My dog is 13 years old and has such bad arthritis is his back legs that he cannot walk. pain management?
Sunday, August 15th, 2010 at
6:48 pm
is there any thing i can do for him in the way of pain management? i can't put him on a heating pad because it's 90 degrees where we live so i have him in the bedroom where it's air conditioned. he is a german shepard so i'm sure he's really hot in all that fur. is there anything i can do for him right now without a trip to the vet?
Tagged with: fur • german shepard • heating pad • pain management • vet • way of pain
Filed under: Pain Management
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euthanasia. dip cubes of london broil in radiator coolant. yum yum
euthanasia
Put the poor thing down!! Aspirin until you can get him to the vet TOMORROW!
Maybe a warm bath. Let him soak in the warm water. Rub his legs for him a little.
I know you said you didn’t want to go to the vet, but he can get meds to help him. he would be alot happier and more comfortable if you did.
Arthritis and dogs
Arthritis in dogs can be very distressing for dogs and pets owners, not to mention the pain the dog has to endure if it is suffering from any form of arthritis.
The bone joints in a dogs body are the skeletal hinges and come in three forms.
A hinged joint is the type of bone joint found in elbows and knees.
Hip and shoulder joints of a dogs body contain ball and socket joints. This type of joint can withstand considerable stress.
Plane joints or gliding joints are located in the ankles and wrist.
All of the above joints are stabilized by tendons and ligaments, and lubricated by synovial fluid to prevent wear between the bone surfaces.
The lack of a lubricating fluid between the bone joints is a major cause of dogs with arthritis or joint inflammation.
Keeping the dogs arthritic joint warm can help in reducing the discomfort of your pet. A reliable and small heater for dogs arthritis can be found on this web site.
Heating and arthritis.
Heat applied to an arthritic joint is a simple remedy to help in relieving arthritic pain.
A heater can be used to relieve the discomfort of an arthritic joint. A reliable small heater that is suitable for pets can be found at this web site. The heaters are compact and portable.
Arthritis in dogs, plus the food and dogs arthritis
care sheets have been compiled and presented in a way that can be easily understood by the average pet owner.
Arthritis in dogs and forms of dog arthritis may be found on our web site and its free for your personal use.
Arthritis and dogs
can be divided into two main groups for dogs with arthritis. Inflammation of the bone joint can be referred to as an inflammatory joint disease and is caused by a fungal infection, bacteria or may even be the results of a tick infestation. The signs of a inflammatory dogs arthritis is usually indicated by stiffness in the multiple joints and an inability to move in a normal manner.
Other physical forms of illness may also be present such as anorexia or fever.
Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease in dogs is the second form of dogs and arthritis. The pets arthritis may be formed by receiving an injury or there is a deformity in the bone joint.
Degenerative joint disease results from the destruction of the cartilage that protects the bone joints from rubbing against each surface. The cartilage that protects the bone joint of the dog has no nerves so the destruction of the joint may not be evident for a considerable time. By the time the dog displays signs of a dogs arthritis caused by a degenerative joint disease the damage to the joint and cartilage is irreversible.
There are selected links presented in the pets and arthritis that will lead to manufacturers that make different forms of heaters for the pet market.
Heat and arthritis.
Heat that is applied to an arthritic joint of a pet may be of some benefit in relieving some of the arthritic pain and allowing an easier movement of the dogs arthritic joint. A variety of small heaters that can be used for different heating solutions for pets can be found HERE.
Arthritis in Dogs
Arthritis and dogs is a common ailment for our pets. Up to thirty percent of dogs can develop some form of arthritis as they age. A pets arthritic conditions can occur at any time, but arthritis in dogs seems more prevalent in cold conditions or after an injury.
If a dog receives an injury to a bone joint and the injured area develops osteoarthritis, the arthritic condition may become visible within five to six weeks. A human with the same injury can expect a time span of five to six years before the onset of arthritis. The joint structure of dogs and humans are very similar. This can be a handy guide for pet owners in judging the condition of their pets and arthritis. It is known that a gentle heat and massage to an arthritic joint will sooth and generally help to make the arthritis in your pet a bit more tolerable.
What your dog eats can affect the pets arthritis as well as its general health and well being. The minerals and natural ingredients contained in these foods have been noted to either relieve the pain of arthritis or help in preventing the onset of an arthritic condition in your dog.
Pets and arthritis
come in many forms. Detecting some of these arthritic conditions can be difficult and there are a number of different forms of treatment available for your dogs arthritis.
Homeopathy
and the treatment
of arthritis in dogs is the recognition of an illness or disease and determining what caused the ailment and unbalance in the dogs body function.
The treatment for a pets arthritis using homeopathy is confined to using the natural function of the dogs body and plants, minerals or food that are of benefit in relieving some arthritis in dogs.
It is the attempt to stimulate the dogs arthritic joints by using any suitable natural elements that may be of help in the reduction of arthritic inflammation.
Homeopathy for pets and arthritis
has been practiced for centuries on animals and humans. Cures developed for arthritic pain and prevention by using homeopathy have been recognized by main stream or conventional western medicines.
Herbs, plants or natural components that are used to bring about the pets arthritic relieve in dogs have been studied by commercial companies, and the beneficial components of these natural products are then produced artificially for the pet market. These have then been sold to the public as a new drug for dogs arthritic treatment.
It is well known that when a human who is in good health is given a large dose of various herbs or plants that have been known to cure specific types of body dysfunction, the recipient may develop forms or symptoms of these ailments.
Ensuring that your dogs habitat is comfortable and warm are important in the well being of your dog. The proper construction of a shelter and providing warmth can be of great comfort for dogs that suffer from arthritis.
Homeopathic remedies for arthritic dogs
requires the use of natural minerals, plants and products derived from animals.
These are then processed and refined to a high standard of purity. This is an important part of the procedure for producing any compounds.
There is a history of attempted arthritic relieve for dogs where the correct homeopathy and arthritis treatment for pets has been selected and administered but has ended in failure.
One of the reasons for this failure is the use of impure or contaminated products.
Refined base elements that are to be used in the arthritic treatment are blended with other refined elements to produce the correct balance of ingredients to treat the arthritic condition and affected area in your dog.
This correct balance and dosage of ingredients, plus skill in application is vital for the successful homeopathic treatment of dogs with arthritis.
Some of the herbs, vitamins and minerals used in the treatment of dogs arthritis by homeopathy are
Manganese. This is used in a blend with other ingredients to help in the promotion of a healthy immune system for your dog.
Milk thistle is a herb that can be used to control harmful free radicals in your dogs body.
Yucca is another natural product that will help in containing the release of toxins in the dogs body and assist the pets body in producing a natural cortisone.
Vitamin C is a useful aid in the fight against dogs with arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to a deficiency of vitamin C.
Vitamin E will help the dogs body maintain healthy membrane and being an antioxidant will help in protecting the body’s red blood cells.
Vitamin A aids in the promotion of bone formation and the repair of body tissue in your pet.
Omega 3 fatty acids are used to reduce inflammation of the joints.
Dogs health and arthritis in dogs care sheets have been provided free for your personal use.
The health care sheets on dogs arthritis and arthritic pain and dogs have come from a variety of professional sources but they should only be used as a general guide to help you understand your pets health and arthritic condition.
They should not be used as a substitute for proper veterinarian advice.
My rottie had the same problem..I had to take her to the vet for shots, they started out as monthly shots, and as she got worse they became weekly, she was 14 when she finally passed. Also since it is warm where you live get a kiddie pool, for some reason water seems help…….
The kindest thing you may be able to do for him is to put him down. Larger dogs like shepherds don’t live as long as the smaller breeds, so he may not live to be much older anyway. If he is in constant pain from the arthritis, ending that pain may be the best thing to do. I would discuss it with your vet.
take him to the vet.i have a friend and his dog has it too and the vet gave him some pills and they put them in the dogs food and it seems to help it.
You really should bring him to the vet. The thing with arthritis is that it is progressive, and they can live for a while with it, but eventually it gets to a point where it is unfair to the animal. youre dog is pretty old, especially for a german shepard, and i would seriously consider if he is going to be happier going on like this.
What does your vet recommend? You can try buffered aspirin, but don’t over-do it. You can also look into doggy wheel-chairs (yes, they DO have them). If your vet thinks there is nothing that can be done to improve your pet’s quality of life, it’s time to let him go. Don’t be selfish. It’s your responsiblity to do what’s right for your dog.
Well the vet can prescribe you pain pill and bone and joint things but if he gets into realy bad pain you should put him to sleep you dont want one of the most loved things in your life to be hurting.
He should be on glucosamaine – but you really should take him to a vet. It could be arthritis, but it could be other things such as hip dysplasia or a spinal problem.
I have my dog on nikken’s pet pad. She really loves it. It is filled with magnets and helps her move a lot. Plus the Joint helps immensely
http://www.5pillars.com/836645700
nikken
products
nutrition
pet products
Rest/relaxation Specialty pet pads.
A liquid supplement of Glucosamine and Chondroitin has worked wonders for my dogs and cats joint and arthritis problems. For a German Shepherd, a teaspoon would probably be the right dose (I hide it in canned food). Flexicose is sold on-line and is excellent, I’ve also used the over the counter ones. A baby aspirin twice a day might help with the pain. Be careful using pain relievers on pets. I’ve given baby aspirins to several of my dogs with good results
I copied this article off the Internet, unfortunately it does not give the dosage to use, but I am sure you will get that answered also.
Just give the dogs weight and someone will know the correct dosage.
Canine Arthritis Drugs
Veterinarians are increasingly using drug therapy for the treatment of canine arthritis. The type of drug your dog receives largely depends on the type of arthritis he has. Your veterinarian can provide detailed information regarding why and when certain drugs are used.
Common arthritis drugs include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), carprofen, ectodolar and prednisone. All of these are used to reduce inflammation, and some act as analgesics.
Note that ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or Nuprin® is NOT recommended for dogs or cats, although it works for humans. Furthermore, acetaminophen is toxic to cats, so products such as Tylenol should not be given to any pets other than dogs, and only under the advice of a veterinarian.
Side Effects
As beneficial as drug therapy is, it can cause problems for your dog. Some of the most common side effects include:
vomiting
diarrhea
kidney & liver problems
hair loss
excessive urination.
These side effects are usually associated with prolonged use of medication; short-term drug therapy is relatively problem-free for most dogs. If your dog is on medication, be sure you know what side effects to look for that could indicate a problem.
Recently, the use of nutraceutical products containing glucosamine has increased, with good results reported. Discuss this option with your veterinarian.
Not too much. There are some really good medications available from the vet, and maybe some prednisone too. But all need to come from the vet, with the proper dosage for age, weight, etc.. Good Luck.