Arthritis?

[Guest firsttimer]

Senator started limping out of the blue 4 weeks ago. After the initial panic attack we went to the vet for a check. He is a very stoic boy and no amount of manipulation will make him yelp, blink, anything to give us a clue as to what hurts. It is his left front leg. It doesn't stop him from running, though I've been trying to sit on him. After he runs he limps and sometimes won't put his foot down. Whether he runs or not, when he gets up from lying down he limps heavily and then it seems to ease after he's walked around a bit. We started him on glucosomine 3 weeks ago but it doesn't seem to be having any effect. He was on an Novox for a week and it seemed to help but I also didn't let him run at all that week. Eventually he starts to go crazy from the lack of exercise (leash walks don't seem to satisfy him) and he'll start to run in the house. He's just about to turn six and never raced. The vet has suggested testing for lyme but he still has sooooo much energy I don't think that's it. I'm thinking xrays next. Any ideas?

[Greytlady94]

I would definitely get xrays and be sure they are read by a specialist (radiologist).

Sending gentle ear scritches for Senator.

[PatricksMom]

I'd do some x-rays, and some bloodwork (tick-born diseases can cause joint problems.)

 

If you end up being sure it's arthritis, you might try switching glucosamine brands, and you will probably need to add some pain management on top of this.

 

But you definitly want to figure out what's going on; for arthritis exercise is actually good, for other problems, not necessarily.

[Guest Dillymom]

How much glucosomine are you giving him? My vet has Lola on 1000mg a day plus 50mg of B6 and fish oil for a weak hip joint. I've also been told that glucosomine takes several weeks to start to work.

 

I would think that a set of xrays wouldn't be a bad idea so you at least know what you're dealing with

[CaliforniaGreys]

Please don't rule out TBD's. And it's my understanding that Glucosamine is brand specific, but it also takes awhile to build up in the system.What you describe sure does sound like arthritis which doesn't "always" show up in an xray. Here's hoping you get to the bottom of it and Senator starts to improve.

[Guest KennelMom]

Second the above suggestions: Xrays and thorough blood work would be my next step.

[ZoomDoggy]

Does he seem to limp more on particularly rough surfaces? Like gravel or concrete?

 

Take a flashlight and very closely scrutinize each of his toe pads. Look for small flat shiny spots, or raised hard areas, or a tiny pinhole... anything that is not normal paw-pad texture. It may be a corn developing. If you see anything like what I described, take the affected pad between your fingers and give it a gentle-but-firm squeeze from the sides of the pad. This may elicit a flinch or a yelp (may want to muzzle before this exam). If so, it's very likely a corn.

 

They can be hard to spot, especially if you've never seen one before.

 

If it is, there are a few options for treatment which can be found here in H&M by doing a keyword search for "corns."

 

 

ETA: It's not unheard of for vets to misdiagnose corns, so don't let the fact your vet hasn't brought this up make you dismiss the possibility out of hand. Might save you some xray expense...

Edited August 7, 2008 by ZoomDoggy

[Guest crazy4greys]

Ask your vet about Previcox

 

CLICKY

[Guest JudiK]

Vet told me 6-8 weeks for any effect from Glucosamine... and that was an ortho vet. Hang in there a bit longer.

[GeorgeofNE]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken, but from what I understand (after speaking with my own Rheumatologist) there are no studies that prove glucosamine does much. I did read one article in "Gun Dog" magazine that it seems to be somewhat effective for MILD arthritis. I know my doctor told me not to waste my money taking it for myself, because once your cartilidge is pretty much gone, all the supplements in the world won't bring it back.

 

I know supplements did NOTHING for my last dog, who has severe arthritis due to major orthopedic surgeries. He took pain medication to manage it (as do I).

 

I do give it to George, who merely was stiff--and it seems to have made his gait less so. Then again, that could be simply getting regular, controlled exercise--which you actually need with arthritis. You have to keep the joints moving, or you stiffen up something awful. This does not apply to rheumatoid arthritis which is a systemic illness--just the garden variety arthritis.

 

If he truly has arthritis, you need x-rays anyway to evaluate him--and I'd personally insist on them if it was my dog.

[Jester]

I had good luck putting Maisy on two courses of CMO in conjunction with her Glucosamine. She doesn't limp at all now, except when she first gets up in the morning and stretches out.

[Guest mountain4greys]

My 9 year old limped some when we got her last year. Glucosomine did the trick for her, but it takes up to 2 months to get in their system. My vet also said that glucosomine will either work or not, and if it doesn't, switch brands until you find one that works. My girl can run like the wind now, and no more limping.

 

But you do want to find out if it's arthritis, it could be something else. You can still give your hound glucosomine, even if it's not arthritis.