Arthritis in Dogs

[Julia]

I know we have many dog owners on ASF and am wondering if any of you have experience of managing dogs with elbow dysplasia (arthritis).

I've been very upset to discover my not yet three year old German Shepherd has this, despite my careful selection of reputable breeder and parents with excellent hip and elbow scores.

Have had her down to a specialist orthopaedic vet at the Sunshine Coast who has suggested it would have started developing in puppyhood. He believes as it developed she found a way of altering her gait to accommodate it.
She did have the occasional pain when playing with another puppy when she yelped and held the front leg up for just a second. It immediately resolved and I didn't attribute it to anything more than the same sort of 'growing pains' all my puppies have had during the first 10 months and then been quite OK.

I only took her to the vet recently because she showed some discomfort on getting up after lying down.
She had walked, trotted, run and raced exuberantly with a much bigger male Shepherd for months, never showing any sign of any problem.

So the specialist vet thinks she has had a minor injury e.g. a sprain and that she will get back to her normal level of fitness. This is happening following resting her and allowing minimal exercise (hard to do with an otherwise very healthy young dog). He has said any surgical intervention would achieve little and have all the usual risks plus a long recovery period.

I have had her on Royal Canin German Shepherd formula dog food always and, because of the known problems with big dogs and their joints, given her additional glucosamine and chondroitin, and more recently omega fish oil.

If anyone has been through something similar and found anything else that has been helpful, I'd be most grateful to hear about it. At present, given arthritis is a progressive disease, the outlook for her having a normal life span is not great.

 

[Miss Hale]

Sorry to hear this Julia. Sounds like you are doing the right thing with the Glucosamine etc. I can't help I'm afraid as we have only ever had a small dog and they are much less prone to arthritis, even in old age. Hope you are able to get some advice that helps

 

[Steve C]

I have nothing constructive to add, but just wanted to say sorry to hear Julia, I was hoping it wouldn't be dysplasia. Unfortunately seems to be a very common occurence with German Shepherds even when bought from reputable breeders.

I recommend you jump on germanshepherds.com (if you aren't already a member). It is a great forum full of excellent advice from experienced owners and breeders.

Steve

 

[tech/a]

Yes My labrador's both have Arthritis.

Initially my Vet gave Coco the older female a shot which lasted 6 mths.
No problems ran around like a pup.
Then a course of pain killers and anti inflamatories. That lasted another 6 mths.

Had to take her off both due to kidney issues (precautionary)
and Sampson is fine on Glucosamine.
I no longer run with Coco just walk and she is OK.

You can get Rapid Gel from a saddlery which is dencore rub for horses this also helps a great deal
Just massage it in.

Have xrays to make sure there are no spurs and if so have them removed.

Other than that rug up and have her at your feet and complain about old age and the weather!!

 

[Ijustnewit]

Hi sorry to hear about your dog. We have a 15 year old cat and bought a product called SnuggleSafe. You put it the microwave and heat it for about 5 minutes, then put in with our pets bedding. Stays warm for up to 10 hours. Keeps them warm but also can act like heat pack that a human would use for a bad back ect. Bought ours on E-Bay for $65 , but are also available from places like the PetBarn.

 

[Tink]

Sorry to hear about your dog, Julia.

I dont have anymore to add to what others have said, but you seem to be doing all the right things already.
I have also heard that RapiGel is good, for pets and humans.

All the best.

 

[Julia]

Thanks so much for all the responses. Steve, will have a look at the website which I wasn't aware of, so appreciate the info.
I actually use Rapigel myself for heel pain and find it terrific. Will try it for Lucy also.

I'd be happy to use the various types of anti inflammatory agents in an older dog, but due to the side effects, am reluctant to get into these if we can manage without them for a while at least.

She's a very outgoing, friendly dog and is really missing the contact with her friends. But the orthopaedic expert has told me to avoid letting her bounce around, and to try to limit her activity to pretty quiet walking at heel.
I'm having difficulty reconciling depriving her of a young dog's fun for the sake of extending her life.

 

[sptrawler]

Thanks so much for all the responses. Steve, will have a look at the website which I wasn't aware of, so appreciate the info.
I actually use Rapigel myself for heel pain and find it terrific. Will try it for Lucy also.

I'd be happy to use the various types of anti inflammatory agents in an older dog, but due to the side effects, am reluctant to get into these if we can manage without them for a while at least.

She's a very outgoing, friendly dog and is really missing the contact with her friends. But the orthopaedic expert has told me to avoid letting her bounce around, and to try to limit her activity to pretty quiet walking at heel.
I'm having difficulty reconciling depriving her of a young dog's fun for the sake of extending her life.

They haven't sorted arthritis out in humans, let alone dogs. Anti inflammatories and slow release pain relief is the best option available at the moment, they are a lot better than they were 10 years ago.
Unfortunately there isn't much upside, Julia, as you know I've been there, done that. Just make it all as comfortable as possible.
Jeez dogs break your heart, don't they.

 

[jbocker]

My vet gave my old pup injections every six months, and it certainly pepped him up a bit. Sorry cannot recall what the juice was. If i remember I will ask tomorrow when i pick his ashes. Had to put the old boy down a week ago. 16 great years out of the old fella, Lauchie a gold Lab.

Not much fun losing the pup. No more for me, I think the next one would outlive me.

JB

 

[Tink]

Sorry to hear about your dog, jbocker.
Losing a pet just breaks your heart.
16 years is excellent for a big dog though.
take care.

 

[tech/a]

I'm having difficulty reconciling depriving her of a young dog's fun for the sake of extending her life.

You may also have her in pain (not showing it) due to her belting around.

I guess you have to ask.
Is this for me or my dog.
My old girl only 10 cant run with me anymore she limps around
after an 8k run.She starts off pulling me down the beach and ends
up me pulling her up the beach.
Sam her son and 4 jumps around like an idiot and will run all day.
So Coco stays home and I wear Sam out!

Then take Coco for a walk. Walks ok runs not good.
Stick throwing in the ocean and bringing back is by far Cocos favorite pass time.
low impact exercise at its best!

JB

Give an older dog a great friend!!
Plenty looking for one!--both human and animal!

 

[springhill]

Thanks so much for all the responses. Steve, will have a look at the website which I wasn't aware of, so appreciate the info.
I actually use Rapigel myself for heel pain and find it terrific. Will try it for Lucy also.

I'd be happy to use the various types of anti inflammatory agents in an older dog, but due to the side effects, am reluctant to get into these if we can manage without them for a while at least.

She's a very outgoing, friendly dog and is really missing the contact with her friends. But the orthopaedic expert has told me to avoid letting her bounce around, and to try to limit her activity to pretty quiet walking at heel.
I'm having difficulty reconciling depriving her of a young dog's fun for the sake of extending her life.

Hi Julia, I am the last person who is into natural substances, but tumeric is the best anti inflammatory you can get, for both man and beast. Just sprinkle some on your dogs food each night and you will see marked improvement in a week.
Highly doubt this is the cure for all your Shepherd's problem, but if inflammation is a factor, this will definitely help.

Speaking personally, I have work related back problems. We have a paramedic across the road who suggested Glucosamine w/ Chondroitin, Fish Oil and the other key element in joint mobility many overlook is Magnesium. She says it is essential.
I haven't felt this good in a long time.

 

[Gringotts Bank]

I know we have many dog owners on ASF and am wondering if any of you have experience of managing dogs with elbow dysplasia (arthritis).

I've been very upset to discover my not yet three year old German Shepherd has this, despite my careful selection of reputable breeder and parents with excellent hip and elbow scores.

Have had her down to a specialist orthopaedic vet at the Sunshine Coast who has suggested it would have started developing in puppyhood. He believes as it developed she found a way of altering her gait to accommodate it.
She did have the occasional pain when playing with another puppy when she yelped and held the front leg up for just a second. It immediately resolved and I didn't attribute it to anything more than the same sort of 'growing pains' all my puppies have had during the first 10 months and then been quite OK.

I only took her to the vet recently because she showed some discomfort on getting up after lying down.
She had walked, trotted, run and raced exuberantly with a much bigger male Shepherd for months, never showing any sign of any problem.

So the specialist vet thinks she has had a minor injury e.g. a sprain and that she will get back to her normal level of fitness. This is happening following resting her and allowing minimal exercise (hard to do with an otherwise very healthy young dog). He has said any surgical intervention would achieve little and have all the usual risks plus a long recovery period.

I have had her on Royal Canin German Shepherd formula dog food always and, because of the known problems with big dogs and their joints, given her additional glucosamine and chondroitin, and more recently omega fish oil.

If anyone has been through something similar and found anything else that has been helpful, I'd be most grateful to hear about it. At present, given arthritis is a progressive disease, the outlook for her having a normal life span is not great.

You're saying she has arthritis secondary to displasia, but the specialist says it's a ligament sprain?

Easy way to find out - Xray.

If it's lig sprain, it will heal on its own or with some TLC and Rapigel.

If OA, then take her to the beach and get her swimming for exercise and limit the amount of weight bearing exercise until the acute phase settles. Thereafter, work out how much weight bearing exercise she can do without aggravating the condition, and stick within those limits.

 

[Julia]

You're saying she has arthritis secondary to displasia, but the specialist says it's a ligament sprain?

Easy way to find out - Xray.

If it's lig sprain, it will heal on its own or with some TLC and Rapigel.

If OA, then take her to the beach and get her swimming for exercise and limit the amount of weight bearing exercise until the acute phase settles. Thereafter, work out how much weight bearing exercise she can do without aggravating the condition, and stick within those limits.

Sorry. I omitted to say that XRays were done.
This is what happened:
As a puppy she had some brief moments of yelping in pain and holding the left leg up when twisting around whilst playing with another puppy. Settled instantly and she was back into the play.
All appeared totally resolved by about 10 months and I've regarded her as 100% healthy ever since.
We walk around 12kms daily, most of which is off the lead for her and she's free to run which she does. Also runs side by side with a male Shepherd nearly twice her size and has no trouble keeping up with him..

About 3 weeks ago when she went to get up she was clearly in pain, didn't want to put weight on left front leg. Once up she was OK and seemed quite normal the following day. Then the same thing happened the following evening. So took her to local vet and then for XRay a few days after that. Local vet said there is a definite problem in that elbow but the other one is fine. He referred me to the specialist orthopaedic vet down at the Sunshine Coast.

Saw above specialist who pointed out arthritis in both elbows (contrary to the local vet's pronouncement) on the XRay but then - after observing her walking, trotting and running - suggested her clinical picture did not match the XRay. His diagnosis was that it wasn't so much the arthritis that was causing the current pain but more a relatively minor acute injury like a sprain. His advice was that arthroscopy would achieve little and he would not want to do this. Further he said to rest her, with just small walks, no running or jumping, gradually increasing the exercise, until she seemed free of any discomfort on getting up. Then for the future to continue with plenty of exercise but breaking it up into shorter, more frequent walks.

So that's what has been happening. She's much better. He believes the arthritis would have started in puppyhood but as it has developed, she has developed the capacity to accommodate it. Hence I'd not noticed any problem until this recent apparent injury. Had I not had her Xrayed for that, I'd never have known about the arthritis. That might have been better.

However, since she does have it, I was (and am) interested to know how other people have managed a similar situation, though she's very young compared with when most dogs are so afflicted.
I'm most appreciative of everyone's input. Many thanks.

 

[medicowallet]

Even though those might argue against me (and I acknowledge that glucosamine is one of the very few natrual medicines with some scientific evidence), often it is really not that effective in humans.

Vets can prescribe meloxicam, and my only advice (esp as it is a large animal) is that you can either buy this as a vet product or as a human product, and that the human tablet is probably much cheaper, as it is PBS listed.

Perhaps, if simple treatments fail, surgery might be a better long term solution?

MW

 

[Julia]

Even though those might argue against me (and I acknowledge that glucosamine is one of the very few natrual medicines with some scientific evidence), often it is really not that effective in humans.

Vets can prescribe meloxicam, and my only advice (esp as it is a large animal) is that you can either buy this as a vet product or as a human product, and that the human tablet is probably much cheaper, as it is PBS listed.

Thanks for that, MW. Is that significantly different from celecoxib in (1) action, (2) potential side effects?
The orthopaedic specialist suggested using celecoxib short term for any flare up.

Perhaps, if simple treatments fail, surgery might be a better long term solution?

The original intention was for her to have arthroscopy on both elbows but the consultant vet, as above, said he felt this was unwarranted as there would be minimal change as a result and there's always the obvious risks of anaesthetic, potential infection at the site etc.
She has responded well to reduced exercise which is gradually being increased.
He did say that, if she becomes a lot worse while still young, they can do procedures like elbow replacements.
Big procedure, though, with long recovery time, so not to be undertaken lightly.

 

[noirua]

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