Help my dog with arthritis feel better
July 29, 2020 9:40 PM Subscribe
My labrador's arthritis has suddenly gotten much worse. I'd love tips and ideas for how to help her get a little more comfortable.
There are some older questions on this, but I know Dog Medicine is always advancing as are Dog Products and I'd love to get the latest.
About this dog:
- She is probably around 11 years old and according to Embark she's a purebred labrador.
- She has gotten some relief from Galliprant, but recently developed bloody stool from it so we're assuming she needs a (potentially permanent) break from it.
- She has a hard time getting up from lying down and is very stiff for her first few steps.
- Unfortunately our house has a lot of stairs, and stairs are making her very nervous right now. We can make some lifestyle changes to minimize her stair use.
- She is still going for short, slow walks every day.
- She can put on a burst of speed for something exciting (squirrel!) but visibly regrets it later.
- She takes a green-lipped mussel supplement with Taste of the Wild High Prairie grain-free food.
What else can we get her ourselves to help her get more comfortable? What should we ask her vet about? The more specific the product recommendations, the better. Are there other medications we can move to from Galliprant that might be gentler on her digestive system? Has anyone had good luck with CBD for canine osteoarthritis? What is a great bed for an arthritic dog?
There are some older questions on this, but I know Dog Medicine is always advancing as are Dog Products and I'd love to get the latest.
About this dog:
- She is probably around 11 years old and according to Embark she's a purebred labrador.
- She has gotten some relief from Galliprant, but recently developed bloody stool from it so we're assuming she needs a (potentially permanent) break from it.
- She has a hard time getting up from lying down and is very stiff for her first few steps.
- Unfortunately our house has a lot of stairs, and stairs are making her very nervous right now. We can make some lifestyle changes to minimize her stair use.
- She is still going for short, slow walks every day.
- She can put on a burst of speed for something exciting (squirrel!) but visibly regrets it later.
- She takes a green-lipped mussel supplement with Taste of the Wild High Prairie grain-free food.
What else can we get her ourselves to help her get more comfortable? What should we ask her vet about? The more specific the product recommendations, the better. Are there other medications we can move to from Galliprant that might be gentler on her digestive system? Has anyone had good luck with CBD for canine osteoarthritis? What is a great bed for an arthritic dog?
Our dog got some pain relief using Gabapentin, which is not an nsaid, but It was taken along with an nsaid. It was also a little tricky to titrate so she got a little tipsy when the dose was too high.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 10:19 PM on July 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Tandem Affinity at 10:19 PM on July 29, 2020 [2 favorites]
A friend uses doggie CBD for her aging, arthritic yellow lab and says it works really well! Not sure what brand or dosage but a good dispensary should be able to help you.
posted by stellaluna at 10:34 PM on July 29, 2020
posted by stellaluna at 10:34 PM on July 29, 2020
Our old guy took Gabapentin first, then we added tramadol, and later a THC tincture made specifically for dogs. There were some supplements as well; those maybe helped some but the heavier duty pain control was what was critical s he aged.
We were never tried a purely CBD product since the real stuff is legal here and it worked so well.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:57 PM on July 29, 2020
We were never tried a purely CBD product since the real stuff is legal here and it worked so well.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:57 PM on July 29, 2020
Response by poster: Dip Flash, it's legal where I am too. It hadn't occurred to us to try THC for her, though I hesitate because she's already soooo food motivated. (Labrador.) Did your local dispensary have dog-specific products?
posted by potrzebie at 11:26 PM on July 29, 2020
posted by potrzebie at 11:26 PM on July 29, 2020
Ask your vet about hip dysplasia. Labs are quite prone to this painful condition.
posted by Cranberry at 12:25 AM on July 30, 2020
posted by Cranberry at 12:25 AM on July 30, 2020
Our older floof got some relief from Adequan injections. They were subcutaneous, easy to administer at home, no side effects that we noticed.
posted by bunji at 1:22 AM on July 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by bunji at 1:22 AM on July 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Gabapentin, Rimadyl are our first line go-tos for joint pain.
posted by DarlingBri at 3:17 AM on July 30, 2020
posted by DarlingBri at 3:17 AM on July 30, 2020
Our vet recommended glucosamine (I think with chondroitin, but can't be certain... long time ago). Seemed to help
posted by kate4914 at 4:02 AM on July 30, 2020
posted by kate4914 at 4:02 AM on July 30, 2020
I tend to adopt large mature dogs. They almost always come with or develop arthritis;/joint issues. My goto for about twenty years now is Avoderm Joint Health. My latest dog came pre-equipped with arthritis (and Lymes disease, but thats another topic) and after a few weeks eating the avoderm she her mobility increased so much that she started to want to join the joggers who passed by us in the park.
I'm not sure if this poster is referring to me because I know I've posted about Avoderm in the past (I pretty much recommend this food to anyone I meet who has a dog with mobility issues, both in person and online), but can't find any of my comments when I search for it, but this comment echoes the experiences I've had with the food as well.
I can't recommend this food highly enough and you should start to see the effects within a few weeks.
(Also, since I also have very bad arthritic knees, I started taking the main ingredient in the food, which is chicken collagen and it's helped me considerably, here's a comment I posted regarding that).
posted by newpotato at 4:29 AM on July 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure if this poster is referring to me because I know I've posted about Avoderm in the past (I pretty much recommend this food to anyone I meet who has a dog with mobility issues, both in person and online), but can't find any of my comments when I search for it, but this comment echoes the experiences I've had with the food as well.
I can't recommend this food highly enough and you should start to see the effects within a few weeks.
(Also, since I also have very bad arthritic knees, I started taking the main ingredient in the food, which is chicken collagen and it's helped me considerably, here's a comment I posted regarding that).
posted by newpotato at 4:29 AM on July 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Also, regarding CBD and THC, I'm not sure how it translates for dogs, but I've personally used both for relief of my own arthritic knees, always at bedtime when the pain would keep me awake. CBD had little to no effect, however, I've been able to completely replace the four advil I was taking nightly with half a gummy (a full gummy contains 12.5 g THC). It kicks in within 20 minutes, and there is no hangover. The stuff I get doesn't appear to have any type of psychotropic effects, nor does it make me have the munchies or anything, it just seems to relieve the inflammation in my knees or relax me enough to sleep through it.
When I was researching THC and CBD I came across a few different articles that stated that CBD needs a very small amount of THC to be effective. I wasn't doing that when I tried the CBD, so maybe that was the issue?
posted by newpotato at 4:35 AM on July 30, 2020
When I was researching THC and CBD I came across a few different articles that stated that CBD needs a very small amount of THC to be effective. I wasn't doing that when I tried the CBD, so maybe that was the issue?
posted by newpotato at 4:35 AM on July 30, 2020
My vet recommended Dasequin supplements for my 9 year old greyhound. I'm also very interested in trying the Adequan injections, they had a huge positive effect for the horse I knew who got them.
posted by sepviva at 4:38 AM on July 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sepviva at 4:38 AM on July 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
One tablet of Cosequin daily on advice from our vet has helped with our 14-yo lab mix's arthritic hips.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 4:50 AM on July 30, 2020
posted by SuperSquirrel at 4:50 AM on July 30, 2020
This pet CBD preparation seems well researched, unlike most, and seemed to give my lab mix some real relief both pre- and post- amputation (hot sarcoma in her fore leg). I would’ve suggested green-lipped mussels too but I see you’re already feeding that! FWIW I am wary of rimadyl for labradors following both personal and anecdotal experience. Hope your pup feels better!
posted by alexandermatheson at 6:47 AM on July 30, 2020
posted by alexandermatheson at 6:47 AM on July 30, 2020
My GSD has had hip dysplasia since birth, and is in the process of healing from an cruciate ligament tear on his right back leg, which resulted in arthritis developing in that knee.
I do monthly Adequan injections, which are more effective in my experience than oral Dasiquin supplements. It's easy to do at home. He takes Rimadyl and we tried gabapentin but it makes him too wobbly. Also CBD tincture, lots of fish oil and coconut oil, and grain free food. He still has some trouble getting off the floor, bc he wont push up with his right back leg, but everything else has improved a lot.
I'm going to try the green lipped mussel supplements as well, I've heard good things.
Best of luck to you and your sweet pup!
posted by ananci at 7:00 AM on July 30, 2020
I do monthly Adequan injections, which are more effective in my experience than oral Dasiquin supplements. It's easy to do at home. He takes Rimadyl and we tried gabapentin but it makes him too wobbly. Also CBD tincture, lots of fish oil and coconut oil, and grain free food. He still has some trouble getting off the floor, bc he wont push up with his right back leg, but everything else has improved a lot.
I'm going to try the green lipped mussel supplements as well, I've heard good things.
Best of luck to you and your sweet pup!
posted by ananci at 7:00 AM on July 30, 2020
If your vet offers laser treatments, it's worth giving them a try. Our late cat had bad arthritis and she seemed way more active after the treatments than she did after the Adequan we'd been giving her. It's non-invasive--just the animal sitting there while the tech uses a wand with a laser in it to rub the affected area.
I've looked at various online claims of what it's supposed to be doing, which range from mildly plausible to outright woo. I tend to fall on the side of a directed heat treatment myself. It seemed to work for our cat.
posted by telophase at 8:25 AM on July 30, 2020
I've looked at various online claims of what it's supposed to be doing, which range from mildly plausible to outright woo. I tend to fall on the side of a directed heat treatment myself. It seemed to work for our cat.
posted by telophase at 8:25 AM on July 30, 2020
For medications, Rimadyl (or the generic carprofen), gabapentin, and these OTC glucosamine/chondroitin supplements were very helpful for our elderly lab mix. The Rimadyl was practically magical for a few years (she lived to 16).
For a bed, orthopedic foam worked well. Drs. Foster & Smith used to have nice ones about 4-5" thick with a vinyl liner and fabric cover, over $150 for large dog size, but good support and super washable and durable. Unfortunately they've been acquired by Petco and I haven't tracked down their equivalent yet, will keep looking after I post this.
Other things that helped:
posted by superna at 11:13 AM on July 30, 2020
For a bed, orthopedic foam worked well. Drs. Foster & Smith used to have nice ones about 4-5" thick with a vinyl liner and fabric cover, over $150 for large dog size, but good support and super washable and durable. Unfortunately they've been acquired by Petco and I haven't tracked down their equivalent yet, will keep looking after I post this.
Other things that helped:
- Putting down cheap non-slip (rubber backed) machine washable rugs over laminate or tile flooring. Found those at a big box home improvement store.
- Blocking off areas without rugs using pressure fit baby gates for doorways, 2' x 8' plastic lattice zip tied to diy pvc pipe frames for large areas.
- Getting a harness with a handle on the back that was comfy enough for her to wear pretty much 24x7. Made it easier to help her get up and provide extra lift when she was navigating stairs.
posted by superna at 11:13 AM on July 30, 2020
When our sweet senior sheltie developed arthritis and a torn acl she was put on glucosamine chews daily and rimadyl which was eventually replaced with meloxicam* and tramadol for pain. She continued daily walks but slower paced and shorter distance. The walks seemed to help her physically and mentally a lot. Ramps or use a sling on stairs can prevent a huge source of pain. Daily massage helps too. Start off very gently and do it daily or twice daily if possible. Youtube has some helpful videos to get started.
* the meloxicam required frequent bloodwork bc it can cause liver problems which wasn’t a big deal for us as she had other health issues requiring frequent bloodwork but wanted to mention it as it was a quarterly cost for us.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 1:08 PM on July 30, 2020
* the meloxicam required frequent bloodwork bc it can cause liver problems which wasn’t a big deal for us as she had other health issues requiring frequent bloodwork but wanted to mention it as it was a quarterly cost for us.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 1:08 PM on July 30, 2020
Galliprant and Rimadyl are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are great for pain relief but can be hard on the tummy (causing bloody stool, stomach ulcers, etc.). My dog took Meloxicam (another NSAID) for arthritis and back problems, and our vet helped us to carefully adjust the amount given to find the minimum effective dose. We also gave Omeprazole to help protect the tummy. Gabapentin and Tramadol were helpful additions for pain management. CBD didn't really help my pup, but I know people who swear by it. My point is that there are options, and your vet can best guide you as to dosages and safe drug combinations to find what works best for your pet. Good luck!
posted by Boogiechild at 1:17 PM on July 30, 2020
posted by Boogiechild at 1:17 PM on July 30, 2020
Did your local dispensary have dog-specific products?
Yes, though because of the goofy weed laws it is labeled for human consumption, but with clear code words and packaging to make it clear it is for dogs. (The bacon flavoring is really the only thing that made it dog specific, otherwise it is the same as any tincture with both CBD and THC, so I wouldn’t get hung up on pet specific products if those aren’t readily available.)
Dosing is an iterative process, and a little bit goes a long way. Definitely start light and work up drop by drop.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:28 PM on July 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yes, though because of the goofy weed laws it is labeled for human consumption, but with clear code words and packaging to make it clear it is for dogs. (The bacon flavoring is really the only thing that made it dog specific, otherwise it is the same as any tincture with both CBD and THC, so I wouldn’t get hung up on pet specific products if those aren’t readily available.)
Dosing is an iterative process, and a little bit goes a long way. Definitely start light and work up drop by drop.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:28 PM on July 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
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We also bought a ramp (sold for getting in and out of cars) and used it as an alternative for the two steps up and down the back porch. We were concerned that it might need to be anchored but the weight kept it solidly in place and it was fine being left outside 24/7 for the months that we needed it.
If you aren't already using a raised water and food dish, this is a good time to switch.
posted by metahawk at 10:00 PM on July 29, 2020 [1 favorite]