He is about 11 years old and I've grown up with him.
I dont want to put him down, but I don't want him to be in pain.
Is there any medication for dogs that I can give him?
2007-10-27 16:22:46 · 11 answers · asked by meaghan 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Please don't take advise on the internet. Take your beloved dog to the vet and get medication for him there. There are a number of anti-arthritic, analgesic medications for dogs and your vet is the best source of information on these. The vet can also make sure it is arthritis that is the problem and not something else that might be treatable via some other means. Good luck.
2007-10-27 16:35:33 · answer #1 · answered by Nancy M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's always traumatic when your best friend has a short life expectancy. So be prepared because at 14 there is not much time left. I kept my baby alive for 2 years on drugs because I just could not stand the thought of letting her go. Be careful what you give her from your medicine because some of our drugs are toxic to dogs. Always ask your vet. You would really feel bad if something you gave hurt her. My guy get aspirin and Benedryl every day and it helps him a lot. Just do the right thing when she does not have a good quality life help her go home to God. Her loyalty deserves that. And it sounds calloused but the best thing is to get another bundle of fur and let the whole in your heart heal... by loving another.
2016-03-13 07:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your vet about a drug called Cartrophen (pentosan). It is given as 4 shots each a week apart, then boosters as needed. Amongst other things, it helps to boost production of good quality joint fluid (needed to help keep the joints healthy). It doesn't work for every dog, but a large proportion (in my experience 80-90%) do have some improvement.
You can also look into glucosamine supplements. Most human ones are okay (just check dose rates with your vet based on the specific product) and there are some specifically designed for dogs, such as Sacha's Blend.
For fairly short term management of pain, talk to the vet about non-steroidals- either Rimadyl or Metacam. There are potential side effects with long term use (kidney damage and gastric ulcers) but because these drugs are developed for use in dogs the risks are low especially for Metacam.
His body condition is important too- make sure that he is not overweight- you should be able to just feel his ribs and he should have a 'waist' when you look down on him. Also make sure that he still gets regular gentle exercise to keep his muscles working.
2007-10-27 16:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by Loz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 10 yr old male chihuahua, the oldest of our gang has arthritis in one back leg due to an injury when he was about 3. He walks stiff in that leg, doesn't move quite as quickly but still does most of the things he used to do when younger. Some people just give baby aspirin. Some give glucosamine. We feed Nutro which has glucosamine and omega 3 and that is all we give him. He doesn't cry with pain. If not for the stiffness we would not even know it cothered him at all.
2007-10-27 16:31:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been using a good product on my cat. It is called DOG GONE PAIN, and it is for dogs and cats. It is a herbal product. Also syn-flex glucosamine is something a lot of people use for their dogs and cats. My cat (she is 15) had a bad arthritis attack in mid August. I thought I had to put her down but then thought I would try the dog gone pain and the syn flex. Also the vet gave her some stuff. I gave the DGP to her for about six weeks and she was doing so good I didn't think she needed any more. I ran out of them so didn't give her any one day. That night I could see she was walking slower. Next morn she was hiding and wouldn't come out. I couldn't get any more DGP for three days and she never came out from hiding. Third day I gave her some more Dog Gone Pain. It took about a day and half to start working again and she got back to normal. Now she is back to her old self again.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Forgot to mention I have a friend who is giving the dog gone pain to her dog and says it is working.
2007-10-27 16:30:06 · answer #5 · answered by wherewhenwhatwhywho 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glucosamine/chondroitin products are extremely safe and very effective. The best ones have MSM in them, which is a natural antiinflammatory. Also, fish oil supplements are antiinflammatory and very safe. Be cautious using aspirin--they can be hard on the stomach and long term use actually hurts the joints. Your vet can prescribe low doses of arthritis medication made for dogs. They do NOT cause kidney or liver failure, but can aggravate pre-existing conditions which are common in older pets. This is why it is important to use these drugs under vet supervision and follow the recommended guidelines for checking bloodwork periodically. We have given out tens of thousands of doses of these drugs over the years and I've yet to see them CAUSE kidney or liver failure. There are other alternatives for dogs with impaired organ function. Bottom line--talk to your vet or find a vet willingly to discuss a variety of options with you.
2007-10-27 17:21:23 · answer #6 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, make sure he isn't overweight. As you pet down his sides, you should feel ribs like you do in the back of your hand. I have a nine year old agility dog with arthritis and he gets glucosimin, MSM and fish oil once a day in his food. It really makes a difference! This is all supplements you can get at WalMart. Also, be very careful with asprin as it can cause digestive problems. Use it spareingly when he is having a bad day. Make sure it is buffered and check the dosage with a vet. Enjoy your senior dog!
2007-10-27 16:59:20 · answer #7 · answered by sclmarm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like alix said you can give him aspirin and also your vet has medicine that you can give to your dog. 11 is getting up there some but he or she still has some good time left. If it was my dog i would have him checked at your vet regular and take his advice on what the best therapy is for your dog.
2007-10-27 16:31:20 · answer #8 · answered by chessman777fischer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had this problem with the dog I grew up with. The medication the vet prescribed actually caused kidney failure. I don't think it's wise to put him down just yet. Talk to your vet about something you can do to help the pain, but I'm warning you to ask about the side effects. Watching my beloved dog die too young from something preventable was heartbreaking.
2007-10-27 16:29:01 · answer #9 · answered by a gal and her dog 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
oh yeah i have two 15 year old dogs
keep him inside when it gets cold
baby asprin helps with the pain
and there are certain calcium medicines you can give him
(really cheap too i got one ok'd by the vet at cosco for 12 bucks that at one a day lasted my two dogs the last 4 months and still some
2007-10-27 16:28:22 · answer #10 · answered by Alix D 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋