My German Shepherd Dog suffers with Arithritus, can anyone give me advice of how I can help her get better?

Answer 1

We specialize in older unwanted animals at our shelter (hence the name) and have learned to deal with arthritis and other ailments, especially with the big dogs.

Do not give the animal human pain pills. They are totally different chemical compounds and do not react the same. We give our old ones baby aspirin. Find the uncoated kind. We also give them senior canine vitamins, and the glucosamine/chondroitin mix. The last one is available everywhere and way too expensive in most cases. Shop around. It DOES help.

Large dogs frequently have inherited hip problems or from being overfed by loving owners. A lot of how you treat her will depend on her age. Arthritis doesn't get better.

No matter what her age, make her comfortable. Get the best pet bed you can afford. Check it out yourself. How much cushioning does it have? And don't get the super-soft ones, because a dog with bad hips will have a hard time getting on and off it. We don't get the heated ones, either, the dogs don't seem to like it.

Make sure she doesn't have steps to go up and down. This will make her condition worsen. People advocate exercise, but don't abuse her condition. We have a swimming area for our dogs, and they love it! It takes all the pressure off those old hips, plus they get exercise without risk of snapping a bone.

Make sure her pet bowls are on stands and easy to reach, not on the floor.

If you take her places, get a decent ramp. We couldn't find one for large dogs that didn't have a reasonable incline, so we had someone make longer, easier ramps for the dogs (heavier for us, but oh well :-)

IF this dog is young, your vet can recommend something mild for the pain. You don't want her thinking she's okay, and then hurt herself from playing too hard. With mild assistance, you two can enjoy each other's company for a long time without overmedicating the dog.

If this dog is old, ask for a decent pain medication. They will recommend the aspirins, and at this point, go to adult aspirin, one twice a day. It will not matter. Her comfort is critical. No matter what you do, she will still have bad days which will break your heart. That's age, and there's nothing you can do about it except console her and let her know you love her.

Do not UNDER estimate how much your attention means to her all the time. We have had severely depressed dogs rally when our volunteers spent time with them, simply sitting beside them and talking to them. Your healing touch and voice WILL make a difference, especially on her bad days.

Hope this helps, and bless you for taking care of her. Most of our animals were "throw-aways" when their medical conditions began to cost their owners too much money or inconvenience. There's nothing more heart-breaking than a half-blind crippled 12 year old dog left at the gate by its lifelong owner. Good luck to you and your "girl."

Answer 2

I once had the pleasure of living with a German Sheperd. He had arthritic pain in his hind legs from birth. I am not sure if your question is a reference to her hind legs though.

My dog had a hip operation at a early age, which was supposed to ease the pain. Unfortunately, it did not seem to be effective as he always sqweaked for pain when standing up or turning over.

Eventually, after he reached 14 yrs, he could not walk at all and I had to make a decision then. There was no medical solution. I was informed that this type of hind leg problem is often genetic in German Shepherd breed of dog.

My problem occured some years ago, maybe practices have changed now and maybe there is something positive that can be done for your pet.
good luck

Answer 3

There is no cure for arthritis, but you can help her feel better.

Make sure she is eating at least a good quality diet. You might consider a diet specifically made for dogs with arthritis like Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Joint Mobility, or Hills Prescription Diet j/d.

Give glucosamine supplements made by a quality company. I like Cosequin, GLycoflex, and have heard good things about Flexicose.

Make sure your dog stays at a healthy weight, usually thinner than what most pet owners think is healthy. By reducing the amount of weight she had to lug around, you can reduce the stress on her joints.

Your vet may prescribe a pain medication to help with her pain. I would suggest only using them for a short time if needed, or, if she needs them long term, make sure you have the vet run labwork to check her liver enzymes at least every 6 months since these drugs can cause liver problems over time.

Depending on where the arthritis is, a veterinary chiropractor may be able to help keep her comfortable with semi-regular adjustments.

Answer 4

I have been around shepherds all my life. They are by far excellent dogs. At the moment, we have a 5 month old German Shepherd. She is one of the sweetest things ever! I grew up with a German Shepherd named Captain. I was just a baby when my parents got him. He was mainly for protection for my mom and us 2 kids because my dad was always away. He loooooved kids soo much! He would do anything for them. But, not just kids he would help anyone in need. He was a great protector and i miss him very much. They have very good temperament and they are very intelligent. I highly recommend them. And yes they do grow out of the chewing stage. As long as you teach right from wrong, they will make a great dog!

Answer 5

The vet will need to prescribe you something that is suitable for the dog . There's usually two methods of treatment:

- steroid anti inflammatories - eg. prednisolone, prednoleucotropin
but these cause appetite increase and weight gain

- non-steroidal anti inflammatories, or 'NSAID's ', eg. Carprofen, (Rimadyl), Meloxicam, (Metacam) etc. Side effects include liver and kidney probs and gastric ulcers.

This is why vet needs to see the dog to examine it to decide what method is best. If the arthritis is not too bad, it may be able to be managed with herbal remedies or supplements instead of prescription medication.

If you hurry, September is 'Canine Arthritis Awareness Month', and many vet practices, including where Iwork, are holding free consultations for dogs showing signs or arthritis and offering discounted treatments til lend of September. (Though you only have two days left!!)

Answer 6

The sad thing about arthritis is it is a degenerative disease. You can't really cure it but you can alleviate the symptoms.

Dogs can have asprin, but talk to your vet for dosage as this and Rymadil (a vet provided prescribtion) are NSAIDS and can affect liver function.

You can try giving her a Glucosamine and Condrotin supplement (available at any pet store) Glucosamine and Condrotin are naturally occuring supplements that aid in the repair and regrowth of the cartalidge that cushions joints. You can also buy dog foods that have this in it.

Hope that helps :)

Answer 7

Now Hear This

An arthritis programme in Japan took an intake of oldies and turned them back to normal, almost.
I have two badly damaged knees and the same complaint.
Yesterday I spent six hours mixing cement and on my knees making a crazy paving patio. I am 83.
I followed the Japanese programme.
Now to your dog.
Keep his muscles up at all costs otherwise you will miss the boat.
Vets have hydro tanks with a treadmill so the dog can walk with most of his weight suspended.
Three of these sessions each week and an increasing walking routine will work wonders.

Answer 8

My mums German Shepherd has the same problem and the vet put her on Prednisolone Steroids and told her to feed it Chappie dog food as its made mostly from fish, and now the dog walks fine, granted she has put on weight but better that than pain and suffering.... All the best to you both.

Answer 9

I have always given my German Shepherd dogs Glucosamine with Chondroitin in a piece of cheese every night. It seemed to take the pain away for the night. For the occasional pains, I gave my dogs advil tablets.

Answer 10

anti inflammatory work some what but so does an aspirin 325 mg. once a day and are less costly arthritis and hip displacement or displeagea is really hard on a German Shepard as with any big dog it is also very Common. Hope this helps