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dog with arthritis

OrganichuOrganichu poopspeesRegistered User regular
edited October 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
my dog is 12. she is not small. also, she has arthritis and occasionally limps (it's worse when we're 'having weather').

my question is: do i allow her to run? if i walk her, and i start really moving, she runs. she seems to like it. is it healthier to allow her to work it out like that, or is she too dumb to know it's bad for her and i shouldn't allow her to run?

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Posts

  • ArchArch Neat-o, mosquito! Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Don't let her run too much, but a light run shouldn't be too bad.

    Also yes she is a bit too "dumb" to realize it is bad for her

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  • dispatch.odispatch.o Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Organichu wrote: »
    my dog is 12. she is not small. also, she has arthritis and occasionally limps (it's worse when we're 'having weather').

    my question is: do i allow her to run? if i walk her, and i start really moving, she runs. she seems to like it. is it healthier to allow her to work it out like that, or is she too dumb to know it's bad for her and i shouldn't allow her to run?

    What breed?

    dispatch.o on
  • OrganichuOrganichu poops peesRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    she is a mutt, i know she is at least part german shepherd. she is all tan with shorter fur than most shepherds i've seen.

    Organichu on
  • OrganichuOrganichu poops peesRegistered User regular
    edited October 2010
    she looks basically like this but much bigger

    2h5jz8j.jpg

    Organichu on
  • dispatch.odispatch.o Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Organichu wrote: »
    she looks basically like this but much bigger

    I had good results on my dog who lived to 16 using Glucosamine / Chondroitin and suffered pretty badly from arthritis for the last 4-5 years. It wasn't like she was a puppy again but she did awesome so far as mobility during walks and stuff.

    I'd talk to a vet and ask them about it, perhaps get information on dosage.

    dispatch.o on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    As long as you're not running on the road or other hard surfaces, it's actually pretty beneficial. If it's analogous to arthritis in humans, anyways, which I'm sure it is. It can actually lessen the pain. So while she may be a dumb mutt (joking) it's probably very good for her to be running when she's able. Keep it on dirt trails and grass though, or else it may actually hurt her. And don't do it like you're preparing her for a triathlon.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • FantasmaFantasma Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    If you have not being treating the dog with medication, you should start when it is not too late, the illness will progress if untreated.

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  • KistraKistra Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Let her run if she is choosing to run with no other stimulus. Exercise is good for her even with arthritis.

    However, a lot of dogs will do things like play fetch to the point of injury, some will even do it playing with other dogs, so watch that sort of stuff.

    Kistra on
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  • NargorothRiPNargorothRiP Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    my beagle suffered from pretty terrible arthritus after he turned 21. My step father was on celebrex for arthritus which seemed to help the dog. shrug not trolling just an idea.

    NargorothRiP on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Yeah I'd recommend not giving human meds to a dog. That has all sorts of bad consequences.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • yonp11yonp11 Registered User new member
    edited October 2010
    My 5 year old sheltie injured his front leg jumping off the bed, and he was walking with a limp for about a month before the vet recommended Glycoflex, its a glucosamine supplement. He progressively got better and after a while, no more limp! I'm pretty sure it was the supplement, and I continue to give him the maintenance dose since he seems to be alot more active since he's been on it. It's pretty expensive though, if cost is a factor for you. Ask your veterinarian if a supplement would help your dog and his arthritis.

    yonp11 on
  • Dark_SideDark_Side Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    bowen wrote: »
    Yeah I'd recommend not giving human meds to a dog. That has all sorts of bad consequences.

    Not necessarily, a lot of human medication has a close analog in dog medication, if not the exact same medication sometimes. BUT! Don't ever do it without a vet visit first, as they can tell you what's safe and what's not.

    Just watch your dog on walks and stuff, you'll know if she's hurting herself if she gets gimped up real bad after walks, but I doubt a bit of light running on a walk is a big deal. You do have to watch though, as dog's will invariably hurt themselves to the point of real injury and then keep going. My dog once tweaked his back so bad he lost control of his back feet, yet he was so exited he just tried to keep running around sniffing stuff with his rear feat folding under him.

    Dark_Side on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Of course, but just like with humans, you shouldn't self medicate with someone else's prescription.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • dasZombie42dasZombie42 Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    dispatch.o wrote: »
    Organichu wrote: »
    she looks basically like this but much bigger

    I had good results on my dog who lived to 16 using Glucosamine / Chondroitin and suffered pretty badly from arthritis for the last 4-5 years. It wasn't like she was a puppy again but she did awesome so far as mobility during walks and stuff.

    I'd talk to a vet and ask them about it, perhaps get information on dosage.

    I give my dog glucosamine pills too and it has helped her a lot.

    dasZombie42 on
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  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Stairs and jumping up onto/off of furniture are to be avoided at all costs.

    Darkewolfe on
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  • SkeithSkeith Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    One more for the glucosamine. My mother started her dog (10 year old pit) on it a couple of weeks ago, and was told it would take something like a month for the effects to be noticeable, so we're crossing our fingers.

    Skeith on
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  • NailbunnyPDNailbunnyPD Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    We do Dogswell Happy Hips food with Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Also, Zuke's Hip Action treats.

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  • KistraKistra Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Penn has a clinical trial currently running on arthritis in dogs. Might be something to look into if you are considering trying out drugs:

    http://research.vet.upenn.edu/ClinicalStudies/tabid/4515/Default.aspx

    Kistra on
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  • ihmmyihmmy Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    NailbunnyPD wrote: »
    We do Dogswell Happy Hips food with Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Also, Zuke's Hip Action treats.

    lubs to the Zukes brand stuff... my dog *loves* them, especially when she was getting one or two a day after her double knee surgery

    ihmmy on
  • TrillianTrillian Registered User regular
    edited October 2010
    Glucosamine has been found again and again to be no better than a placebo.
    Go to the vet and get some meloxicam. If you start now it can prevent worse damage down the road.
    If she's big enough see if you can get the human pill form which is pennies on the dollar.

    Trillian on

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  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited October 2010
    NargorothRiP wrote: »
    my beagle suffered from pretty terrible arthritus after he turned 21. My step father was on celebrex for arthritus which seemed to help the dog. shrug not trolling just an idea.

    This is basically bad advice. Human medication including but not limited to prescription drugs should never be given to a pet without an OK from a veterinarian. Even OTC drugs can be extremely dangerous to a pet; it's not always because they are poisonous, but sometimes because a dosage meant for a person that weighs 100-200+lbs can be toxic to a dog that weighs 50lbs or less.

    Always, always consult a professional before giving your pet medication of any kind.

    ceres on
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