successful supplements for severe arthritis?

[Gerts]

Is there anyone out there that could recommend---or happens to be using---any supplements to help with severe arthritis?

My dog is currently on a supplement that is tremendously helping with a limp in the front leg and assisting in the pain free life after two knee surgeries, (but other than trying NSAID's), he hasn't been free from arthritis pain in the hip--(as confirmed by an orthopedic surgeon). Truly I have no desire to put him back on suggested Previcoxx or Deramax, but would like to take some pain away in a more natural manner... Been doing research, but most seem to be for "mild" cases, so I thought I'd come to the board to pick your-all's brains...I'm guessing someone out there has surely had success of a more pain free life despite severe arthritis, but in a more homeopathic manner...

Thanks !

[poohbearsdad]

My Poohbear has severe hip dysplasia and I'm using Deramaxx and Sasha's blend. I recently started using an equine glucosamine blend to supplement. Somebody was also suggesting that Ginger and tumeric are good to give the dogs too - just not sure how much.

[Buggy]

I had good response with glyco-flex. It's not cheap but I noticed a real difference when he was on it, takes about 3 weeks to get into the system.

[observer]

Have you tried Adequan injections? They are not cheap, but help some dogs a lot.

[bliss7373]

I have also heard great things about Lubrisyn. Lubrisyn and Lubrisyn CA | The daily dose for fluid joints

I do think, though, that when it gets severe enough, you have to have some sort of pain relief, rather than just supplements. Tramadol is also a good option for many dogs.

[observer]

Tramadol is a good pain reliever, that you can use together with an antiinflammatory. I used Metacam (antiflammatory drug) first in its liquid form, it's very effective but pricey; I've now saved lots of money by having Meloxicam (generic form) compounded at a pet pharmacy in capsules... way less money, easier to feed, 30 some dollars for a 90 day supply. We are using Neurontin as well now, as occasionally Missy gets some significant elbow pain along with the hip arthritis.

[Sam's Mom]

Synflex has worked really well for my guy. It is pharmicuticle (sp?) grade and claims to be more bio-available. I order it online....About 20 bucks.

[zorro13]

You can also look into Duralactin. While I have never supplemented a dog with it, my horse is on it after being on Cosequin for several years and doing much better on that.

[rottie40]

A client of mine uses something called 'dog gone pain' from australia and he swears by it because his dog gets very upset stomach when given NSAIDs.
There is also a human pain relief supplement called Litozin that another client of mine uses on her labrador and she thinks he is as pain free as when he is on Metacam (with non of the side effects!!) Told my dad to use it who suffers with arthritis in his knees and he swears by it and can walk 4 times as far as he could without it.
Hope something works for you, Kind Regards

[observer]

I've used Duralactin too, I'm out right now, ordering more. I am using so many things at one time that I'm not sure what helps and what doesn't, but I know I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as possible.

[nakita]

my rotti is 9 and has reasonably bad arthritis due to minor hip displasia and having been hit by a car when she was younger. a little while back she started showing signs of her age catching up to her. So I took her to the vet and he recommended I started giving her cosequin, so I did. It seems to work well, she does not wine and wimper like she did when getting up and down. It's kind of pricey, 76 for 120 pills. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[rottiesnumberone]

Cosequin is $76 for 120 caps? WOW! I have sen that much cheaper at some online wholesalers. I believe the 250 caps were $80 at entirely pets.

[aprillovesherdogs]

Hi. I'm going through the same thing. 2 bad hips and 2 tired knees. Ansel had two acl repairs long ago and has done great.

I am currently investigating Cell Regeneration Therapy but he is 11 years old and the doctor said today it may be too late. He thinks its worth a try and is really giving us a great price so it still may happen. If I had done it a year ago, had it been available, he would be doing super now.

I too am using Deramaxx ($$$), OTC gluco/chond and Tramadol. My ortho vet also said I could give him half a Tylenol caplet 2x daily. I haven't tried that yet only for lack of having it currently on hand.

Good luck. It is so hard to see them sore.

[cally01]

My Rottweiler has severe Hip Dysplasia, when I first rescued her she could barely get up in the mornings was stiff had a difficult time with stairs. Conventional vets advised I get the surgery done and she would have to be on Metacam for the rest of her life (which would have been short had I taken their advise). I found out at that time as well that she has slight elbow dysplasia and calcified deposits on her front legs. One vet called her an orthopedic disaster.

Instead I went natural, I put her on a home prepared diet at that time with no grains (there were no grain free dog foods at that time that I knew of). I gave her nutri aid a glucosamine supplement which contained all the ingredients I look for in a glucosamine supplement. I started giving her yucca root at that time as an anti inflammatory which worked wonders (be very careful with this herb though), bromelin (sp?), fish body oil, vitamin E. I do not have easy access to a chiro or anyone who does acupuncture so I learned acupressure at home and massage.

I am very careful with her exercise keeping it consistent enough to keep good muscle tone yet not too much to over do it. If she does over do it I give her Rhus Tox.

Currently as an anti inflammatory I give her turmeric and ginger root in medicinal amounts. This is working wonders for her! She is on home prepared and at this time she is getting grains such as rice, etc but she is doing better now than ever. She is soon to be 9 years of age...she has good muscle tone in her hip area and does a lot of swimming.

My Vets just tell me to continue doing whatever I am doing as it is working so well.

For one of my Sisters Newf he has very bad arthritis much worse than Athena my Rottie. Even during his show career he had horrible problems. For him he gets the Nutri Aid, fish body oil, vitamin E, rhus tox, and the vet gave my Sister a homeopathic treatment which is working wonders. Every 6 weeks he gets a shot of Cartrophen which is prescribed by our homeopathic vet this works wonders for Dillon and he is doing excellent. There was a time frame when my Sister thought she was going to have to resort to euthanasia as he was in so much pain. With patience, acupressure, homeopathic care, nutri aid etc he has come around 100%. He is soon to be 9 years of age as well.

Sometimes going the natural route you are not going to see quick results, it takes time for it to start working. I'm glad I went completely natural as I know my Rottweiler would be going through liver and probably kidney problems by now if we had used metacam etc. I have not even had to resort to Tylenol etc over the years.

Our older Newf is 12 years of age and had gone through 2 ACL tears. She has no secondary arthritis at all because she has always been given a good glucosamine supplement. She has wonderful mobility in her joints and no stiffness at all. She too gets the turmeric, ginger root etc just as a precaution as well these herbs are good for so many other things...I take them myself as well. :)

[Yogi'smom]

Yogi had elbow surgery a year ago to clean up the joint and removed chunks of floating cartilage caused by FCP. We knew that he would always battle arthritis.
He has always been on a raw diet, which I think is a big part of his success. He also gets Cosequin DS and DGP (dog gone pain). He does wonderfully and the only time we notice anything is when he overdoes it with his play buddies, then he may be a little stiff. Overall, these supplements have been fantastic for him.