Seymour Butts And His Arthritic Leg

[Guest racergirl435]

How much is too much Deramaxx to give to a 78 pound greyhound with arthritis who is limping fairly badly? Our Seymour has been favoring his right front leg since last Sunday. It seems to get worse when it's really humid out, just like it does for me. He has tiny moments when he seems okay and doesn't limp as much but we are making sure he keeps his activity level low and doesn't strain himself any more than necessary. We don't even let him off lead in the fenced back yard because he just likes to run around too much. Our big goofy boy. I also have Tramadol to give him, but one or the other or both given together don't seem to make much difference. We did have a cancer scare a few months ago (March) but it turned out not to be cancer. Thank God, but the arthritis is pretty bad sometimes. Is there anything else one can give a greyhound for severe arthritis pain? He already gets a glucosamine supplement with his meals.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

[Guest Javasmom]

See if you can find a Supplement that has HA, or Hyaluronic Acid in it. It worked miracle for my mare who had DJD. Usually it will be something along the lines of Glucosamine, Condroitin and HA and maybe MSM as well. As far as Deramaxx, let me check on that dosage, BRB.

 

OK, the max dosage he should get is 1/2 of a 75mg tab or 37.5 mg.

[Guest Javasmom]

I have never tried either one of these so I can not vouch for the effectiveness of either of them but I wanted to give you an idea of what to look for. Hyaluornic acid is the stuff they inject into arthritic joints of horses and dogs, call Adequan (there are others available under different names as well). It can be given orally but usually the injection is a bit more effective, at least for horses who are still performing. I gave it orally and found it to work well.

 

Gluc/Chon/MSM/HA supplement

ActiPet

[FiveRoooooers]

We have used Tramadol and Deramaxx here at the same time for pain and inflammation, and the combination has worked for us. Not to alarm you, but as you have already had a scare and the rx combination does not seem to be helping as I believe it should IMHO, you might consider a recheck, just to be on the safe side. Your vet may also suggest some other pain meds from the "bag o' tricks" as I call it.

 

It's been a week now, how is Seymour feeling today? I hope he has improved. Good luck, and please keep us posted.

[Guest Energy11]

I give 1/2 of a 75 mg Deramaxx to our arthritic Goldie, and just started the same with Staggerlee. She will be 10 Dec, and he just turned 10. I give it in the mornings with a 10 mg Pepcid AC for the stomach. I'd be sure yours is also getting a joint supplement. Good Luck!

[GeorgeofNE]

Speaking from personal experience (a dog and myself!), if his arthritis is "severe," the nutraceuticals won't help. From my doctor's mouth to your ears...

 

With a Greyhound limping, I would not just assume it's his arthritis. I'd take him in for an x-ray. If nothing else, you'll get a good idea just how bad the arthritis is. And the peace of mind of knowing that's all it is.

 

For long-term chronic pain, my vet prefers Tramadol to NSAIDs.

[DesiRayMom]

I just (last month) switched my old boy from Rimadyl to Metacam.....with some Tramadol thrown in now & again when he needs it. Drug rep (I work at a vet clinic) gave me a free bottle (it's a liquid, once daily) to try, & it really did seem to work better. Pretty pricey though. FWIW, Metacam is also a human drug & can be gotten from a pharmacy (with prescription) much cheaper. Don't know if that works as well as the vet product though. Will be trying that

when my "free" stuff runs out.

[grey14me]

Speaking from personal experience (a dog and myself!), if his arthritis is "severe," the nutraceuticals won't help. From my doctor's mouth to your ears...

 

With a Greyhound limping, I would not just assume it's his arthritis. I'd take him in for an x-ray. If nothing else, you'll get a good idea just how bad the arthritis is. And the peace of mind of knowing that's all it is.

 

For long-term chronic pain, my vet prefers Tramadol to NSAIDs.

 

[Guest racergirl435]

Well, still no improvement. The drugs really don't seem to be helping. He's had x-rays (in March when this happened before) and we thought it might have been cancer, but a month later when we back for a recheck, there was nothing on the x-ray. His glucosamine supplements do include condroitin and MSM and I think it's a pretty good supplement. But...nothing seems to be helping. When my husband got home today he said he seemed a lot better but as soon as he puts any real effort into walking or if he goes down the 4 stairs from the portch too fast, he hurts himself all over again. When this started last week, he literally slid/fell down the porch stairs. He didn't slide or fall tonight but he did go down them pretty fast and when he got to the bottom he started whining and looked up at me as if to say "now what Mommy?". I feel so bad for my big fella. I am going to give his foster mom a call at the clinic tomorrow and see what she thinks. I too think a recheck on the x-ray might not be a bad idea. I don't know if cancer can "hide" but I sure hope that's not what it was doing in April when I took him for his recheck. I damn near lost it in March when we thought he had cancer and I can't stand to think of the thought now. He's my first hound and my heart dog and I can't bear the thought of losing him. Aside from that, our black lab is going deaf and has cataracts, so she depends on him a lot. I just want to lay in bed with my boy and comfort him. It's so frustrating not knowing where it hurts. I'm going to try and put an ice pack on his leg and see if he will tolerate that. I'll keep y'all posted and thank your for your suggestions and for listening. I don't come on here often, but I know when I do I can count on y'all.

 

Jess

[Guest racergirl435]

Well, Seymour was pretty bad this morning. He would only move for going outside to do business. Usually he's glued to my side. His limp is much worse as well. I put an ice pack on his leg last night, which he seemed to tolerate. Or maybe it was because he was in too much pain to move. I tried that again this morning and he wanted nothing to do with it. I can see the pain in his eyes and it's killing me to be at work right now and not at home with him. He is going back to the vet tomorrow morning. I imagine they will do more x-rays. I can't take this. After his battle with pancreatitis in July I thought we'd be done with the health scares. He's my heart dog and I want him to live forever.

[GeorgeofNE]

Well, still no improvement. The drugs really don't seem to be helping. He's had x-rays (in March when this happened before) and we thought it might have been cancer, but a month later when we back for a recheck, there was nothing on the x-ray. His glucosamine supplements do include condroitin and MSM and I think it's a pretty good supplement. But...nothing seems to be helping. When my husband got home today he said he seemed a lot better but as soon as he puts any real effort into walking or if he goes down the 4 stairs from the portch too fast, he hurts himself all over again. When this started last week, he literally slid/fell down the porch stairs. He didn't slide or fall tonight but he did go down them pretty fast and when he got to the bottom he started whining and looked up at me as if to say "now what Mommy?". I feel so bad for my big fella. I am going to give his foster mom a call at the clinic tomorrow and see what she thinks. I too think a recheck on the x-ray might not be a bad idea. I don't know if cancer can "hide" but I sure hope that's not what it was doing in April when I took him for his recheck. I damn near lost it in March when we thought he had cancer and I can't stand to think of the thought now. He's my first hound and my heart dog and I can't bear the thought of losing him. Aside from that, our black lab is going deaf and has cataracts, so she depends on him a lot. I just want to lay in bed with my boy and comfort him. It's so frustrating not knowing where it hurts. I'm going to try and put an ice pack on his leg and see if he will tolerate that. I'll keep y'all posted and thank your for your suggestions and for listening. I don't come on here often, but I know when I do I can count on y'all.

 

Jess

 

 

I sure hope it's nothing--have you checked for a corn??

 

When George was limping, I took him to the vet. She didn't even CONSIDER anything other than x-rays immediately. She said "with a Greyhound, I insist on x-rays." They were clear. She also insisted I come back in two weeks for another set, AND make an appointment with a surgeon--that's how concerned she was. The only reason she didn't have me come back for a THIRD set is that the specialist she sent me to found a narrowing of his spinal column, and decided his limp was a result of LS, and not bone cancer.

 

Sending you my very best thoughts!!

Edited August 24, 2010 by GeorgeofNE

[Remolacha]

hoping it is just arthritis! Acupuncture really helped my old girl when her arthritis was bad, plus she had spinal problems. The Adequan shot helped a lot the first time, not so much after that.

 

for clear xrays!

[DesiRayMom]

Keep us posted......good thoughts your way for clear x-rays.

[Guest tinams8]

I hope he's ok!

[PatricksMom]

I just (last month) switched my old boy from Rimadyl to Metacam.....with some Tramadol thrown in now & again when he needs it. Drug rep (I work at a vet clinic) gave me a free bottle (it's a liquid, once daily) to try, & it really did seem to work better. Pretty pricey though. FWIW, Metacam is also a human drug & can be gotten from a pharmacy (with prescription) much cheaper. Don't know if that works as well as the vet product though. Will be trying that

when my "free" stuff runs out.

 

According to my compounding pharmacist, it's the same stuff. You can't dose as precisely with the human pills as the liquid, but it shouldn't be an issue with an animal the size of a greyhound (whereas my rabbit has to be dosed exactly right because she's so tiny).

 

Hoping it's "just" arthritis, Patrick's is managed well with tramadol, cosequine, and the occasional meloxicam.

[Guest racergirl435]

Thanks everyone. He's still the same this morning. I don't think it's a corn because that's the first thing I checked because he's gotten pebbles and pine nuts stuck between his toes before. He hasn't lost his appetite or his happiness (at least when he's going out) so that's a good thing, but he's still limping pretty badly. If it is arthritis, I would think the Deramaxx and Tramadol would have been helping all this time. Given that they haven't, I decided not to give him anything this morning just in case the vet wants to give him a shot while he's there today. Thank you for all your well wishes. I'll keep y'all posted. Jess

[tbhounds]

Fingers crossed for you today.

[racindog]

Don't rule out a neck/spinal issue. Two of my greyts have manifested lameness/front leg pain when the leg was A-OK and the issue was a neck/spinal problem. Praying for your boy!

[Guest KennelMom]

I would be suspecting something other than arthritis at this point...good luck at the vet.

[Guest racergirl435]

It was bone cancer. In his shoulder. He had a hole in the middle of the bone, a hairline fracture that went all the way across just below the hole and grey area surrounding it all. We chose to put him to sleep. We are both devastated. Not at all what I was expecting the outcome to be. He is out of pain now and running around the bridge.

[sweetdogs]

I'm so sorry.

[FiveRoooooers]

I am so, so sorry.

[tbhounds]

Damn it -- I'm so sorry. I truly feel you're pain.

[Batmom]

I'm sorry.

[Remolacha]