Arthritis

[Punkygirl0101]

Elliot has severe arthritis which he first showed signs of
A couple months ago. On his bad days he can barely move and sometimes puts his back legs together and hops. He still tries to be active, but cant really do much anymore. Hes on antisteroids, and pain meds and its helped a little but not too much. Hes also on glucosamine and chondrotin supplements.

Do you think in the summer hydrotherapy would help? Has anyone done hydroyherapy with their dogs?

My mom is also considering finding someone who does accupuncture on animals, since she has RA and accupuncture has helped her own pain.

Any thoughts or opinions?

 

[AGonzalez]

anti-steroids? Do you mean NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), I have RA and take Feldene, which also have applications with animals and has been used in dogs, it's kind of a combination anti-inflammatory/pain medication (absolutely cannot be taken with aspirin or ibuprofen).

But, when they thought it was osteo-arthritis, we did hydrotherapy, and I had physical therapy 3x a week. It might work for your dog, all it seemed to do was inflame mine and make me completely miserable instead of only mildly miserable - lol. So that's something to think about, whether or not it may make it worse for him. Achy joints are definitely no fun at all.

 

[Barb04]

My friend's dog had accupuncture which did seem to help some. I think the hydrotherapy would be something good to look into as exercising for people with arthritis since it isn't hard on the joints is recommended.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Yes I meant that, Zubrin being the brand which they also gave for Jannah and Reese when they were unable to use their back legs.

 

[Dr.Marie]

A canine chiropractor can often help as well!

 

[sammgirl]

My mentor's bitch special has some kind of back problem and I know that when she went down in the rear, they sent her off to some facility down south that did acupuncture and some type of swimming treatment and when the dog came back it was like a new animal.