Question on Adequan loading dose

[mysweetkaos]

Kaos is about 2.5 weeks into his 4 week loading dose of adequan. We are doing 2 injections per week. We have noticed great improvement in his mobility and general attitude. He is more alert, probably from being off all pain meds, he plays with Sherman (actually more just torments Sherman), he is again running to the door. All in all wonderful changes. Here is my concern. He does great the first couple days after the injection, come around the 3rd day there is more stiffness visible, a little more slowness emerging, etc. At this point shouldn't it be more built up in his system?

Since we only have about 1.5 weeks before he will be expected to go 3-4 weeks between injections, shouldn't he not be showing visible signs of discomfort 3 days after injection?

I will speak to the vet about it, but I will get the standard give it time response. So I would love the experience of anyone who has used it.
Thank you.

[Stosh]

My mom just started this series with her 6 yr old gsd. They're visiting for 3 mos so I'll have a good perspective of its effectiveness. She's into her 3rd week and there's a definite improvement in mobility, energy and alertness as you've observed but it seems as though she has a hard time getting up after laying still for several hours. When she's out playing she's fine but getting up first thing in the morning or last time out at night seems to be a struggle but not painful if that make sense. The vet explained that results would take time, at least 4-6 weeks, but she has had patients that didn't show enough of an improvement to stay on it on a regular basis

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by Stosh

My mom just started this series with her 6 yr old gsd. They're visiting for 3 mos so I'll have a good perspective of its effectiveness. She's into her 3rd week and there's a definite improvement in mobility, energy and alertness as you've observed but it seems as though she has a hard time getting up after laying still for several hours. When she's out playing she's fine but getting up first thing in the morning or last time out at night seems to be a struggle but not painful if that make sense. The vet explained that results would take time, at least 4-6 weeks, but she has had patients that didn't show enough of an improvement to stay on it on a regular basis

Yes it is definetely more pronounced early morning and late evening. He has had great improvement over w/out it no doubt. Before starting this we were preparing to have him put to sleep because with arthritis in both knees everything had become such a struggle. I guess I was just expecting to have a longer time build up. Another factor could also be we have had a bit of a cold streak for here, so that is never good.

[Kayos and Havoc]

My Kayos is on Adequan, she is a month short of 9. She has been on it now for almost a year. As I recall it took the full 4 weeks loading dose before we saw pretty consistent relief. It will vary dog to dog. My old guy Max saw little relief with Adequan. It has been a miracle drug for Kayos.

Do the full 4 weeks and judge then. Even when you go to maintenace doses you will still see improvment for another few weeks. Do not forget the every 3 to 4 week maintenance shots as you won't want to get behind on them. I actually forgot Kayos' November injection and remembered 10 days late (idiot me forgot to mark the calendar). She had enough behind her that it did not bother her but when you are still building up the medication getting behind will affect thier pain level.

Kayos cannot take NSAIDs we discovered that after her hip replacement surgery. So for her it is Adqaun, supplements, and Tramadol as needed.

For supplements I have her on Springtime Advanced Hip and Joint, Ester C, Hyalnuric Acid, Salmon Oil and Vitamin E. All of this helps.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by Kayos and Havoc

My Kayos is on Adequan, she is a month short of 9. She has been on it now for almost a year. As I recall it took the full 4 weeks loading dose before we saw pretty consistent relief. It will vary dog to dog. My old guy Max saw little relief with Adequan. It has been a miracle drug for Kayos.

Do the full 4 weeks and judge then. Even when you go to maintenace doses you will still see improvment for another few weeks. Do not forget the every 3 to 4 week maintenance shots as you won't want to get behind on them. I actually forgot Kayos' November injection and remembered 10 days late (idiot me forgot to mark the calendar). She had enough behind her that it did not bother her but when you are still building up the medication getting behind will affect thier pain level.

Kayos cannot take NSAIDs we discovered that after her hip replacement surgery. So for her it is Adqaun, supplements, and Tramadol as needed.

For supplements I have her on Springtime Advanced Hip and Joint, Ester C, Hyalnuric Acid, Salmon Oil and Vitamin E. All of this helps.

Thank you..that gives me more hope. The vet and I are hesitant to go back to tramadol on an as needed basis, he suggested neurontin (sp). Although not until after the loading dose, he wants him off everything except suppliments (all the same as you mentioned) until after he's *loaded*

[RebelGSD]

Would it hurt to do shots more frequently after the loading dose?

[mysweetkaos]

I'm not sure that would be up to my vet to weigh the pros/cons. They usually cut back to every 4 weeks....sometimes every 3 weeks. I do not know of any drawbacks to doing them more often...so I will have to wait and see what the vet says..

[Kayos and Havoc]

They can be given more frequently, we had Max on it every 3 weeks trying to get better results.

Tramadol is a pretty good medication. Nuerontin or Gabapentin did nothing for Max. But again every dog is different and it may help Kaos. Don't rule out anything to include supplements.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by Kayos and Havoc

They can be given more frequently, we had Max on it every 3 weeks trying to get better results.

Tramadol is a pretty good medication. Nuerontin or Gabapentin did nothing for Max. But again every dog is different and it may help Kaos. Don't rule out anything to include supplements.

We do supplements. Previously we did Rimadyl which made K aggressive, we switched to tramadol which made him a bit foggy and reactive. That is why he said if we need more pain control he would like to try nuerontin. What supplements would you recommend so I can compare what we do and any new ones to try? Thank you!

[Anja1Blue]

Anja just finished her 4 week course. I can't say that I see that much difference (she has arthritis in her right elbow and has a fairly pronounced limp). However I have been told to give it a month before making a final judgment - vet said that when we are around an individual all the time it is sometimes hard to see subtle changes. If at that time she seems worse then I will know that it probably did help, but perhaps not to the level where it was dramatic enough to be completely effective.

My next move, if I decide the Adequan is a bust, will be to try acupuncture - I have had excellent results with this in the past. For discomfort I'm going to try Herbspirin - this was suggested in another thread by, I think, Ruth (BowWowMeow.) I absolutely will not use NSAIDS, for long term conditions. Too hard on the liver and kidneys for my taste, and some dogs are more sensitive than others. (I had a dog go into kidney failure on Etogesic - and it didn't take very much.)

As far as supplements go, Anja has a sensitivity to shellfish - so traditional things we give for arthritis like MSM, Glucosamine etc are out....
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Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge