Bad dysplasia, arthritis, pain... need advice

[kellzey]

Our GSD import turned 10 last December.

For the last 3 years or so we've been battling chronic anal fistulas and increasingly worsening arthritis in the back and dysplasia (mostly in the right hip). Two vets have seen him and say he's severe.

He's been on glucosamine/chondroitin supplements for the past 3 years, as well as senior Innova.

His weight is down about 7 lbs from his prime (86 now from 93).

We've tried metacam... tramadol.. and now are trying injectibles.. as well as some prednisone and antibiotics.

He's miserable... He's wimpering a lot (at rest). And looking at me sadly. I know he wants me to fix it... we're trying.

He's now also having some bouts of incontinence (peeing uncontrollably in the kitchen)

Mentally, he's all there and a smart and happy dog (outside of the pain issues).

We're running out of ideas and now I'm battling on whether we should consider putting him down... I hate to see him suffering.

I'm going to ask about Adequan injections as well.

I think he's probably too old for hip surgery...

Any ideas/advice.

[LisaT]

It's possible that the peeing is from the pred, if the timing makes sense to you.

What are you feeding?

What brand glucosamine/chondroitin product are you using?

What are you using to treat the fistulas?

[smerry]

Try adding vitamin C ... in the powdered form. I get it from super suplements. The actual asorbic acid is better than that esther C. My dogs get 500-1000 mg everyday.

I could try to explain why, but I would probably just confuse everyone including myself LOL .. The simplified version is that there are some in the vetrinary comunity that corrolate displasia and human scurvy ... a lack in vita C.

Here are some website to explain WAY better than I could. Notice there have been studies that showed that dogs on vita C and also Prego Bitches on Vita C had a lower number of dysplastic pups regardless of thier hip rating. They also found dysplastic pups on vita C didnt lose thier dysplasia, but did lose a lot of the pain they had....

http://friendlygrove.com/Notes/archives/287

http://www.belfield.com/about.php

http://www.belfield.com/pdfs/Hip_dysplasia.pdf

P.S. All of what Lisa said too ... The vita C was just what came to mind first LOL ....

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted By: Karl ELlzey.......as well as some prednisone and antibiotics.
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He's now also having some bouts of incontinence (peeing uncontrollably in the kitchen)

I'm so sorry you're going through such a hard time.

I really don't have the greatest advice other than just this one thought. When we had our dog Dalton on prednisone he also had bouts of incontinence. In fact, he lost all control of his back end. Our vet said it was due to the prednisone. As soon as we took him off the incontinence went away.

This may not be an option for you.

[BowWowMeow]

I have found Ester C to be far superior to absorbic acid. I use 2000mg/day of Ester C for my dogs with arthritis or other joint problems. You need to work up to that gradually though. For Chama I had her on a double dose of Springtime Longevity and a loading dose of Cetyl M Advanced Joint Support. I also gave her either Willow Bark at night or this product by Only Natural Pet called Get up and Go. When she had additional pain I gave her a combo homeopathic remedy called Arnicalm Arthritis. Grain free food is also important.

[Fodder]

Originally Posted By: smerryThe actual asorbic acid is better than that esther C. My dogs get 500-1000 mg everyday.

smerry - was this found in your personal experience, or did you read it? because i forget where/why, but i was under the same impression, however the results with my dog were the opposite. not only did the asorbic powder cause her an upset stomach... i also did not notice the change that i've seen after switching to the ester-c.

[kellzey]

Incontinece started before the prednisone.

We have been treating the fistulas with Protopic ointment and cyclosporine (But had to recently discontinue the cyclo due to upset stomach, vommiting, and elevated liver levels).

I can ask about the Vitamin C, but not sure how he'll tolerate it due to a sensitive stomach.

We've tried Metcam for a while too, but no help.

[kellzey]

Oh, and thank you.

[smerry]

hmmmm

I have read it/heard it from several breeders out here. what other differences did you see between the two? If it isn't appropriate here, just pm me I am sincerely curious, since I have just gone off of what some others(who I respect) have told me, and not tried ester c.

My friends did say that it was important the the ascorbic asid was chelated ... if that makes a difference from the ascorbic acid you were using. My dogs have never had tummy issues with it. But they have iron stomachs. And I have been using it more as a preventative measure than anything else.

I rescind the comment about ascorbic acid being better than esther C as I have obviously not truely compared the two, I will stick with vita C being good for them though

[LisaT]

Originally Posted By: Karl ELlzeyIncontinece started before the prednisone.

We have been treating the fistulas with Protopic ointment and cyclosporine (But had to recently discontinue the cyclo due to upset stomach, vommiting, and elevated liver levels).

I can ask about the Vitamin C, but not sure how he'll tolerate it due to a sensitive stomach.

We've tried Metcam for a while too, but no help.

I'm guessing that labs have been run to eliminate the possibility of a urinary tract infection?

What are you feeding?