Gail

Just wondered if you gave Neo Glucosamine or Chondroitin? in his food or separately?

Our 2 get Glucosamine in their food for their joints & I'm told by the Vet that I can give them more if needed (using the tabs that humans get from the Pharmacist or Health Food Shop) but would have to check exactly how much more.

Caroline

Caroline, i give him  Glucosamine  treats that i got at my local pet shop, they work out quite expensive so now that i know for sure it's arthritus i will look into tablets from the health food shop and ask my vet if they are ok for him and the amounts to give.

I have tried to change his food recently to one with Glucosamine in it but it did not agree with him at all, even though i introduced it gradually, so i now have him back on the original food he was on when i got him and Sally is happily on the more expensive one!!

I used to give him Cod Liver Oil every day teresa and it might just have been coincidence but he seemed to get very hyper and that was the only thing i had changed in his diet so i now give him it about 3 times a week and he gets olive oil for his coat on the days in between and seems fineHe gets tinned tomatoes at least once a week as well because i heard they are supposed to help the joints too.

think it will just be trial and error to find something that helps!!

Both our two have arthritis, though Pearly is pretty much fine with it - she just limps if she's done a lot of off-lead running around so we have to be careful about that. Harry is a lot worse. His front right leg is pretty badly afflicted, and his wrist joint is very noticeably larger than his left. The vet reckons it's courtesy of an injury that wasn't allowed to heal properly whilst Harry was racing (don't get me started! ) - certainly, xrays show how badly the joint has calcified to try to protect itself and his wrist doesn't bend back like it should.

We manage and treat Harry with a combination of (1) glucosamine supplements, (2) diet, (3) pain medication when he needs it and (4) careful exercise.

(1) His supplements are called Seraquin, and we get them from the vet - our insurance company picks up the tab because the vet says that they're necessary to his treatment (they're classed as neutraceuticals, to give them the fancy name!). He started on 2 tablets each day for about 2 months to 'load up' his system but now he just gets one with his dinner. We really noticed an improvement in his stiffness and limping once the glucosamine was in his system.

(2) Re diet, we feed Arden Grange, but just because he stopped eating his previous food, not specifically because of the glucosamine in it. But we monitor his weight carefully and if he looks like he's getting pudgy then we cut back gradually and watch the treats he gets to be sure that he's not carrying excess bulk and stressing his joints unnecessarily. We also feed him sardines in sunflower oil about 3 times per week.

(3) For pain, we give him Rimadyl if we see him limping or notice a deterioriation in his stiffness. Harry is such a patient, accepting and stoic boy that he rarely whines or cries if he gets hurt so we have to watch out for this. Rimadyl is good for easing pain quickly, but we understand from the vet and from owners of other greys that Metacam is better for longer-term use.

(4) Re exercise, Harry is mainly exercised on-lead. He gets about an hour and a half of exercise spread out over 3 sessions each working day, a bit more at the weekends if we're out and about. That's plenty for him, he's perfectly healthy and we think he looks good on it. He's allowed off-lead at the very most about once per week and most definitely not for prolonged periods of racing round like a daftie. And if the surface is too hard (eg, if the ground is frozen) then he's not allowed off at all because the stress is too much for his joint - he once ran from one side of the field to the other on hard ground and once he was done he was immediately holding up his leg. I felt really bad about that and so I aint doing it to him again.

To be frank, I think it's bloody criminal what's happened to Harry and his joint. The boy is only 4 years old and he'll have this for the rest of his life cos of someone's greed forcing him to race whilst he was injured. I could go on (and on, and on!!) but I'm sure you all know full well how I must feel and I'll wager you most likely share similar thoughts.

Gail, good luck with helping Neo. Harry is pretty bad for such a young lad, but it honestly doesn't trouble him too much provided that we stick to his regime. It's absolutely no hassle at all for him or us and Harry is a very happy and healthy boy.

Let us know how you and your lovely boy get on.

Fiona

Thanks Fiona, loads of helpful info there.

Neo goes back to the vet in two weeks so will let you know what the outcome of that visit is and wether they are looking at long term pain relief but in the meantime i have a few ideas to try.

thanks everyone

Gail, sorry to hear Neo has arthritis.  No doubt you'll find something that will help him through others advice.  Hugs to Neo

Hi Lita, i hope the damage to her cartilage doesn't prove to be long term, please give her a hug from us

I started Neo on Glucosamine last week, i'm giving him the higher dose just now and planning on cutting down to just a maintenance dose eventually. It's a bit early to say whether he is getting any benefit from it but i'm sure it will help. he was back at the vet yesterday and he has doubled his dose of painkillers and they are admitting him next wednesday for a full set of joint x-rays and blood tests, but the vet highly recommended giving these supplements so it certainly won't do any harm with Tyler.

keep us posted with her progress.x

 

Our Suzie has arthritis in her right front 'wrist'.  Because of that all the dogs are fed Arden Grange - the supplements it contains have already been mentioned.  Suzie also gets sardines regularly, and a daily dose of Metacam in her dinner.  We only started the Metacam last winter as her limp got worse when the colder, damper weather was coming in.  During the warmer, summer weather I managed to reduced her dose.

Other things which may help are: a magnetic collar - I tried this for Suzie - it didn't help her, but I know some people have had a lot of success with it; or a collar containing copper which I also intend to try soon.

With the aid of Metacam and supplements Suzie enjoys her walks and running around the garden.  Hopefully Neo will enjoy the same improvement.

All the best with Neo, hope things start to improve for him. Cannot give any more advice than given. Just such a tragedy that this happens to such young dogs through over racing either with injuries or lack of attention, it is shocking you would think that if these dogs are so important to trainers that they would take more care of them it just seems to begger belief  Nora

I'd trust your instinct Gail.  As long as you can see their last two or three ribs then he is the correct weight for his size.  i think i read somewhere if you find out what their racing weight was and then add 3kgs and that is their ideal retirement weight.  Hope he improves on his metacam - my parents dog was on it for years and really helped him.

Debbie

Gail,

       I am sorry to hear about your lovely, handsome boy. I am sure that given time the pain relief and Fiona's  excellent suggestions will help. I myself am just pleased to hear that the x-rays confirmed arthritis as I thought Tiger had this and it turned out to be the dreaded bone cancer! Please try to keep your chin up arthritis has a number of different treatments that the vet can try -one kind may not work well and another may change his life for the better and as I have learned on here the others are usually a hive of useful remedies to try out too.

Hugs to you both Em and Chad xx