Barely 4 yrs old, arthritis?

[frenchie27]

I am devastated. Charlie, out beloved 4 yr old Black German Shepherd started out of the blue to show signs of mobility issues after a cold front came in last week. I ran him at noon and he started limping on the back legs. I thought he had hurt himself running.

He is a big boy, 115 lbs. I know, that's too much and I have already started to decrease his Orijen food from 3 cups a day to 2 1/2 and stopped giving him all the extras.

Took him to vet, she said seems like arthritis, and gave him Rymadil for 7 days, twice a day. I have read HORRIBLE stories of side effects of this. I haven't been giving it to him twice a day, just once when he really needs it. I also have purchased glucosamine, MSM, Chrodin, etc. Seems like the rymadil works great, but I don't want to overdo it.

She suggested to xray him if he didn't get better.

I know he's a big boy and all, but arthritis at 4 yrs of age? Seriously? I am really tempted to do the xrays. What do you all suggest? Please help!!! He is MY LIFE!!!!

[wyominggrandma]

Sounds like a classic case of Hip Dysplasia. Some vets use the term arthritis since it sounds less final than HD. Get him xrayed and find out what his hips look like. IF it is HD, then you need to get ALOT of weight off of him and start on joint pills to help him deal with the HD. Don't run him anymore until you xray him. I would not wait until a course of rimadyl, I would do exrays immediately. I am totally amazed that is not the first thing the Vet wanted to do.

[WVGSD]

For just seven days the Rimadyl should be okay. Long term use is another issue. It sounds as though your dog is uncomfortable and, if he were mine, I would give him the Rimadyl and then get the x-rays for an exact diagnosis as the previous poster suggested above.

[frenchie27]

Yeah you are probably right. But, don't run him until xrays? He LOVES to walk/run. I don't overdo it though.

What happens if it is HD? What would be in store for us? and him?

[asja]

Do xrays and also do a blood test for tick diseases. Tick diseases, ie Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, etc, do cause joint damage and arthritis. If he is positive for any tick infections, the treatment is doxycycline. If he does have HD, he still needs exercise to keep his weight down and his joints limber and his muscles strong.

[katieliz]

jmho but in the circumstances you describe i would definitely not run him and would limit other exercise until i knew what diagnostic imaging showed. and i would also be particular where the imaging was done, so many local general vets are not expert in the interpretation of x-rays. not saying anything about your particular vet's abilities, just that if you have access to a specialty clinic or a veterinary college, i'd go with that. wishing you and charlie the very best, take care.

just re-read your post and see that you say you're "tempted" to do the x-rays. imho, no question about it, you must do x-rays and the sooner the better. it's imperative that you know exactly what's going on.

[meldleistikow]

First of all your dog is gorgeous! I also have a Charlie (female though) that is the same age and looks a lot like yours. She is also big for a female, 93 lbs. Anyway, my Shepherd has had some issues with stiffness in her elbows lately. She just had her heartworm test, which also tests for a couple other things, and she tested positive for Anaplasmosis, which is a bacteria ticks carry. Our vet put her on antibiotics. He says to wait and see if this will help her elbows, because anaplasmosis can cause inflammation in joints.

He also suggested a joint supplement and to run her on the grass instead of the pavement. I have also cut down her running a little bit.

Maybe look into the lyme or other tick diseases.

Good luck.

[justde]

In the course of your xrays if hips, rear leg joints look fine I would also xray the spine.

[frenchie27]

I thank you all so much for all this valuable info. I have scheduled him for a complete blood work on Tuesday. If that turns out negative, which at this point I am hoping that's the root of the problem honestly, then we will do the xrays. We will not stop until we make sure what is wrong with him. He is our 4 legged son, no questions asked. We will do ALL in our power to find out what's wrong and also to fix it.

@ Charlie's mom, thanks so much for sharing another "Charlie's" story with me. It is amazing to see that there is another Charlie out there, that looks alike and has similar issues. THanks for your words of wisdom.

I am so worried about Charlie. I am constantly petting him (more than usual which is too much to start with). He gets so many kisses and hugs a day it's not funny.

I will keep you all posted and I thank you all again for all this info. This website has been THE BEST since I got in it. I rely on you all a LOT.

[jocoyn]

I have one that was diagnosed at 3 years old with HD after a cold swim in the winter she started limping. A month before she lept straight up 4 feet on a high counter. At 9 years old she is doing well though I am beginning to see a progression of more loss of muscle mass in the back legs (though there is no sign of neurological issues back there)--She is a happy and active dog and the diagnosis was severe in both hips (femoral heads look like mushrooms on this dog)

Ok- GET THE X-RAYS. They are not that much and you know what you are working with. My vet just tried to sell me on Hills J/D arthritis diet and I am writing up a little note for her after I did the math (Not drinking the poison-if you discount for the ALA in the J/D and look to the fish oil sources I do better with Grizzly Salmon oil which leads to a point....anyway....I mention that because the vets like to sell this science diet and the bulk of the omega 3s in that product are flaxseed--not for me!)

Glucosamine/MSM - AND - Fish oil. The Grizzly salmon winds up with about 980mg of EPA/DHA per pump..and they have recommended volumes so it gives a good guildine if you look at other sources. Those are the important oils as best I can tell and all fish oils are NOT created equal.

I have also added 500mg a day of turmeric based on some good results from a friend and known benefits of curcurmin.

ONCE YOU GET the x-rays and an eval don't baby him. Excercise and a lean muscular physique are good for this condition (IF HIPS). It is very important to build/maintain rear leg muscle mass as much as possible to keep the joint in proper alignment. If it is the back (and it can be) you will need to look at other options.

Water walking (walking in chest high water as opposed to swimming) is great excercise for them. If I had the money I would buy a water treadmill for my dysplastic gal but instead I walk her on asphalt and run her on grass.