Hip advice needed Metacalm vs Cortaflex

Minxie

Minxie

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Hi. I hope you can help. I've a german shepherd who will be 10 this December. She's always had slightly dodgy hips and walks like her bum is chewing a toffee but has been brand new and we've never had a problem.

She was at my friends farm the other day and a short walk along the beach yesterday. I think she may have shot her bolt at the farm a bit as she loves charging around after the rabbits - although there was no sign of lameness yesterday trotting along the beach.

Today she is quite lame on her back end and carry her left hind leg a bit. She's struggling to turn and lie down although she is fine getting up. I'm taking her to the vets tonight but im in a bit of a panic. i've checked her over and pain definately around hip area and not her leg or foot.

I'm hoping and praying that its just a strain and that the vet will put her on metacalm. But my friend was suggestion cortaflex instead.

Does anybody have anything thoughts on either.
 
My dog has unilateral hip dysplasia. He was diagnosed quite young (about 16 mths). He is now 3.5 yrs. For the first year he was on anti-inflammatories & did lots of hydrotherapy. We also introduced a glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate supplement called Flexadin (manufactured by Vetoquinol & much cheaper than a lot of comparable products) & he also has Waltham Mobility support tablets. After a year we were able to stop the anti-inflammatories & he's now great - he charges about like a hooligan. He does get a bit of swaying in his back end when tired but hasn't been lame for a long time (over a year).
Obviously he is a much younger dog than yours so would not have the same degree of arthritis but I'd definitely recommend these products, along with as much swimming as possible, to support the joints.
 
If she is in pain metacam is the better option imo. Cortaflex is a joint suppplement, may be a good thing to put her on that long term but doubt it will help the immediate problem. Fingers crossed your vet will confirm she has just overdone it a bit, and she will be fine in a day or two.
Etsd. Whereas I think hydrotherapy is great, and have used it for my dogs, I would be cautious introducing it to a 10 year old, would definitely be guided by your vet on this.
 
Metcam is a prescription drug for dogs, it is an anti inflammatory that can cause liver problems in some dogs - after prolonged use, so it is supervised when the vet gives it to you. It does not suit all dogs and does not necessarily work for all dogs. Cortaflex is a joint supplement that may help (it helpded my old whippet), it doesn't have any known side effects, but again does not necessarily work.

My friend has an old westie with a dodgy hip, nothing the vets gave it helped, drugs nor supplements, she got a dog physio in and the results were quite amazing. She was given mobilizing exercises and it went swimming. The dog is sound and drug free .
 
It needn't be Vs. - you can use both. True about possible side effect of metacam but on an older dog pain control and mobility are the greater consideration. It is a bit like bute in horses. I had an old dog on it for 3 years and she showed no side effects from the metacam in that time but had to be pts when the arthritis got too bad.

I used cortaflex too and it did seem to help her in the early days but without the support of metacam she would have been pts years earlier
 
Bionic Bones by Bluechip is very good.

I have seen a dog crippled with hip pain in a couple of days he was bouncing again! Honestly gobsmacked!

Expensive but dogs health worth it!
 
Thank you so much for the replies. There is a hydrotherapy pool just a few miles from me and I know my vets refer there so i think its is something i'll discuss with the vet for sure. Similarly I'll speak to the vet re the metacam's possible long term side effects. At her age i think its probably of less concern than her mobility - but definately something to investigate.

Many thanks again.
 
When my lurcher developed slight gait abnormalities I assumed he would be given Metacam, but he was actually given injections of Cartrophen which definitely helped him
smile.gif
 
Thanks for your reply. Following your post i've been reading about it on the internet. Seems people are using these injections in combination with metacam to help reduce the long term effects. I'd never heard of it but seems a popular course of action.

Thanks again
 
My 9 year old lab x was diagnosed with hip displaysia and arthritis a year ago, she was really bad then, she was refered for extensive xrays but they decided she wasn't bad enough for a hip/femoral head replacement so she had 5 weeks house rest, then hydrotherapy whilst on 1 tablet of previcox (anti-inflammatory, softer on the digestion than rimadyl) she's now fully mobile on just half a tablet daily and can run around without pain again.... I keep her weight down (fit, not carrying excessive weight) to help with strain on her joints too, and give her codliver oil daily too (just in a vain hope it works!!)
 
Hi. Thanks for that.

I'm really interested in hydrotherapy for her, particularly as ive one quite close to me. Did you notice a difference in your lab after this - or does it need to be used in conjunction with meds?
 
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This is definately worth investigating. AS with the mobile bones I can't find one made by Blue Chip just one made by pooch and mutt

pooch and mutt

Could this be the same stuff?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes it is the same stuff/people!
 
She had the hydrotherapy in conjunction with the previcox so couldn't be sure whether it was one or the other but the combination of the two meant she was able to exercise without excessive strain on the joints through compaction on hard surface. After about 3 months of attending once a week she was fully mobile again. They had the pool and the water walker although my dog always went in the pool, I was recommended the hydrotherapy by my vet therefore it was covered on my insurance!!
 
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