There are a few items I disagree with (having an older dog that has gone through cruciate surgery, a dog with HD and a dog with ED...I consider myself well educated on diet for Arthritis
). It was very thoughtful of you harborough11 to post this site...I just don't agree with their suggestions.
First, if your pet is overweight try feeding less of a low caloric diet. Many are marketed through supermarkets.
Most dog foods sold at supermarkets are poor quality and are more harmful than good for an arthritic dogs over all health. I try to give my dogs a good natural diet as often as possible and supplement their diet with herbs. I also make sure they get plenty of omega 3 fatty acids etc. I would never put my dogs on a high carbohydrate diet to lose weight...the long term health problems would be too great.
If you are not strong willed enough to cut the pet’s total food intake, purchase a prescription, weight reduction diet or supplement its diet with low caloric items such as cooked cabbage, green beans and carrots.
I found what works for my dog is to NOT feed a weight reducing diet. I feed them either home prepared raw foods (the raw cartlidge from raw meats is excellent for dogs with Arthritis). I just feed my dogs the amount to mantain weight, or if over weight I cut back a little on normal foods as in my mind that dog is not using the calories through burning up with exercise. I also exercise my dogs on a regular basis
...inconsistant exercise is very bad for dogs with joint disease.
There are a variety of nutritional supplements on the market today that might improve your pet’s joint function. Some are prepared from extracts of cartilage. Others are formulated from the glycosoaminoglycans found in clams. Some have other ingredients added. None have been adequately tested scientifically to prove that they work but none will cause harm to your pet.
I've tested them and my dogs prove they work. I give my dogs a variety of supplements and raw meats for the enzymes and raw cartlidge. I give them Yucca as an anti inflammatory I rotate using turmeric or ginger (raw) or Boswellia. I never give my dogs aspirin...never. I give my dogs only natural herbs from plants etc. I also give them glucosamine, chondroitin, glycosaminoglycans to protect joint cartilage and rebuild damaged areas. MSM is in their supplement, but, I try to add this naturally as well by feed them asparagus, eggs and garlic for MSM.
If the pet is not overweight, you can try daily doses of aspirin. I generally give about 5 mg per pound body weight twice a day. Others have used double this dose. Like people, some dogs tolerate aspirin while others do not. Side effects are lack of appetite, vomission, diarrhea or dark stools.
Thus the reason I don't give aspirin!
It can also cause stomach or intestinal ulcers....I don't even take aspirin myself.
Three newer ones with less of this side effect and which are approved for pets are carprofen (Rimadyl, Pfizer) and etodolac (Eto-Gesic, Wyeth Ft.Dodge) and meloxicam (Metacam, Merial). The first is a twice a day product, the second two, once a day. All three of these products seem to really help old dogs get about again.
All I can say about this...is YIKES! yes, lets poison our dogs, ruin their liver and stress their kidneys thus shortening their lifespan.
My dogs (one being almost 11 - my Newfoundland-) are dong wonderful on natural herbs and superior diet with real meats and some raw meals. I have seen the effects of long term use of the above anti inflammatories...they really shorten the life of the dog, and while "masking" the symptoms of the problem...they do nothing to help heal. They also create more problems than they are worth and you pay a huge amount of money to kill your dog slowly. Not my idea of good advise. There are only very special unique situations I would recommend these conventional anti inflammatories...very rare situations and only for a very short time frame....never long term.
There are many other scientifically unproven treatments for arthritis in people and pets. Everything from magnets to acupuncture have been used. I cannot tell you that they do work, but little is lost in trying them if you wish.
Acupuncture is wonderful for dogs with joint/arthritis problems. Hydrotherapy is also wonderful and I have seen first hand the wonderful results.
A point eventually comes when the drugs mentioned are not enough. In these pets the carefully supervised use of cortisone-type drugs will often buy extra mobility time for your pet. Steroids are powerful drugs. The most commonly used ones for arthritic problems are prednisone and prednisolone. They are best given no more frequently than every second or third day. They relieve inflammation throughout the body but also cause increased appetite and thirst, fluid retention, liver enlargement and other changes. Do not fear cortisone drugs too much. These drugs have saved many lives. Any person with an organ transplant remains on one of them the rest of their lives. The secret of success with them is to control weight through diet and to give as little of the medication as infrequently as possible so you can enjoy the company of your pet as long as God allows.
-bold print is good advise.
As far as conventional medications, I do not put much faith in them...only in very special unique situations would I use any conventional med's. As for arthritis, why medicate when you can give an optimum diet, exercise and supplements to improve over all health and longtivety. I have proven with my dogs that my methods work.
Note: I was under the impression that glucosamine sulphate had no potentially deleterious effects on the body of humans or pets. However, an article published in the Lancet was recently brought to my attention that states that glucosamine sulphate is capable of affecting blood glucose concentration as well as the level of circulating insulin. This same article suggested that the Compound be used with caution in humans with diabetes.
They say this yet, they are promoting drugs like rimadyl and metacam
. My dogs have shown no side affects from taking glucosamine sulphate for many years...my old girl has been taking glucosamine since she was 2 years old...her blood work just came back wonderful...she continues to impress the local vets with her good health. If a dog has diabetes, then perhaps it would be best to use natural foods to add the proper building blocks for good joint health. raw meats etc can promote wonderful joint health. There are other natural herbs you can give.
I think too many people are looking for a quick fix like Metacam to solve the problem "right now". When things like improving diet, exercise, swimming, herbal support can make for a healthy dog that actually will heal over time and live longer. Sometimes by improving the health of the dog through diet, exercise, perhaps giving an immune boosting herb like astragalus can help the body over come the crippling effects of arthritis. Sometimes by feeding another protein source (in case of allergies causing the auto immune disorder) can help as well.
