BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?

Subject: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 11:38 AM

I could use a little help aiming for the right item, preferably from Drs. Foster and Smith. The ideal would be an affordable, bacon-flavored, 12-hour med I can use as a treat or in dog food.

Dog is 60-70 pound range, otherwise in great health and up on shots. I know-- no aspirin/acetominophen, so I am assuming no NSAIDS for peeps.

What have your dogs LIKED?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:03 PM

According to vets, aspirin is perfectly OK to give to dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: bobad
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:16 PM

Aspirin is OK, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin etc.) is not (highly toxic). Canine NSAIDs are available Meloxicam (Metacam) is one that my dog is taking and it is well tolerated by him and effective. Previcox is another that was tried but made him vomit continuously so was discontinued.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:23 PM

for serious problem doc will give prednisone ... aspirin for sure but like bobad said NEVER give tylenol or Advil it will kill the dog. Their kidneys cannot take it and it will kill them quick. I will also ask my kid she is a vet. Let you know later today

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 01:10 PM

My old cat was on cosequin for a long time; it relieved his arthritis pain and greatly improved his mobility. Ask your vet, then buy it from Amazon...much cheaper.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: peregrina
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 01:37 PM

Metacam in cats is correlated with kidney damage and may have some warnings for restrictions on it.

You might want to look into Glucosamine, Co-Q10 and other nutritional therapies. Also B12.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 06:53 PM

Our dogs like something that I got at PetCo. They are cherry flavored and the dogs really like them so there's no trouble getting them down. You start by giving them a few pills all at one time in the beginning and then wean them down to one at a time. They work great. If this sounds like what you are after, let me know and I'll get the name to you.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Doggeh Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 02:05 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: mrdux
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:28 AM

we used a chondroitin/glucosamine chewy treat and aspirin for old mr. sage's arthritic joints -- he kept hiking with me up until he passed away at 16 1/2.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 11:08 PM

All 3 of our dogs tolerate Metacam well, and on the rare occasions it has been needed I always give it with food. Two of them will eagerly lick it right from the syringe, the 3rd will let me squirt it into her mouth.

A friend of mine's Bernese mountain dog/border collie mix was on Metacam to ease the pain of a few worn joints for the last 4 years of his life, which ended at 12 years. He had no particular ill effects. But like any long term medication you have to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks in each particular case.

For overall dog health I consider it awfully important for them to be as active as possible. We're just figuring out if our oldest will need long term glucosamine & chondroitin, which our vet considers the first thing to try in all but more serious joint wear and tear because NSAIDs like Metacam have more potential side effects. But if the dog's discomfort calls for it, we will give Metacam during the period while g&c takes effect (up to a few weeks).

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 12:57 AM

Why not just call the vet and ask them?

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 07:49 PM

I want to thank all who shared what they are doing. and how it has worked. This will be a big help in choosing from the options Faulkner's vet/staff will offer.

We're probably going with G&C starting tomorrow, plus maybe a few buffered baby aspirin to see how he tolerates it-- he is well known as a highly picky/sporadic eater-- and will probably order liver-flavored Rimadyl chews from Drs. F&S for easier administration and more reliable dosing, once we see how he does with the G&C.

I like the Metacam story, CH, and if he was a more reliable gobbler we'd go for it but we're gonna cater to his tastes when we need to lay out real bucks. :~) Unless the vet has Metacam samples we can try...


These dogs spend a fair amount of time outside (with access to a well-sheltered porch well off the ground) in the winter, so we always up their ration for better self-heating, in the cold months, but clearly the extra weight has to come off him now-- and probably stay off. A weight-activated, heated pad is on hand for porch installation next fall; we'll have to run conduit to keep Sadie from chewing the cord. This is the first time he has made it clear, "No Mommie, I do not want to go out, please don't make me."

PS, he now officially has His Own Bedroom (with firm double bed) to keep warm and comfy on those cold nights (or hot nights this summer). He will have to learn how to help change that bed tho! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 05:10 PM

»»He will have to learn how to help change that bed tho!««

I can send you a couple of dogs that will happily tug the sheets & blankets off almost anything. But Faulkner will be on his own to replace with fresh bedding.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: bobad
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 05:22 PM

Metacam is also available in tablet form which is what we use - 1/2 a tab in his kibble- no problem with him eating it up, it is quite small and not unpalatable.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 06:37 PM

TRAMADOL (NOT NOT NOT Ultracet which is Tramadol plus poisonous Tylenol)!!! (The same size I occasionally take, YAY!)

Our brave doggie cried at night for the first time in his life. We think Sadie (taller & heavier) played a little too rough with him and he was suddenly in real trouble for about 36 hours-- the aspirin would wear off too quick-- so he goes now to Rimadyl daily (plus Tramadol as needed), once the aspirin flushes out of his body. Free Rimadyl sample to see if he likes it! Him happydancing now!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 08:22 AM

Metacam can upset the digestive system.
We've used it for two sufferers, one it sorted out a treat, the other we had to take off it. A special diet helped for a bit but then the kidneys gave up.
Now we've got one that we wouldn't even start with it - apart from the price of the darn stuff in the UK.

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 03:28 PM

Poor guy. I eventually realized that in the process of giving us unconditional love, our dogs teach us to return it.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 04:06 PM

chondroitin/glucosamine tablet in her evening chow .... our vet gave us that advice and it does work for our greyhound CoCo the Beeno.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 09:37 PM

That's great news, Susan; thank's for the update!

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Apr 12 - 03:47 AM

We give Bonzo Arnica when his one front leg appears to be giving him trouble - of course he doesn't know when to stop running about!

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Apr 12 - 04:52 PM

Thanks!

The vet (a young country-bred lass with SUPERB dogside and peep-side manner) issued also exercise guidelines that are totally in sync with the people-PT I had just completed, which cleared him also to keep following that Service Dog star he seems to see in the sky.

We just got back for his first training trot following those guidelines, which are almost identical to the guidelines I always followed when working with unfit horses. Of course he did great so he enjoyed his doggie-special rewards from the drivethru. I think he may have ordered it himself; I just can't let him DRIVE cuz he is also on a diet!

(I also did great, unloading the scooter all by myself. Soon I will be able to RE-load it as well (thanks Hardi).

So I just ordered him a set of oh-so-affordable service dog haberdashery that he will wear now when "working." Us ministry peeps is big on haberdashery. I am not sure he will also get a Band t-shirt; he doesn't have a blues name yet....


Eb, yes-- they teach us to whisper back (and yelp as needed).

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: Mooh
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 09:29 AM

Rosie The Wonder Dog gets a daily dose of liquid Metacam in the morning, pill form Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint in the evening, and dog food with glucosamine and chondroitin added. She accepts them all happily as she's a very good dog. At 15, she can be a little cranky but she's better and happier on them. She doesn't like to climb anymore, but level ground is fine. Gone are the days when she would stand on her hind legs and type messages on Mudcat.

Cosmo The Other Dog gets the same food as Rosie for simplicity's sake, but he doesn't show any signs of age yet, being only 5 or 6.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 07:36 PM

LOL Mike, thanks!

Faulkner's exercise yesterday was apparently just right-- no Tramadol this AM but happy dog moving enough to keep from getting too stiff. So-- bedtime Trammies for now only except during flare-ups, but Rimadyl starts in the morning.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 11:29 AM

Susan
have your doc get him deramaxx my vet daughter said it works wonders that and the tramadol but you can't give deramaxx for 72 hours after an asprin

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 11:08 AM

Will check with vet at next meds planning chat.

He is liking the Rimadyl tho.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Apr 12 - 09:24 AM

... which is unfortunately toxic to cats. Are all the others also?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Doggie Arthritis Meds?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 12 - 12:34 AM

woofwesh