does cold weather affect dogs with hip displasia?

Question

my 4 year old bichon has hip displacia, he seems to be in a lot of pain when its cold! he is on 2 types of medication from the vet. on mild days he can run and jump around like a mad hatter

Answer 1

Yes. The bone rubbing on bone from the hip and femur being misaligned causes arthritis and just like any other form of arthritis the cold weather makes it stiffer and more painful. What medications is your dog on? The most common treatment for hip dysplasia is a combination of an NSAID pain reliever (like rimadyl, metacam, or asprin) and a glucosamine joint supplement. You may want to talk to your vet about switching medication. Just like in humans, not all NSAIDs work as efficiently for all dogs...if the current pain reliever isn't cutting it you may find that a different one will work better.

Also, for dogs who are actually painful most people find that a glucosamine supplement that includes MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) is more effective than gulcosamine alone. MSM seems to act as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, but is less harsh on the liver and kidneys than NSAIDs. In addition to the glucosamine, a lot of people have had good luck with pain relief by adding vitamin C (particularly Ester-C) to the dog's diet. It seems to work to support soft tissue repair and act as an anti-inflammatory. In fact, Cosequin, one of the most popular brand of glucosamine supplements marketed for pets, includes vit. C in their formula. Vitamin E and omega fatty acids (like those found in fish oil) also seem to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease the pain of joint problems. Plus Vit. E and omega fatty acids are great for skin and coat health. Some people have had such great success in using these supplements that they don't even need to use an NSAID pain reliever (which, while often effective at reducing pain, can be very hard on a dog's liver and kidneys...and at 4 years he will be on them for a loooong time and that increases the chance of organ damage).

The other thing you can do tho help ease your dog's pain is to work to keep him warm and comfortable. A nice thick dog bed to sleep on instead of a rug on the floor can go a long way in easing joint stiffness and pain.

Answer 2

Yes it does! We are from Maine, in Florida for the winter and our King Charles Cavalier, has it and just like yours, she goes like a bat out of hell, wrestles with our Bassett Hound, and the boy Cavalier. We have a total of 5, 3 different breeds and she is the only one with this problem. I see some spray stuff advertised on TV was wondering just how good it work for it. Just might give it a try next time I see the ad. Hope this helps answer your question. You and Yours have a Merry Christmas, and keep our Toops in Prayer that they will soon be home.l

Answer 3

Just as weather affects humans with arthritis, yes, cold or damp weather can affect a dog with HD.

Answer 4

I'm no expert on hip dysplasia but I would imagine the cold would worsen the problem. I work for a company who promotes products by Magnopulse. This company sells products for pets with magnets that help lessen the effects of arthritis and dysplasia. I'm getting my dog one for christmas. Try the link below.

Answer 5

Please give flexicose a go to help with your dogs hips. It is a concentrated glucosamine product that is safe for humans and animals. My mastiff suffers from wobblers syndrome (compressed spinal cord due to poor ligaments and excess bone growth of the spine) and elbow dysplasia and he spent several months completely paralysed due to the wobblers. Two surgerys (and £5000) did nothing to help and we were advised to have him put down. We kept like this for 3 months, and used to lift him in a harness to take him outside because we couldn't bear to have him put to sleep. We had heard of this product lots of times while researching conditions like this in dogs and decided to give it a go.

You would not believe the effect. They were almost immediate. 12 months later he is leaping about like a spring lamb and doesn't need the expensive medication from the vets (which did nothing anyway) It basically helps rebuild the damaged ligaments.

A bottle costs around £16 and lasts us about 3 months. We give it to him every few days and it keeps him healthy and active.

Answer 6

Yes the cold weather affects them and my 18 year old female dog only gets her medication when it is cold outside

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

Usually, that's too long for me. I think it depends on the guy as well as his face though. Certain guys may pull off long hair and other folks can't.

Answer 9

Cold can make it worse because dyplastic dogs are also usually arthritic which can make their joints hurt even worse. Keeping them warm and giving them soft beds to lie on and and not overdoing outdoor activity is best.

Answer 10

Use a dash of cinnamon to offer fruits such as bananas along with melons a richer dessert feel without the sugar.