a lying-down position
Display lameness in certain limbs
Appear to have stiff, swollen or sore joints
Seem to experience pain when touched in certain areas
Seem to find certain positions uncomfortable or painful
Suffer loss of flexibility in their joints
Be hesitant to jump, run or climb stairs
She's never been much of a runner or jumper--except when she was a very young dog and was hyper. She mellowed out at around 3-years-old. It's just stairs that she has issues with. I have to walk behind her and catch her if she slips or just can't make it all the way up without help.
She still takes walks and has a little pep in her step--but she tires out/slows down after about 20-25 minutes. She seems a little tired afterwards, but it only lasts for a short time--maybe an hour. Overall, I'd say the arthritis has a minor effect on my dog's quality of life.
The vet asked me if I wanted to put her on pain medication for the arthritis and I am not sure. I have to bring her back to the vet in 4-6 weeks to have her bloodwork done again (to see how the new thyroid medication is working) so I figure I will decide by then.
In the meantime, I wanted to get some feedback (maybe from people who have put their dogs on long-term pain medication). I don't want my dog to be in pain, but I also know that all painkillers have side effects--and over time can cause organ damage. I am trying to decide, if it's just minor pain, if it's worth the risk to her health.
It would be so much easier if I could just ask her, "hey, how much does it really hurt and do you want something for it?"
I would put her on a supplement like Phyto-Flex, made by Natures Pharmacy. This is a wonderful joint supplement. I have a boy with a badly screwed up foot and this supplement has helped him tremendously. A friend who fosters senior goldens recommended it to me. If you don't see improvement with a supplement, then I would consider dosing him with a pain killer although keeping some Deramaxx on hand for really bad flare ups is not a bad idea.
I would put her on a supplement like Phyto-Flex, made by Natures Pharmacy. This is a wonderful joint supplement. I have a boy with a badly screwed up foot and this supplement has helped him tremendously. A friend who fosters senior goldens recommended it to me. If you don't see improvement with a supplement, then I would consider dosing him with a pain killer although keeping some Deramaxx on hand for really bad flare ups is not a bad idea.
Thanks for the tip and specific recommendation! There is so much stuff out there, it's hard to figure out where to start. I will look into it.
I agree, I would try the supplement first and if that doesn't work go with a something to treat the pain. IMO there's no point in letting her be in pain especially at her age.
If you had this exact same condition? What would you do for yourself? Do the same for your dog.
It's a good way to put it... the problem is, I don't know her exact condition. If it was clear that she's in pain all the time... then it would be a no brainer. What makes it a hard choice is not knowing if she's in pain to a point where it's worth the risk. Or if she's even in pain at all (maybe she's just stiff going up and down steps because of the angle or has weakness and is just slower). She can't talk, so I have to guess. She doesn't show any other signs of arthritis--she still bounds and trots at a good pace. sometimes she even runs short distances. She isn't stiff or slow at other times. She just has issues with stairs (unfortunately, I live in a townhouse though... so lot of stairs).
Essentially any pain killer is a trade off because it effects the internal organs over time--kidneys, liver and heart (which is why I brought up, right now, she's healthy in that regard). If the pain is bad enough, then it's worth the risk.
With myself, I have very mild knee pain in my right knee from an old injury from two years ago--usually I feel it after a good workout. I don't take a thing for it... it's not worth the long term risks of using painkillers for just a little pain that doesn't bother me all the time. That's the same decision I am trying to make now for my dog. I know she hurts going up steps, but does she hurt all the time... or just during that one activity? I just don't know.
I got the supplement and I will start with that and see how it goes.
Sophie is 12 an has some mild arthritis, not so much that she won't jump or run but she's a little stiff in the mornings. Our Vet suggested a baby aspirin daily, fish oil supplements (I get the Costco brand) and some glucosamine pills too. She does well on everything and isn't stiff unless she plays too hard.
From what I have learned, the inflammation is what will and is causing the most damage to the joints. Even if the dog is not in much pain now, if the joints are inflamed, it will only become worse.
So, I would do some supplement to lubricate the joints and reduce swelling. Or the laser therapy. But don't wait till it gets worse.
Have you ever heard of MSM (MethylSulfonylMethane) ???
"MSMis recommended by veterinarians for animals with ligament, tendon, muscle, and joint conditions.
We use NaturVet MSM for natural effective relief of inflammationand pain issues.
MSM has properties similar to aspirin, without the possible aspirin/ibuprofin and similar aspirin side effects. MSM is excellent for joint or muscle pain relief. . . ."
Organic Coconut oil is another safe anti-inflamatory, and does not stress the pancreas like other fats,
because it bypasses the pancreas during digestion. So, it is actually the only fat good for pancreatitis.
Also, it regulates and balances insulin levels, and, the MCTs in coconut oil balance the thyroid.
And, that is just a glimpse of its benefits! (Our family & dog get it regularly.)
Last edited by 2Q&Lrn&Hlp; 11-13-2014 at 01:03 AM..
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