Supplements or Prescription for Arthritis?

[ssutton31864]

My 10yo male Rottie is showing symptoms of arthritis and I have spoken with my vet about this and he has suggested Rimadyl, I have previously used this drug on my 9yo female Rottie which I loss to OS the beginning of December, I know there are some small risks involved with its use. I was just wondering if anyone has had any success with supplements if so which ones? What did you choose as course of treatment? Thanks!

[rottcrazed]

Well, my experience with arthritis is in the past 1.5 years. I have had my two old guys (Jager 9.5 years and Justice 8 years) on Glycoflex 2 and now 3 for most of that time.

They have both been xrayed and confirmed with arthritis in different areas of their bodies. Since they have been on Glycoflex, plus a herb called Devil's Claw, there have been few recurrances of limping (a day here or there, nothing more) and they are active and walking about an hour everyday.

I have never put either of them on anything other than what I mentioned. When Justice had his initial flare up before we xrayed him, he was in a lot of pain, and we had him on a low dose of prednisone for about a week. He has not needed it since. That was November 2005.

Kristi

[rottcrazed]

I did forget to mention that for both of my old guys, I did do a course of swim-rehab (to maintain and rebuild muscle) as well as I took both of them to a massage therapist who did do laser therapy on them when needed. BUT, again, that was over a year ago since their last rehab visit.

Kristi

[observer]

I do not use prescription meds on a regular basis either. I have used Glycoflex III, I am now using Synovi G3 and Duralactin tablets (you can find good deals for all this stuff online.) I also have a physical therapy protocol from a canine physical therapist (I took Missy there to swim also, for about six weeks) that I need to be following more studiously. She is doing much better than when she was diagnosed.

[2rotties2luv]

I've used GlycoFlex with much success on all of my old dogs with arthritis and/or HD. In addition, I give 500 - 1000 mg Ester-C and 2000 mg salmon oil daily. Both are anti-inflammatories which promote joint health.

[targonrotts]

i use a glucosamine/chondroitin combo such as cosequin ds or a glucosamine/msm like synovig3.
i also add vitamin e 400iu, vitaminc 500-1000mg, fatty acids/fish oils.(that is daily).
i only use rimadyl and/or tramadol if having a bad day or heavy training/competing on my older dog but usually for no more than 5-7 days at a time.

[fbkeays]

I have done the gluc & cont. route. My guy has difficulties that isn't solved by just supplments. I am real leary of rimadyl. I finally put my old guy on
revicox. It has worked wonders for him. It is safest of the nasids.

[zorro13]

Observer: I noticed that you said you get your stuff online--good deals and all. Where do you get Duralactin online, right now I can only get this thru my vet? I have my horse on Cosequin and Duralactin, I am trying to get my vet to get the Duralactin Equine plus which has the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in it as well.

[rottnkidd]

I posted this link in another thread (don't recall which one), the other day.
It is loaded with info on arthritis and varying treatments, and also has lots of links to additional info. I would suggest bookmarking the site, because it will take more then a few visits to absorb all of the material there!
If you are serious about learning about arthritis treatments, this is the site for you. Sending huge thanks out to Mary Straus for researching all of this material, and for making this excellent resource available to one and all!
Best wishes-
kathy
Arthritis

[rottnkidd]

Forgot to add these to my initial post!
This link is the 1st article in a 3-part series on pain management, by Christie Keith. Well-researched and well-written.
Pain Control in Dogs and Cats: The More It Hurts, the More I Hide It
Also, this is her excellent article; "Adequan: A Near-Miracle for Dogs with Arthritis".
Adequan for Dogs
Hope these articles will help you -
kathy

[Sheenagirl]

Sheena (10 years, 9 months) had arthritis in the base of her spine. She was on Zubrin for the last several years. Zubrin is fantastic. It is a tablet that disolves under the lip. Sheena did not have any side effects (such as stomach upset) that other meds cause. Before putting your Rottie on Rimadyl please consider Zubrin. It is a safer prescription drug used for pain that you get from your vets office. When Sheena was in more pain I gave her two tablets everyday for a week and then cut back to two tablets everyother day for maintanence. She also was on GlycoFlex III daily.
After starting Zubrin you will see a HUGH difference in your boy in one or two days!

[observer]

Originally Posted by zorro13

Observer: I noticed that you said you get your stuff online--good deals and all. Where do you get Duralactin online, right now I can only get this thru my vet? I have my horse on Cosequin and Duralactin, I am trying to get my vet to get the Duralactin Equine plus which has the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in it as well.

I don't remember where I actually ended up ordering it from, I can go check. But if you do a Google search on Duralactin, you get several hits-- I looked at all the ones around the top of the page and picked the cheapest one for a big bottle of the canine tabs. All those sources, if I'm not mistaken, had the equine formula as well.

[Hmbbzmom]

My Bentley was just diagnosed two days ago with a torn ccl and arthritis in his rear legs and his lower back. He is on Rimadyl and he is doing fine. They say he will never be the same again, but he will not be in pain. He is only 4 yrs. old!! I feel horrible when these things happen. The vet says after this last bottle we will try something less invasive for him. Poor guy. Good luck with your baby!

[CLanger]

I will also add Traumeel to the list. It is a homeopathic anti-inflammatory analgesic that worked wonders for our rottie who had pain from HD. You can get it at most health stores. Pill form and lotion. Hope it helps. Cindy

[ssutton31864]

Thanks to everyone who has posted replies so far, there are so many choices that it is difficult to pick one particular product to start with to see if it helps. Like I said my vet did recommend Rimadyl and we put him on it for 7 days and he said if I decided I wanted to leave him on it that he needed to come back for blood work before he would give me more, however in reading about Rimadyl I really think I would not want to use it long term. My vet says he has used it in his practice for 10 years and even on his own dobbie from the age of 13 and she lived to be 17 and he has never had any dog have problems with it thus far, I believe in my vet 100% but I have always been one to want to take a more natural approach than rely on prescriptions, and the way my luck has been lately I will be that rare case that he has that has problems.