Please tell me I am not oblivious to pain and suffering

[jocoyn]

I took Cyra in for her requisite rabies shot and a senior blood screening panel.

Cyra has severe HD but does very well. I did not go in asking for help with the HD just mentioned that she has bad hips diagnosed in 2006 but has been doing well.

This is her chasing a ball in October

Cyra was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia 2006 - YouTube

Cyra was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia 2006 - YouTube

She gets glucsamine/MSM, turmeric and fish oil. The vet

(1) Really tried to sell me on Hills J/D diet which I looked at, figured out that 2/3 of the Omega 3 oils are Flaxseed and I am already giving a comparable amount of Omega 3s in the salmon oil she gets (about 2500mg a day of combined DHA and EPA).....I am not sure I really want to exceed that......given its impact on blood clotting. I am not sure the ALA in flaxseed is metabolized very well by dogs. The diet is a horrible combination of corn and by products etc..

(2)Daisigqun vs. Human Grade Glucosamine/MSM - Once again, why? I would like more insight on the dose and am open to Adequan injections but not sure when to start how much etc......and how much benefit. I think if i was going to change anything it may be more research into the benefits of this.

(3)NSAIDS-You know even at 9 I am not sure I want to start that unless she has a rough go and then only use them if she is limping, or not her wild and crazy self. Right now she bursts out of the door in the morning and spins in circles until I throw the ball, She plays. She is full of life. I know dogs mask pain but she sure seems awful happy. And NSAIDS reduce healing don't they?

So what has changed - the main change I *have* noticed is an increase in muscle mass over shoulders and a decrease in rear legs. Insights on if there is anything I can do about that? I let her chase balls, and am going to up walking in the neighborhood where we have hills. of course what goes up must go down. Even wonder if treadmill on an incline may be good. (dont have one yet)...........I am not out to do wonder miracles with the dog, just to give her a good life for how long it can be good.....and if it gets bad, let her go when it does.........

Oh the vet did check her for reflexes and knucling on the back - no nerve issues back there.

[mysweetkaos]

K's front end also has much increased muscle mass as his back declines. We have noticed good changes with adequan....I do them at home. He was obviously very affected with bilateral knee arthritis by the time we started....and I do wish we would've started sooner.

[msvette2u]

We have two Dachshunds with spine issues, one with a back leg that has an inoperable grade four luxating patella.
Both have extremely muscular front ends, their shoulders are very bulky/buff, and their back ends are lacking in muscle. The girl with the patella issue has musculature on her good back leg but the back one has half that size of muscle.
It just means they are leaning forward and using the front end more, I would not worry about it too much really. In your case, your dog is taking the weight off her painful back end, in our case, the dogs can't physically use their back ends the way "normal" dogs can.

[onyx'girl]

Sounds like you are doing very well with her maintenance, and keeping her moving. I would give EsterC along with the other supplements.
What is the dosage of turmeric you give?

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

She's speedy! Wow! Yeah, you're doing really well with her - no doubts about that!

1. No idea - I don't think they have the time we have to research the different foods, diets, supplements so go to conferences and get this info. My vets don't really I am guessing - they work at least 12 hour days. I think for them, for a lot of clients who are not going to take the time to do the chemical analysis which are probably more than are, if they can get them to get something into the dog, it's better than nothing. Do I think the food is not...good, yes. and I think it was Hill's that is being dinged BIG TIME by the FDA - I will go back and look and if so, you can take that back in with you. http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/Enforcement.../ucm281270.htm is that the food?

2. Dasuquin is a Nutramax product and they do see how the ingredients are metabolized in the dog. I think it is a gold standard product. Springtime products are nice too - and now have Bosweillia.

3. For me, NSAIDs are...my dog is almost incapacitated, or so old that...its okay to give them a shot. Not for day to day discomfort. I would rather give a little pred for a bit if there was some acute pain...and definitely would give Tramadol before either.

Swimming, underwater treadmill would help a lot - if I win the lottery I am buying one of those! Adequan is great. There are other supplements including things like hyaluronic acid and cetyl m...yrestolate...not even close with the spelling on that one! I was just cleaning out supplements today and found the CM, if you feel like getting nutty.

Oh - there is a great series of pain mgmt articles here: http://www.caberfeidh.com/HHC.htm bottom
and most universities have a pain mgmt service now like: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/pain/management.htm

[onyx'girl]

I would love to invest in a place that catered to water therapy/sportwork dogs. We don't have one local around here, I bet it would be a goldmine! I should start playing the lottery

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

SERIOUSLY.

I know of a guy that has one for his horses, at their home/stable. Yep. He has his own personal lottery.

[arycrest]

Mac, 11, has never been x-rayed for HD, but is currently on Dasuquin and doing very well on it. Someone gave me some Cetel-M and he's taking that too.

[jocoyn]

Thanks for the insights --- I am going to do some more research -- I do think she honestly is doing well.

The warning letter is a gem indeed to take to the vet. I was glad about my skepticism when I read the ingredients and saw the darned stuff was mainly corn and flaxseed. Honestly I have heard some real concerns about ALA vs EPA and DHA.

I will do some more looking at the links and the other products. Grim has "normal" spondylosis (he is 8.5) and Beau, the new puppy, I want to get off to a good start for joint health! (he already gets glucosamine with the vets blessing)

I know one of the issues with glucosamine in general is it really is not treated as a drug so levels and efficacy are iffy so getting a good product is, in fact, important. I will look into those mentioned and even Daisiquin if it is worth more. ....... And the springtime I have heard about elsewhere.

What is Cetel M?

--------------

Ok it looks like "Healthy Mobility" is the over the counter version of the prescription "J/D" diet with less Omega 3 fatty acids in it. Pretty similar formulation. Cheap garbage with an expensive label! I will have to dig further about J/D

[Good_Karma]

How about massage or acupuncture?