Arthritis

Health topics and issues with Chow Chows.

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Boo Daddy
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Arthritis

Post by Boo Daddy »

I'm new here and am so glad I've found this site. I'm going to go ahead and ask my question, een though I'm fairly certain the answers have been posted on here elsewhere (hopefully).

I have a very old chow chow. He was a rescue, so I have no idea what his true age is. He is the sweetest, most incredible dog I've ever known. I've loved every moment of my life with him and I want so to keep him happy and healthy for as long as possible.

A few years ago, we noticed he was having trouble with arthritis. Our vet prescribed shots. It was anequine/adequine (something like that). I never really noticed an improvement, but ever 6 weeks (or whatever it was) we took him in for hi next shot...and then he had a stroke. He recovered and later had a second stroke. We also noticed strange spasms--like one time he was laying there looking at me and his back legs started flopping like a fish on land -- and he seemed not to notice. WEIRD. He had a third really bad stroke--so bad we almost put him down, but he came around. And between all of those strokes (this was over months), we were taking him for his injections. Clearly there was a problem and we stopped the anequine.

He didn't have any more strokes or weird spasms after that for a long while (he's had some storkes lately though--but pulled through). The next thing the vet had us try was Metacam (??)---but he wouldn't eat while on the stuff.So, that was out. Both of our vets said there was nothing else we could give him. One vet recently gave him a check up and said his heart was really strong. He had blood work done last week and we were told tht his white and red cell blood count is fine, his liver and kidney functions are normal and he's not diabetic. He's just OLD and arthritic. A new vet (the one who did the blood work) suggested either Deramaxx or Rimadyl . I looked up both---yikes! Deramaxx is linked to heart attack / strokes (just what Boo doesn't need more of. Rimadyl has had numerous complaints lodged against it---and lots of deaths suspected as a result of using it. NO WAY will i give that to my Boo.

But that's where I'm at a loss. My poor boyt lives for his walks---and now, he can't go more than 2 or three steps with out having to rest. Is there any ione who can help me? What is SAFE for a chow chow to take? i live in California---so we may not have all medications that are available throughout the world.

Thank you so much.

Shawn
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Sirchow
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Sirchow »

Hi Shawn and welcome. I am sorry for all the problems that you have had with your old boy. Bramble has had leg problems of a different sort and could not tollerate any of the vet meds - Metacam, Rimadyl etc so this is the mix she is on.

Pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine Hcl, Hyaluronic Acid, MSM, Chondroitin Sulphate, and Shark Cartilage.
Hyaluronic Acid helps support joint hydration and lubrication, protects cartilage from abrasion and increases it elasticity and ability to absorb mechanical compression. Glucosamine plays a role in the maintenance of cartilage and connective tissues in the joints whilst MSM stablises the connective tissue matrix of cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Chondroitin helps to draw fluid into cartilage, which makes it more "elastic." Shark cartilage is a rich source of chondroitin and glycoaminoglycans (glucosamine-like compounds), both of which have been described as natural anti-inflammatory agents.

She is also on fish oil which is an anti-inflammatory and a human probiotic which stops her stomache getting upset from the mix. She does really well on this and as it is a three a day capsule I can vary the ammount if I need to. These are all human meds not dog as they tend to be cheaper.

The Hyaluronic mix comes from this company http://www.discountvitaminsandherbs.com ... l&pid=3476 but might be available from th US too. I know everyone has their favourite brand so perhaps a US member will make other suggestions. Watch out for brands with MSG (monosodiumglutamate) as it can cause fits. And also watch for yeast as a flavouring can cause skin alergies and hot spots.
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summer_rose03
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Re: Arthritis

Post by summer_rose03 »

My old Chow mix, Frisco, was on Glucosamine Chondrition tablets with MSM (from WalMart or Target). Those take a few weeks to build up in their system, but then you will start noticing a difference. He was also on Previcox, a pain blocker, daily. You could always tell he felt better after taking one. They work quickly too. I always recommend people talking to their vet about this medicine, as I have heard the awful risks with Rimadyl. Previcox has a lower risk of side effects then other dog pain meds.
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Boo Daddy
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Boo Daddy »

SirChow and SummerRose,

Thank you very much for the responses. Boo means everything to me and I hate to see him hurt so much. A lot of dog owners would put their dogs down at Boo's advanced age, but I know he is not ready. He still tries to do his walks (and believe me, it's HIM wanting to go--not me. I'd rather sit on my butt! Ha!) most nights even though we don't get very far. It's heart breaking and I know he must be in terrible pain/depressed.

I can run out and buy the Hyaluronic Acid 120 Complex at a health food store or drug store, perhaps. Thank you. The Glucosamine Chondrition tablets with MSM are also an option. I'm a little leary about trying Previcox after reading this: http://www.k911.biz/Petsafety/DeathByPr ... cation.htm

After our experieinces with anequin (sp?) and metcam and Boo's reaction to them, I'm very afraid of doing him more damage. While a pain blocker sounds like a good idea, I just am scared of how his body chemistry would react.

My biggest concern now is HOW did you get your dogs to take the pills/tablets/capsules? Getting anything down Boo had always been a chore. He finds it (sniffs it out) in food and won't eat. Getting it down his throat forcefully is a full-on fight, almost. He has every reason to be suspicious of medicine, i guess, after the disaster that was aniquin.

Anyway, THANK YOU both for your help. I'm open to more ideas if anyone has any. Boo is too precious to let suffer like this. THANK YOU!
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TJordan
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Re: Arthritis

Post by TJordan »

Shawn,I am not sure that what I am going to recommend is strong enough but if you stick with a loading dose it might be. It is a human grade Glucosamine with about 1250 mg glucosamine. It is called Syn-flex. I have my Butters on it and he has had hip displaysia and surgery. It seems to be working well so far and he seems to be responding to it. At least it is something else for you to compare.
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summer_rose03
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Re: Arthritis

Post by summer_rose03 »

Wow, I had never read anything like that about Previcox before. Frisco was on it for a good 2 years or more for arthritis and Hip Dysplacia. He never had any problems and actually felt better on it, but I guess we were lucky. He died of an enlarged heart and fluid in the lungs at the age of 13.5 years. I am starting to wonder if maybe the medicine could have contributed to the enlarged heart? There is no mention of it causing that in the article though.
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Boo Daddy
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Boo Daddy »

I'm sure Frisco's problems were not related to the Previcox. It's just that, with Boo's history, I do NOT want to take any chances. He seems to not be able to handle medication well. I'm hoping the glucosamine, MSM chondroitin, etc. will be enough to help him. THANKS!
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Boo Daddy
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Boo Daddy »

Hi TJordan and Butters! Thank you for your recommendation. I just got in from buying some other suppliments...but I will look for the syn-flex when next I'm out. THANK YOU!
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kingalls
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Re: Arthritis

Post by kingalls »

Hi Shawn,
Boo is very handsome! I hope what others have suggested will help with his arthritis. As for:
My biggest concern now is HOW did you get your dogs to take the pills/tablets/capsules? Getting anything down Boo had always been a chore. He finds it (sniffs it out) in food and won't eat. Getting it down his throat forcefully is a full-on fight, almost. He has every reason to be suspicious of medicine, i guess, after the disaster that was aniquin. - my Shiloh has the "nose" and can smell a pill like she can smell a rat #-o . What works for me is grinding the pill into powder and then bury it deep into raw hamburger, liverwurst, or cheese. I usually give her a couple of pieces without the meds then sneak in one with a powdered pill, followed by one that is not.
Karen, Kohana, Takoda, and our Chow Angels Nahkohe and Shiloh
Boo Daddy
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Boo Daddy »

I've tried the powder bit as well. I may have to go that route. Hmmm...

By the way, i LOVED the video about your chow chows.

CHEERS and THANK YOU!
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kingalls
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Re: Arthritis

Post by kingalls »

Boo Daddy wrote: By the way, i LOVED the video about your chow chows.

CHEERS and THANK YOU!
thank you...I love my Chow Chows so much
Karen, Kohana, Takoda, and our Chow Angels Nahkohe and Shiloh
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Sirchow
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Sirchow »

You could also try looking at this http://www.vaxaminek-9.com/welcome.php I have never used it but many of the people who use the Yahoo group site I belong to for Brambles leg treatment use it and swear by it.
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Mika&Suki
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Mika&Suki »

My friends chow has just been diagnosed with arthritis at the tender age of 18 months old. He was on rimadyl but she obviously did not want to keep him on that long term because of the terrible side effects. He is now on devils claw (which is a natural pain killer), glucosamine and fish oil capsules. He is doing so much better and it's now hard to tell that there's anything wrong with him.

I give my chows various pills every morning and I stick them into cheese triangles! They love them, and as neither of mine seem to want to chew the cheese (they just swallow it whole :roll: !!), they don't notice that their pills are in it! :D
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phyllisa
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Re: Arthritis

Post by phyllisa »

I have psoriatic arthritis and take prednisolone. What are the long term effects of taking prednisolone? I am slightly concerned about long term use of the drug prednisolone, prescribed for arthritis. Also how my condition may develop in future. I have psoriatic arthritis.
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Re: Arthritis

Post by willowchow »

You could try using whipped cream cheese to put the pill in.
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onthemove
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Re: Arthritis

Post by onthemove »

My poor Zeus suffered terribly from arthritis the last year of his life. He was 14 and also had a heart condition which did not allow him to take most of the arthritis meds for dogs. He was on aspirin for a while along with some of the supplements already mentioned. When that would not hold his pain anymore, he was put on tramadol, and finally prednisone. As always, of course, talk to your vet about starting any new medications, including over the counter supplements.

We used one slice of american cheese and folded his pills in the middle of it. He never had a problem taking his pills once we started that. In fact, he would not let us forget his pills. He would come looking for them and start bugging us til we gave them to him.
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Re: Arthritis

Post by Red Dragon »

I've given Deramaxx and know of others that have given it, it has not been a problem with the Chows I have seen on it.

Don't bother getting started with Synovi G3, the USDA shut down production, and they may not be allowed to produce anymore.
Sam

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Re: Arthritis

Post by marline »

We had a terribly cold winter, and because of that I gave my Luna Remadyl, on prescription from the vet, not realising the side affects. That and die cortisone treatment she received caused liver cancer. She was 10 in April. For Pain she gets mobiflex with all her other pills prescribed by the specialists. I Grind the pills up, mix it with the mobiflex (it is in powder form) with wipped cream and coach het to eat that. Sometimes its not so easy as she is very stubborn, but if I put it on my finger she licks it up.
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Re: Arthritis

Post by nickierbecca »

Informative thread for me, I had got much helpful information about Chow Chow's arthritis.
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