Experiences with Elbow Arthritis knowledge wanted

[dogless]

My female GSD is 7 years old and has some elbow arthritis. I had x-rays done yesterday, because she favors her left leg and limps sometimes. I have not seen the xrays yet, but he said there is some calcification on both elbows, worse on the left one.

My vet suggested I call a specialist and see what they say, whether surgery is recommended or not. My vet seems to think that arthroscopic surgery might be an option but the does not do that type of specialized surgery. I called the specialist and from talking to a technician there, I am not so sure that surgery will do any good, that surgery itself can cause arthritis and they may not be able to do anything anyhow at this point. Obviously we won't know anything for sure unless we have a consultation and they look at the x-rays. They are willing to have my vet mail the xrays to them and they can look at them and discuss with him the options before we do anything more. I am going to see if he can do that for me, which I'm sure he can and will.

Also the estimate for one elbow, arthroscopic surgery, would be $3300, so if she needed both it could be around $5000 or so (not double because if they did them at the same time they would save some costs).

So I am just trying to get others experience with elbow arthritis, what you did, if anyone had surgery and it's outcomes and costs, or if you did not do surgery what other suggestions there might be, and wonder if anyone has an idea of how fast it might progress based on your experiences.

She is 7, weighs 80 lbs on a large frame (26-27 at shoulders) so she is pretty trim. I give her a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement (1500 mg glucosamine, 800 mg chondroitin) per day. She is not super active, we go for walks and she plays in the yard, but no heavy excercise (which I don't know if she would be more active but her elbows hurt so she doesn't??)

Any insight would be helpfull at this point.

Thanks.

[Jax08]

My friend's lab has ED. She used the laser therapy for pain along with joint supplements and he is doing fantastic! I would double her joint supplement and add fish oil as well.

[mysweetkaos]

No experience with elbows. Our 9 yr old was diagnosed with knee arthritis in both knees at about 7.5...he was not a candidate for any surgery. Arthritis set in because of torn ACL. We have kept him as active as he'll allow. Our vet thinks the worse thing you can do is let them be "lazy". We do glucosamine, I think about 2000 a day, fish oil, vit C. He is also on adequan injections, which have been helping some. Might be an option to look into. He also takes tramadol as needed. Some days are really good and you can't keep him down....other days he sleeps and has no interest in anything besides the necessaties (sp). We also have an ortho bed for him with a heated cover.

[WVGSD]

I have an adopted German Shepherd that is five years old who was just diagnosed with elbow dysplasia in early November. My vet made the same comments about surgery - that my boy already has arthritis in both joints and doing surgery in the elbows could also create more arthritis.
We opted for medication first and I now have him on two supplements. He was initially given Meloxicam once daily with Carafate (for stomach protection) and Tramadol for the pain. Once he stopped limping, I reduced the Meloxicam and started him on both Duralactin Canine and Dasuquin with MSM supplements. He is now off of the Meloxicam and Tramadol since November 29th and no limping has returned.

My boy is 30 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds. He also has inflammatory bowel disease so non-steroidal medications are used very cautiously. I have chosen the two supplements and, so far, so good.

The Duralactin Canine is an anti-inflammatory supplement made from the milk of hyperimmunized cows and can be given with non-steroidals and steroids, if needed. It is also given to horses and people can take it too (under the name Microlactin). Dasuquin is a low molecular weight glucosamine and chondroitin supplement. Max gets both with a high omega 3 fish oil and ester C.

My friend's GSD puppy was just diagnosed with pano yesterday and she just ordered some Duralactin for him to use once he is more comfortable and over the initial pain and limping. She is going to try it for her dog to see if it helps him as well.

[4TheDawgies]

My 4 year old has pretty bad arthritis. Limps. Won't play fetch (her FAVORITE game) etc.

I have her on the horse liquid supplement of acti-flex 4000.

You wouldn't know she had arthritis. Running, jumping, playing, etc. She feels GREAT!

I had to get her x rayed because of constant limping.
So I decided to put her on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.

Words cannot describe how miraculous the difference in my dog is.

[Samba]

Glucosamine helped mine. Adequan injections were used next and I still give it. She is nearly twelve, so some pain meds are in the mix now. I will probably do some laser treatments also soon.