Pain killers young dog.

pistolpete

pistolpete

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My dog was injured a couple of years ago. She ran off we suspect car accident didn’t see exactly what happened but although no broken bones bad gashes and lame for weeks. Fully healed to go off lead again after a couple of months but that was 18 months ago. We weaned her off the pain killers as she was only two and thought staying on them for life wouldn’t be ideal. She’s on a joint supplement. She’s still sound and gets a good run once or twice a week but is kept on the lead other days. My question is I do think she gets twinges of pain and wonder if she should be on the pain relief now for the rest of her life. She’s four in September. Seems happy bombing about but so hard to know what’s kindest.
 
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We adopted a GSD a couple of years ago when she was 14 months and 6 months later found that she has hip dysplasia. She has been on Onsior daily as she is not bad enough to warrant surgery yet. As well as keeping her sound, she settles better in the evenings. I would prefer her not to be on painkillers permanently but feel that she needs them, so the lesser evil in her case.
 
pistolpete said:
We weaned get off the pain killers
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pistolpete said:
She’s on a joint supplement. She’s still sound and gets a good run once or twice a week but is kept on the lead other days. My question is I do think she gets twinges of pain and wonder if she should be on the pain relief now for the rest of her life.
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Supplements are not analgesics. If she is in pain then give her the medication to relieve the pain.
 
I'd have a chat to your vet about possible options but my other thought is see if she can get referred to a physio.

If you think it's joint pain then she may well benefit from a daily NSAID or similar but if muscle or nerve pain then there may be other things you could try first.

If she's got any scar tissue from the accident the physio might be able to help with that with things like massage or laser therapy. They'd also be able to identify if she's got any muscle weakness & suggest exercises for her.

Acupuncture may be another thing to explore.
 
I always think that our responsibility as owners is to ensure the best quality of life possible, even if that lessens the quantity. I know it is easier to think in those terms about dogs that are getting older but I think it is true for young dogs, too. Good quality means pain-free IMHO.
 
She was always on galliprant for pain. Wonder if there’s better newer stuff. I will ask vet if librella would be appropriate for her.
 
You could find a canine massage therapist local to you and see what they think. Could be twinges or muscle pulls. Could also try hydrotherapy, my local hydrotherapy centre offer laser treatment and have had good results with it
 
pistolpete said:
She was always on galliprant for pain. Wonder if there’s better newer stuff. I will ask vet if librella would be appropriate for her.
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Maybe ask the vet if Paracetamol would be appropriate for her? You could just give it when you thought she needed it, rather than as a daily thing. Librela has been fantastic for my dog but there's a Facebook group, mostly negative experiences of it, which might be worth a look?
 
One vet I work with has declared Librella a wonder drug after experiences using with their own pets & another doesn't quite go that far but admits it's what they now tend to offer in preference to other medications for arthritic pain. Unsure if would work in your situation but worth an ask. Hydrotherapy is another potential good shout if vet thinks would be appropriate.
 
pistolpete said:
She was always on galliprant for pain. Wonder if there’s better newer stuff. I will ask vet if librella would be appropriate for her.
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Just a word of caution about Librela. My dog has had awful side effects and has now been left incontinent after one injection. Vets are still saying there are no side effects but I’ve since found out that a lot of people have had similar issues. I wish I’d never touched the stuff.
 
scats said:
Just a word of caution about Librela. My dog has had awful side effects and has now been left incontinent after one injection. Vets are still saying there are no side effects but I’ve since found out that a lot of people have had similar issues. I wish I’d never touched the stuff.
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That’s so sad. I hope it wears off in time.
Good luck OP on getting her sorted.
 
I’m going to buck the trend here and say if the dog isn’t actually in pain, ie there’s just the occasional twinge, rather than chronic pain, I wouldn’t rush to give painkillers. I have a bottle here which is ‘just in case’ so I give it when necessary, but not all the time. I think you do have to consider side effects, especially in a young dog. I have many aches and pains which are mild that I wouldn’t consider it necessary to take painkillers for, so would be the same for my animals.
 
I will just say that my 6 year old dog was a bit quieter than expected and a bit growly at times but not obviously in pain as such except for a long term limp on his left hind. I did an anti-inflamatory trial and he seemed so much better. My vet suggested trying librella and I am another one in the "miracle" camp. He is a new dog and has had 2 doses so far.
I appreciate Scatts point of view completely but for us it showed he was in much more pain that I had realised. He is happier, busier, barkier and generally more engaged in life. I am shocked at how much discomfort he must have been in. I knew horses masked pain but did not realise dogs could do this too.
 
A ‘Bute’ trial will help, maybe?
Tawny isn’t quite right and wouldn’t go for her afternoon walk (it might be she’s got a strop on as we got two hound puppies yesterday) but I’ve got a bit of antiflam left from the last big injury so she can have that and see if she brightens up.
 
Clodagh said:
A ‘Bute’ trial will help, maybe?
Tawny isn’t quite right and wouldn’t go for her afternoon walk (it might be she’s got a strop on as we got two hound puppies yesterday) but I’ve got a bit of antiflam left from the last big injury so she can have that and see if she brightens up.
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Well she came out this evening, bowled around and beat up a puppy so it’s off to the vet with her for something ongoing. She’s only 8 but has never been a very sound dog.
 
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