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Author Topic: Arthritis treatment for a dog  (Read 1209 times)
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Celia

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« on: April 18, 2022, 03:32:05 PM »

So, I need some input and advice, and I figured this was a quick way to get a good number of responses.

My elderly dog has arthritis.  I have been giving him galliprant.  I upped his dosage recently (one week ago) to 20mg twice a day, and his weight is 14 pounds.  The results were great --more pep, better walking, no crying, etc.  The vet was shocked and has frightened me with visions of blood tests to see if I've damaged his liver or kidneys.  I've almost convinced myself I've caused organ failure in my little guy.

So:  continue with a lower dose of galliprant but add gabapentin?  Or use CBD?

thank you in advance.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2022, 05:09:09 PM by Celia » Logged
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« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2022, 05:47:43 PM »

Hi Celia,

I’m so sorry you and your pup are going through this. My schnauzer recently developed arthritis symptoms in late 2019 which we initially treated with 2 carprofen a day with tramadol as needed.

During that time we also tried CBD, but I didn’t see any huge improvement there. Maybe it was the brand.

As of a month ago his condition worsened and he has been on Galliprant (20mg) once a day for the past week which has been like a miracle compared to how much pain he was in last week. I haven’t had to pair it with Tramadol (yet), but can if needed. I haven’t used Gabapentin in conjunction but hear good things about G/G, and will likely try it if tramadol runs its course.

The vet also said Meloxicam/Metacam would be s backup option if Galliprant didn’t work/ever stops working.

I would definitely keep the 20mg dose to once a day and pair it with Tramadol / Gabapentin.

The vet also started him on Grizzly oil (hip & joint) to be added to his food once a day or o help.

I know how hard it is to watch your little one suffer and be unable to make it go away so I hope you’re able to find the right combination that will help ease the pain/anxiety.
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Celia

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« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2022, 06:04:20 PM »

Thank you for the response and info.  I can't bear to give him the gal. just once a day, because (like Advil) it wears off after about 6-8 hours, and the crying is just heart-breaking.  I'll likely have to take him in today for blood work and to pick up some other drugs.

I'm hesitant to get tramadol, because my last, epileptic dog took it sometimes for epilepsy and was just so zonked and drugged out on it.  My alcoholic ex ended up snagging all the tramadol for himself to mix with his booze...   Cry

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PeDe
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« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2022, 08:30:54 PM »

Oh, Celia, I'm sorry your pup is dealing with this, it's heartbreaking to hear your pup is in pain.

I chose to go the natural route with my two late doggos, (17 years/19 years) because I know that pharma meds help a lot, but also have a damaging effect on the liver and kidneys, as so many do. Roxie (19) in her late stages of cancer was given tramadol, and it had damaged her kidneys, so that was a no for me. Nevertheless, less you have as a dog owner you always have to weigh your pros & cons, but then my vet is both, a general and holistic vet.

I used the first 5 below with very good results

Comfrey - has pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties (my vet mixed a tincture)
Frankincense - is an all-around perfect herbal remedy (my vet mixed a tincture)


From other dog owners I've heard they use:

Turmeric- has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat arthritis and other forms of pain. It must be of medicinal grade quality. The dosage of turmeric for dogs lies between 15 and 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, and you can add it to your dog’s food. It is best to but the organic turmeric as it usually contains a high amount of the active ingredient curcumin, which gives an anti-inflammatory effect. https://www.dorwest.com/p...ablets-for-dogs-and-cats/

Arnica Montana - is effective for relieving the pains of inflammation, sprains, bruises, and arthritis. The oral form of administration works faster. You can dissolve three granules/drops per weight in 5 ml of water, and give your dog twice daily. But make sure you administer this homeopathic remedy separate from your dog’s meals. https://www.homeoanimal.c...NJc2DzkoBheAaAvilEALw_wcB

Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate - is known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Chondroitin is also found in cartilages and bones, and they are found in supplements derived from animal cartilage. These two compounds are very effective in treating arthritis, and they have been shown to relieve inflammation and pains in the joints. When you add these compounds as supplements to your dog’s diet, it helps to repair and build tissues such as cartilages that work to protect their joints. https://extendpets.com/us...NHZals10_VL8aAn1PEALw_wcB

Harpogophytum - is an anti-inflammatory herb that can be used to treat chronic conditions over a long period without causing any harm to your dog. Its main constituent is harpagoside, which can reduce inflammation and decrease pain quickly. This makes it one of the best choices for treating arthritis and muscle pain - - BUT it can interact with some pharmaceutical drugs like hypertensive or cardiac drugs. So if your dog is on any medication, ensure you consult your vet doctor before using the harpogophytum.


The first three did not and do not interact with her Tramadol or Cancer meds use, and helped a lot in pain reduction, movement, and overall comfort. I also have to say, we stopped Tramadol after her first bloodwork check.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2022, 08:37:24 PM by PeDe » Logged

Paulina

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« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2022, 08:44:49 PM »

Does acupuncture help arthritis? And are there acupuncturists for dogs? I'm so sorry. Our pets are as much family as other members, sometimes more so!
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« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2022, 09:09:06 PM »


yes, if you find a holistic vet in your area, most of them are trained to do acupuncture.

What also can help is aquatic exercise. A neighbour of ours had a HUGE labrador mix with severe arthritis, and he took him once a week to a doggy indoor pool to exercise - the doggie looooooooved it.
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« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2022, 09:34:08 PM »

We did Tramadol and gabapentin in the later years on my previous dog. Before that she was on  rimadyl with gabapentin. Also used deramaxx on another dog. The Rimadyl and deramaxx can be tough on them so blood checks are done to keep an eye on things. Long term use can lead to issues. It reaches a point where comfort is the priority though. You can try different combos to see what works. The Galliprint is newer and supposedly works well but again keep an eye on liver/kidney function with long term use.
Adequan is an injection that I’ve read people have success with.
My dogs are always on the supplement Dasuquin with MSM per my surgeons instructions.
I would never give my dog meloxicam for more than a few days post op because it can lead to catastrophic GI bleeds.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s tough.  Hug
With any and all of the meds you can play with dosages to find the lowest dose that provides relief.
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« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2022, 09:35:33 PM »

I am a fan of turmeric, for everybody and the canary. Works wonders in so many areas, so it is a great thing to be put into your dog's (as well as your own!) diet ever so often.
I am not a fan of Glucosamine & Chondroitin, basically because I have found it not to be working very well ,but cause side effects. Watch your pooch for stomach problems very carefully. G&C can cause nausea, stomach ache, heartburn etc and I can imagine this is difficult to detect in a dog, that feels sick already.
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Emac0914

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« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2022, 10:02:33 PM »

Our 9 year old cocker is experiencing the same thing and we’ve been giving him Vetprofen 25 mg daily along with a maintenance dose of max strength Cosequin (glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM).  I hate gabapentin but am saving it for bad days.  The Vetprofen keeps him comfortable enough and he’s limping but not crying in pain.  And he still runs like a crazy boy doing “squirrel patrol” to keep them out of the bird feeder.  I just ordered some dog CBD chews that have glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric to try (check charlottesweb.com, decent CBD quality).  We’ll see how they work.

We have a pool in our yard so I plan for him to have some dog aquatherapy this summer, getting him to swim will be good exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joint.
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« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2022, 07:15:58 AM »

Agree with the turmeric and aquatic therapy! And maybe a heated sleeping pad?

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Celia

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« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2022, 02:37:23 AM »

*I* am his heated sleeping pad!  Thanks so much for all your responses and suggestions.  We started the gabapentin yesterday, and it made a HUGE difference.  Yes, he was a slug all day, but no crying!  And he still has really great digestion --we get compliments on his poop from others on the block.  Yes, I take the positives where I can get 'em!

I'm going to keep a close eye on him.  Luckily I'm self-employed, so I'm home all the time.
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Emac0914

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« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2022, 03:08:13 AM »

Glad to hear the gabapentin made him comfy, albeit “a slug” - he’s probably earned it, poor boy!  My husband is my dog’s heating pad/comfy couch 🤣
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