Poor dog old before her time :( Arthritis

loopy136

Hoping someone has gone through something simular really.
We have a 14 month old german shepherd, we got her when she was 6 months old. Soon after we got her we took her to the vets as we were concerned about a slight limp on her front leg.
The vet wasn't that concerned and said she wouldn't x-ray straight away but would wait till we got her spayed.

So roll on 6 months...

She has been spayed and x-rayed at the same time while she was 'under'. Operation was fine but the x-rays showed alot of arthritis around the elbow point. Vet said possibly from a old injury.

She is a very happy girl and loves playing and catching squirrels, and vet said limited exercise and no chasing, playing or jumping. Not sure how to stop such a young dog playing. Help!!!

So the treatment seems to involve medicines for the short term future, and surgery. He mentioned elbow replacement :eek: which I don't know much about, the vet didn't know an awful lot about it either, or taking the leg off in the end.:eek:

Has anyone been in a simular situation and how did treatments help. Anyone used elbow replacement?? Any info will be gratefully received.

Also if anyone has used any joint supplements or arthritis medication that has worked and where you get it from!

gettingready

Sorry to hear that, such a young dog

1) Is your dog insured? The op is very expensive
2) Have a read here (hips not elbow but.. similar procedure):

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/118528-diary-hip-replacement.html

Moominmamma

Sorry to hear about your dog

Our dog was a lot older when he got arthritis, but we found glucosamine tablets really helped him a lot - I think you can get ones specifically for animals but we just used ones from Holland and Barrat.

Hope there will be a happy outcome for you and your dog

gettingready

http://www.yourdoghealth.com/dog_ester-c_study.htm

http://www.yourdoghealth.com/dog_ester-c.htm



http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Ester-C-1000mg-60-Tablets-_1139878/

krlyr

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. I had a similar problem with my previous GSD, though hers was hip dysplasia. Surgery wasn't an option due to her behavioural issues, though I would definately have gone for it had it been possible. If you can afford it or have insurance to cover it, definately consider it - replacements last about 10 years I think so would be there for her lifetime most likely, so it's one big op for a lifetime of going back to relatively normal activities/exercise.

In regards to stopping her exercising, I would try to switch to activities that exercise her mind more than her body. For example, look into tracking - it's something GSDs are usually fab at, and although it requires some physical movement, the idea is for them to carefully track a scent so it's not running around at full pelt. It's meant to be very stimulating to their minds and good at tiring them out. I do a very basic tracking-related exercise with my GSD, which is to cut food up into tiny squares (cheese, little bits of sausage, etc.) and literally just chuck it all over the lawn. He spends ages sniffing out every little scrap in a very precise manner, he just took to it naturally, so I'm definately going to consider doing more formal tracking training with him.
Clicker training new tricks can help to work their mind too - be careful with some that involve lots of leg movement, but you can do things like teaching eye contact, getting her to stack rings on a pole (those kid toys with the multiple sized rings), to "count" by barking outloud depending on how many fingers you hold up, etc.

This page may be worth a read in regards to treatment options, supplements, diet as a whole, etc.
http://dogaware.com/health/arthritis.html

Sooz00

My girl has a problem with arthritis in her hock joints. She is 7 next months but was diagnosed just after she turned 4. We were devastated as she's a very clever, active girl who was taking agility classes. She was the first dog I'd ever done agility with and was a natural. The trainer always described it as getting a ferrari for your first car!

Anyway, she started limping occasionally, and struggling to get up from her bed. I was never immediately after exercise, but always after resting for an hour or so after. I'm a bit neurotic about my pets and although the vet was sure it was arthritis, he x-rayed to be sure. It confirmed what he'd thought, but as she was only 4, I wanted to find out why, after all, it couldn't be age related. The vet sent the x-rays off to an orthopaedic specialist who came back and said she had OCD and DJD in her hocks. As it can sometimes be remedied by specialist surgery, my vet referred us over for investigations. The orthopaedic specialist did a CT scan but unfortunately found that her OCD was not operable so set in place a management programme. I did ask whether hock replacement was an option should she need it at some point but was told that although they did some various joint replacements, it was not a procedure available for hocks at that time. He went on to say that joint fusion would be an option if her joints deteriorated further but I wasn't keen on that idea. I have since found another specialist who I saw with one of my cats and he can do hock replacements, although that would be a last resort.

At the moment, we manage her condition. On the advice of the specialist we have her on glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and omega 3. For glucosamine, with dogs you need HCI as they absorb that better than glucosamine sulphate. We use seraquin (bought from Animed direct as less than half the price of the vet). She also has omega 3 fish oils (as high a EHA and DPA as we could find) and vitamin E.

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/dogs/healthcare/ageing/seraquin-tablets-for-dogs-2g-x-60.html

http://www.vegavitamins.co.uk/omega3-quality-fish-oil-1000mg-extra-high-strength-prd-39.html

The other things we've had to do is moderate her exercise. She always has a warm up and down before runs. We know to watch for signs like her scraping her paw/claw on the floor lightly rather than properly lifting it (it may look like an accident but for her it means time to warm down or she'll be stiff later). She also has hydrotherapy (specialist said it needed to be twice a week for real benefit). She hated that at first but now loves it and swims in the sea, stream or lake if you throw a ball for her. I also cook a broth from chicken's feet (yucky as I'm a veggie) which is high in collagen. I have to get the chicken's feet from an oriental supermarket as it seems to be the only place I can find them!

The 'management' approach seems to work really well for her at the moment. She still has a very good quality of life and even still does agility classes, though for fun, not to compete. We just make sure it's lower impact by keeping the jumps lower than her normal height and alter the course so to avoid sharp turns. She also doesn't jump up onto the table and instead does her down and stay on a mat on the floor. She still gets stiff on occasions, which is always our fault for missing a sign, but it's only once every couple of months or so and on those occasions we give her anti-inflammatory medication from the vets for a day or so and she is soon back to normal.

I did come across another treatment recently, which is still quite new and maybe something I think about before surgery if my girl becomes worse. A link is below to one of the centres that I found did it.

http://www.dickwhitereferrals.com/latest-news/stem-cell-therapy.aspx

Other options I've not tried yet are acupuncture, physiotherapy or magnetic collars, though I've heard people say all have some benefit. I'm also looking at whether raw feeding would be an option but she's never been a fan of raw meat so I'm still just thinking about that one.

loopy136

Wow such alot of information so thanks alot for posting.

gettingready - She is insured, but only up to £3000, but to be honest I would sell everything I owed if I needed to. She is such an important part of our home and the extended family. Thanks for the link, it's sound a long haul road to go down, and gave a real insight.

Moominmamma- thanks for your post, I have heard of people using holland and barrett before and would help with the costs of medication. Do vets accept 'human' supplements, or should I not mention where I get them from? Another thing I was wondering is.. can you give too much glucosamine as we currently give her Seraquin and we have seen some treats that contain it too...could I use both?

gettingready - Thanks for the links it's definately something to look at, as I hadn't heard of the benefits, so thanks.

krlyr - loving the ideas with exercise/training tips, she is really clever and loves learning so thinks these ideas would be ideal. Really beating myself up with the thought that by letting her 'go mad' on her walks and encouraging to fetch and run about it hasn't helped her at all. Once she has recovered from her spay I will give these a try.

Sooz00 - I know exactly what you mean about being devastated. We were more concerned about the operation and recovery and had almost forgotten about the x-rays so hit us quite hard. The vet has sent the x-rays off to a specialist for a second opinion so hopefully we won't get anymore bad news. I am currently looking into different supplements as I don't think Seraquin is making much of a difference. Not sure about the chicken feet but if i am desperate I know where you are!
Sound like hydrotherapy gets good results so will have to see where they do it near me. Thanks for all you advice.
And lastly all the best for your girl. Hope the supplements keep her condition under control.

Can I add to that my dog 'chases' squirrels and doesn't 'catch' them as typed in my first post, didn't want you to think we lived off 'dogkill'. Unfortunately for her she is never quick enough, a few near misses but thats it.

We have a post op appointment on monday and wil try and remember the questions going round in my head but, i am sure you know, my brain goes blank by the time i get in there. Thanks alot of your replies and hope it may help others in the same boat.

Wellyboots6

I posted quite a bit on the canine hip dysplasia thread as my boy has recently been diagnosed with it.

We are having to manage it as the vet will not operate on him due to various complications.

He is on Seraquin and Carprieve daily, and then once a month is having Cartrophen injections. He is also having hydrotherapy once a week.

I also give him a herbal supplement in his food and he is having joint sticks too. The vet said you can't OD on glucosamine so it should be ok.

So far he seems to be doing OK. The stiffness seems to have disappeared for the time being, although I am having to keep an eye on him as his medication is now reducing and he has started agility classes again.

Hope your pooch is OK, its such a stressful thing to have to manage