Bute for dogs?

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snurse

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Also on the subject of what you can give dogs - I have an elderly setter who is arthritic and quite doddery, but she still wants to come on walks with my younger dogs. If she was a horse, I'd have her on bute. Is there a doggy equivalent? She has joint supplement, but I wondered if there was anything just to make her walks comfortable.
 
rimadyl, metacam, previcox, zubrin - all nsaid's like bute. some dogs get on better with one more than another. chat to your vet and see which they recommend.
 
I found Rimadyl had no noticeable beneficial effect (- there is a strong lobby group against it's side effects especially in America). Google on this.

Metacam was brilliant and I used it for a couple of years but I had to stop giving it due to kidney problems (on vets advice), though I may resume in winter (again with vets advice). Lesser of two evils job for a very elderly dog. Not good for poor kidneys but is good for arthritis. I think this is a NSAID, the same drug family as bute. Do not give your dog bute though!

I have tried Cosequin for dogs (glucosamine) but although almost certainly coincidental the dog had two fits very shortly after being given tablets, so I daren't try again. (Dogs with serious kidney problems are prone to fits for a variety of reasons).

Steroids of course are absolutely brilliant and you get a born again dog but the potential side effects are horrendous so I've only used these when essential for some other condition, but you do notice the difference. I don't think any vet would keep a dog on steroids for long.

All of these will have possible side effects but it's also a quality of life issue so the upside of using them may well offset the downside. Try one and see if it works, the vet will know your dog and will select the one that they feel would be best first. Go back though if you get any problems/it isn't effective.

Good luck.
 
p.s. other 'comfort' items suggestions for arthritic dogs

Large flat open fronted bed to allow easy access/to stretch out fully

Special dog bed pads that reflect heat (try Pets At Home etc)

Raised food/water bowls as the neck may be a bit arthriticky as well

Lifting them on and off furniture (-if they're allowed on in the first place)

Several short walks rather than one long one
 
[ QUOTE ]
Steroids of course are absolutely brilliant and you get a born again dog but the potential side effects are horrendous so I've only used these when essential for some other condition, but you do notice the difference. I don't think any vet would keep a dog on steroids for long.


[/ QUOTE ]

steroids aren't always any better than nsaids - a lot of dogs dont respond any differently. there also occasions where we do keep dogs on steroids for their whole life - examples are Addison's disease - of course in this case steroids are deficient in the body anyway, so you're just replacing what's not there rather than giving an excess which can lead to iatrogenic Cushing's, but sometimes they are the only option and we will keep animals on them for several years.
 
Out of interest which supplement have you tried? We have a elderly border terrier who is pretty arthritic (was a farrier's dog, so spent his early years jumping in and out of vans and generally causing chaos!). We give him Feedmark's Agility and it has made a huge difference. It has got glucosamine etc. in it as well as Devil's Claw. We call it his "perky powder" as it has given him a new lease of life. Might be worth a try.
 
You can actually use No Bute for dogs, the bottle gives dosage rates. I used it on one of my setters and it worked really well.
 
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