Arthritis now??

[Debbie Ervin]

I have been going up and down with Ceasar now since the end of May. If you have read my other threads, for seizures and then colitis/diareaha you'll know what I mean. I have cleared up the diareaha I believe now its been a couple weeks and his stools are fine, his last seizure was Aug 18th. He was put on antibotics(chephelexin) for 10 days and predisone at 40mgs and then reduced. He was looking good. Off the antibotics, and then down to 10mgs of predisone and ready to get off that. Unfortunetly off all these meds he went back to the same way he was weak, very hard time getting up, very,very latargic! I was so worried about him last nite, its seemed like he couldn't get up and just kept flopping down and slept. I know the predisone had him somewhat juiced up, but now I am wondering if he could be off this med that I hate him on, since my other Rottie who had a immune condition was on it for 3years, it helped him and then he brought him down. Ceasar is 11 years old on Oct 1st and I know he is getting up there, but could he have aquired artiritis this fast? He was slowing down but not to where he was having trouble sitting or standing or walking. I want to add more nutrition to his diet, any suggestions? also I am wondering if he is going to have to be on a matientence dose of predisone or asprin something for inflamation which I think is happening. All his x-rays were good for his chest and stomach. I am going to contact the vet on Tuesday and see if he has a plan that we can regulate Ceasar on. This is horrible. Any suggestions or if anyone has been through this would be appriciated. Thanks. D. Ervin and Ceasar

[brinabear]

Is he on any meds for the seizures, as they can cause weakness in the hind legs, hips, and make them very larthargic, especially in an older dog.
Brinabear

[Debbie Ervin]

No Brinabear he isn't on any meds for the seizures, they have been about a month apart or alittle more so our vet thought it wise not to put him on anything at the time. He said the seizure meds will make him more tired and weak. It just seems this came on fast, like I said he was moving slow but at least he was getting around without falling or having the hard time he is. I just feel so bad for him because he tries and I just want to try to regulate something for him that will make him feel better. Like I said too the reason I did the x-rays was to make sure nothing was going on that would cause him pain and now this.

[chivas]

You need to get him back to the vet, weakness that comes on that fast COULD be very bad. Now I said 'COULD' not 'IS', so dont panic. Ive been lucky in the arthritis issues (about the only lucky thing Ive experienced health wise with my rotties) none have every shown any signs of arthritis and 2 have lived to 11 (but passed from OS) and the girl I have now is almost 7 ( 7 on Oct 1 to be exact!!! same as your boy) and she shows no signs either. I try to keep my dogs lean (but roxie was heavy) and all of them have/had regular exercise. But my small 33lb chow mixed had severe arthritis in his spine, I treated him with baby aspirin and Vit C.

[sweetlee]

I am not sure about dogs, but in me, they wanted me to take a small dose of prednisone daily for one month, to rule out rheumatoid arthritis after I had a positive test for it.
The doctor said if the steroids helped, my pain probably was coming from RA.
Maybe this is what is happening with the dog now that he is off the prednisone?
Also when you take this stuff (for humans) you have to wean down off of it, but I can't remember why.
Maybe your dog wasn't weaned off slow enough? Or the worst, maybe he does have arthritis and the steroid helped?
I didn't know that steroids were supposed to give you an energy lift, I just know they made me a super beeeatch!!! I took them for 10 days and had to quit before I killed someone.
As far as nutrition, if I remember right does your dog have IBS also? If so you will have to be careful what you feed him as to not set that off.
My dog has IBS too, as do I, and it isn't fun.
Does your boy like bananas? They are supposed to be given to kids with runny diapers and they do help. Also loaded with pottasium. Dodge loves em. Be careful with extra protein, alot of those foods can cause tummy problems.
Do you give your dog glucosamine supplements? Those are said to help with arthritis and other joint pain. I buy the Members Mark brand at Sam's Club, glucosamine and MSM it's about 11 bucks for 300 of them. I give them to Dodge as a preventative thing, but my grandma swore by the stuff for her osteoarthritis.
I think most advise against vitamin supplements,because the good dog foods contain plenty, but alot use salmon oil, and a little extra vitamin E. Extra calcium could come from mozzerella string cheese, it's a lower fat cheese and doesn't seem to irritate the IBS at all.

[Debbie Ervin]

Thanks for your thoughts for me and Ceasar. I too am worried that this weakness came on too fast when the meds stopped. I did wean him off the predisone, but I wasn't even down he was down to 10 mgs(half a pill) and he got like this. I do know from experience from my other Rottie Thor who has since passed alot about arthritis. He had immune mediated poly-arthritis and it was bad. Predisone seems to be the drug of choice for imflamation. I just really don't like giving it!!!!! Ceasar is up there in years however and I am not stupid that this will play a factor, so if he has to take the predisone I don't believe it will hurt him, its long term that does, as Thor took it for 3 years. Yes I am contacting the vet tomorrow and I am really going to see if he can come out to the house for us. I WANT new bloodwork done, I don't care that it was just done 2 months ago, something is going on! His back end is also getting thinner, my husband even said it when we watched him eat yesterday. Yes, Sweetlee, I do have to watch with the IBS/Colitis what I give him, because a episoide now would surely kill him. I am going to get some string cheese, and I think mash some boiled potatoes, and maybe hard boiled eggs for him(he loves them). Don't know what this morning is going to bring yet. He seems alittle more alert then yesterday mornig as far as his head and (he does the puppy eye movements, with is head down, that makes him still look like a puppy), just hope he can get up and moving alittle better. We shall see. Like my husband said. I have to realize that he is getting old, and he also said that we will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes as long as he feels ok. Thats all I wanted to hear from him!! So its up to Ceasar too. Thanks all. D. Ervin oh, also I do know about the gloucosime and MSM, we gave it to Thor along w/predisone. Our vet said the people one was better for some reason.

[chivas]

extra vitmain C will NOT hurt your dog, what isnt used is metabolized out of the system. Ester C is a very benefical vitiman as its a potent anti oxidant.

[Debbie Ervin]

I just called the vet, I couldn't wait till tomorrow. He went to have a bowel movement and it was ok at first then he started to strain! NO! He is going to get out to the house this week for bloodwork, and Ceasar is going back on 30mg of predisone a day along with antibotics(which seem to help with the diareaha??) chephelexin 3 pills 2xs a day for 1 week and the 2pills 2xs a day for 1 week and then we may keep him on a matience dose of 1pill 2xs a day. He also just took the sulfasalazime for the diareaha, but the vet said he really don't want to keep him on that long with the other meds. He also said the predisone is keeping the seizures at bay(my fingers are crossed). It is just so much!!!!! If it helps him it is worth it. Also the bloodwork is improtant to me to see if anything else is going on! Had to vent! Thanks. D. Ervin and Ceasar