Please talk to me about dealing with arthritis

[Muddy unicorn]

My 10 year old Toller squeaked last week when my son was stroking his side. I took him to the vet who said he was very tender over his right ribs, consistent with bruising or a possible linear fracture but also said he had quite bad osteoarthritis in his hips. When he had his annual check up last year the vet who saw him then said he was showing no signs of arthritis so this must have come on very quickly. He’s got two weeks of pardale twice a day (metacam gives him explosive diarrhoea) and then we’re back to the vet to discuss options. He’s been on yumove and salmon oil for a couple of years as a precaution. He’s very active when out on walks - running, jumping, swimming and playing with other dogs. He jumps onto the sofa and into the car with no problems but if he’s overdone it on a longer walk than normal he will initially be a bit stiff the following day, but gentle movement seems to sort it out. If you have an arthritic dog, what’s worked for you?

Edited to add - he is the most accident-prone dog imaginable - he’s had three major surgeries and a very rare spinal infection and his lifetime vet bills are pushing £20k

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ok so for the running around and jumping on and off/in and out/playing, they can do this **at the time** because drive and habit carry them through the pain, then they get sore later.
I'd be helping him in and out of the car, and with steps, not allowing him on the sofa/nice bed on floor and looking at floor covering/mats in house if you have slippy floors.
I'd also be replacing all the hooning around with more gentle lead walks if possible.

 

[skinnydipper]

When he is out and doing the things he enjoys like running, jumping swimming, playing with other dogs, he won't feel the pain due to the endorphins released when he's having a good time. But he will feel the pain later, which he is showing you with the stiffness.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Does that mean he can no longer do all the things that make his life worth living? He’s had a lot of rehab time doing gentle lead walks and he gets very depressed and bored.

He has plenty of nice bed options which he mostly ignores but I’d been thinking of getting a ramp/steps for the car as it’s quite high up.

 

[skinnydipper]

Does that mean he can no longer do all the things that make his life worth living? He’s had a lot of rehab time doing gentle lead walks and he gets very depressed and bored.

He has plenty of nice bed options which he mostly ignores but I’d been thinking of getting a ramp/steps for the car as it’s quite high up.

If you can't do things which tire him physically, do things with him which will tire him mentally. Get him to use his nose and his brain.

 

[Honey08]

Yumove made a significant difference when my elderly dogs had arthritis. I also tried to keep them out of water over winter wherever possible (not easy with two labs!)

 

[skinnydipper]

He’s been on yumove and salmon oil for a couple of years as a precaution.

Yumove is not an analgesic. EPA & DHA from fish oil is a mild anti-inflammatory at high doses but it sounds as though he would benefit from prescription medication from your vet.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm in a similar situation.

My lurcher is 10 this year. Still very keen for a walk and has a lope around. She isn't much of a hooner though so wouldn't say she ever overdose it as such.

Over the past few weeks, she has had a few brief intermittent periods of stiffness.

There isnt anything to notice in her way of going, but when she takes the stairs she has started to show stiffness and will either walk up one step at a time with a bit of wonkiness behind. Or she will bunny hop with her back end.

The episodes are not everyday though. They also do not seem to carry through for the whole day and are relatively short lived.

it's hard to know when it's time to medicate. She is on Riaflex. I suppose the truth is that just because she is not obviously wonky all the time, does not mean she is not experiencing some aching, so I imagine I will take her to the vets for something stronger in the near future.

 

[skinnydipper]

When you have a dog you have to be observant and notice the subtle signs of pain because they don't shout it from the rooftops.

Learn to recognise when your dog is in pain:

Facial tension
Panting
Lowered tail
Appears stiff
Slow getting up and lying down
Hesitant to go up and down stairs
Reluctant to jump in/out of the car
Playing less
Walking slower
Lazy sit
Unwilling to be touched
Signs of aggression

See your vet. Get a diagnosis.

If a dog is in pain he deserves appropriate evidence-based pain relief.

Arthritis can cause 3 different types of pain - inflammatory joint pain, muscle and myofascial pain, neuropathic pain/central sensitisation, and therefore could need treatment with a combination different types of medication.

If something exacerbates the problem - jumping out of car, stairs, running after a ball, whatever, then for FFS stop him doing it.

Young dogs can have arthritic joints, they deserve treatment too.

 

[skinnydipper]

From a series of slides by Robert Falconer-Taylor, BVetMed, DipCABT, MRCVS

 

[skinnydipper]

Go to your vet and tell them the changes you have noticed because dogs can act differently when they are at the vet and adrenaline takes over.

 

[Andie02]

What CC said + don't let him go up and down the stairs.

Riaflex boswellia, Riaflex joint supplement and Riaflex green lipped mussel works for our Jrt. They also do Devil's Claw supplement.
Adding the boswellia made a significant difference, in less than a week, when she had been diagnosed with arthritis in her hocks.

 

[Indy]

Bandit, who is going to be 6 in February was diagnosed with possible OCD (although inconclusive) and mild arthritic changes to his elbow. We've knocked agility on the head, mantrailing for the foreseeable but hopefully not forever, no going upstairs anymore, no ball throwing but more ball searching on walks. He's just had he's first hydrotherapy session on the treadmill and I feel after speaking with the practitioner much more optimistic that it isn't going to be the end of all things fun for Bandit. Maybe something to look into for your lad.

 

[meleeka]

My dog had Onsior prescribed by my vet. She didn’t need it every day at first, but I used to give it to her after a strenuous activity, if I thought she’d be stiff afterwards. She was also on the senior version of Yumove. Eventually she had it daily.

She never did stop coming up the stairs. It would have stressed her more if I insisted. We had a rule of one ball throw a walk and I used to throw it into long grass so it took longer to find. Then she’d just carry it the rest of the way. Something unrelated got her at 15 so her arthritis was perfectly manageable.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Does that mean he can no longer do all the things that make his life worth living? He’s had a lot of rehab time doing gentle lead walks and he gets very depressed and bored.

He has plenty of nice bed options which he mostly ignores but I’d been thinking of getting a ramp/steps for the car as it’s quite high up.

One can give a dog drugs to mask pain, let them carry on as is and risk much more pain and a much more broken dog. Or we can use drugs and look at other things to occupy them, scent work, brain training etc.

I lift my (formerly a 100mph type) 13 year old GSD into the car. Front end the onto the lip and then back end. He just doesn't be allowed on the sofa, he isn't given the option.
He was never going to be able to do the same things he did as when he was 10, or 8, or 6, or 4, the same way as my 73 year old mother couldn't run a marathon and I've got a gut and joint pain, which I didn't in my 20s. We've all got to adjust and we have to help our dogs adjust because they often don't do it for themselves.

We can let them power on through life and wreck themselves, which a drivey dog absolutely will do, or we can manage them appropriate for their age and capability throughout their lives.
I lost a ten year old dog a few months ago, it wasn't the end he deserved or that I wanted for him, you have a lot of good advice and information, if I was you, I'd use it to yours and his advantage.

 

[Jenko109]

Oh.

She has just hesitated to jump up on my bed. For the first time ever.

So I guess the near future vet visit is going to be Monday

 

[Clodagh]

I would not stop allowing a dog to have any enjoyment in order to keep it alive longer.
My older dogs have prescription painkillers and I stop jumping but apart from that I let them carry on. Tawny for instance can no longer retrieve anything so she doesn’t do that but she still goes on normal off lead walks. She will do the odd little zoomie and loves mouse hunting. If an active dog could no longer be active I would question its quality of life.

 

[AmyMay]

Daisy, who’s 10, has very mild intermittent arthritis. She’s on a high strength supplement. We only do ball every now and again (and only when she demands it). It’s rolled a short way only and twice is normally enough to satisfy her. We lift her in and out of the car, and she has a special box to get on and off my bed.

Apart from that we carry on as normal. She’s fit, slim and sound. Walks vary in length. This afternoon was about two hours as that’s what she wanted. We have Metacam should she need it, but it’s rarely required.

She also does zoomies when the mood takes her, and her and her 10 year old friend were like puppies on the beach today when we bumped into him

 

[Muddy unicorn]

When you have a dog you have to be observant and notice the subtle signs of pain because they don't shout it from the rooftops.

The only one of those signs that he’s shown is occasional short lived stiffness - there’s no reluctance to do anything either in or out of the house. I think some posters have missed the part of my post where I said he’s got painkillers (pardale) from the vet and we’re going back in two weeks to discuss our options. I’m certainly not ignoring this and he already does brain games, scent work etc but he absolutely loves swimming and his life would be very much the poorer without it - I’m no longer letting him swim during the winter so his activity levels have changed but to stop him doing something he adores for the rest of his life doesn’t seem right. Ideally I’d like to find a compromise of managing his activity but still letting him do some of the things he loves.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Take him for hydrotherapy/controlled swimming in a doggy pool.

 

[skinnydipper]

The only one of those signs that he’s shown is occasional short lived stiffness - there’s no reluctance to do anything either in or out of the house. I think some posters have missed the part of my post where I said he’s got painkillers (pardale) from the vet and we’re going back in two weeks to discuss our options. I’m certainly not ignoring this and he already does brain games, scent work etc but he absolutely loves swimming and his life would be very much the poorer without it - I’m no longer letting him swim during the winter so his activity levels have changed but to stop him doing something he adores for the rest of his life doesn’t seem right. Ideally I’d like to find a compromise of managing his activity but still letting him do some of the things he loves.

No, I did see that you said he has bad hip arthritis and vet has prescribed Pardale. Your vet must feel that pain relief is warranted.

My post wasn't replying to you specifically, more for general info for anyone reading the thread.

Random people on the internet aren't the best people to advise you. Your vet, who has seen and examined your dog and knows his history and current condition, is the best person to do that.

ETA. I had a dog with hip dysplasia who couldn't tolerate NSAIDs, there were other treatment options. He took medication, had laser therapy, physio and hydrotherapy (treadmill).

I am sure your vet will be happy to advise you on what would be best for your dog.

 

[Redders]

Look up Canine Arthritis Management - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/

Lots of tips on there for modifications, pain management, physiotherapy etc. Run by a veterinary team

 

[Muddy unicorn]

The arthritis diagnosis has come as a bit of a surprise as when a different vet saw him last year she said he had no signs of arthritis - he does sometimes have a sore back as the result of spinal surgery a few years ago and he’s been on pain relief as and when he needs it. He’s going in for a dental next month so I’ll ask them to do some X-rays while he’s under the anaesthetic so we have a better idea of what’s going on with his joints.

I wasn’t asking for medical advice, more what other owners have found helpful or not helpful in terms of management. And in that vein do people have recommendations for car ramps/steps? My newish car is quite a bit higher up than my old one - he hops in with no hesitation but I would like to give him a bit of help. He doesn’t like being picked up and put in - he’s very wiggly - so I suspect a ramp of some kind would be better but some I’ve seen have looked very flimsy

 

[MurphysMinder]

The only one of those signs that he’s shown is occasional short lived stiffness - there’s no reluctance to do anything either in or out of the house. I think some posters have missed the part of my post where I said he’s got painkillers (pardale) from the vet and we’re going back in two weeks to discuss our options. I’m certainly not ignoring this and he already does brain games, scent work etc but he absolutely loves swimming and his life would be very much the poorer without it - I’m no longer letting him swim during the winter so his activity levels have changed but to stop him doing something he adores for the rest of his life doesn’t seem right. Ideally I’d like to find a compromise of managing his activity but still letting him do some of the things he loves.

If he enjoys swimming then I would look at hydrotherapy, either a pool or treadmill. If you have insurance you should be able to claim for it.

 

[meleeka]

The arthritis diagnosis has come as a bit of a surprise as when a different vet saw him last year she said he had no signs of arthritis - he does sometimes have a sore back as the result of spinal surgery a few years ago and he’s been on pain relief as and when he needs it. He’s going in for a dental next month so I’ll ask them to do some X-rays while he’s under the anaesthetic so we have a better idea of what’s going on with his joints.

I wasn’t asking for medical advice, more what other owners have found helpful or not helpful in terms of management. And in that vein do people have recommendations for car ramps/steps? My newish car is quite a bit higher up than my old one - he hops in with no hesitation but I would like to give him a bit of help. He doesn’t like being picked up and put in - he’s very wiggly - so I suspect a ramp of some kind would be better but some I’ve seen have looked very flimsy

I’ve never had/known of a dog that will go up a ramp, so will be interested in others replies. When my old dog starting having problems, she went on the back seats instead (clipped in to a harness). She could then get in on the floor then up onto the seat.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If he enjoys swimming then I would look at hydrotherapy, either a pool or treadmill. If you have insurance you should be able to claim for it.

A friend has a 15 yr old GR who has regular laser and hydrotherapy sessions. Friend says they are very beneficial.

 

[skinnydipper]

Ramps. I use a Dogwalk 3. It is telescopic, lightweight, easy to manage on my own while holding dog on lead. I also have a Petsafe extra long, also telescopic, takes up more space in car but good if you have a very high vehicle.

 

[skinnydipper]

Flooring. If you have hard flooring like laminate or tile buy some non slip mats for traffic areas.

 

[skinnydipper]

The first ramp I bought was a Petstep folding ramp. I don't know if you can still get them. I found it heavy and awkward to use, nearly trapping my fingers, so instead of using it with the car as intended, so I set it up on the back steps to the garden for a dog with degenerative myelopathy.

 

[skinnydipper]

Because jumping down from vehicles is hard on forelimbs and shoulders, I've used a ramp for this dog from the get go. It isn't hard to teach a dog to use one.