German Shepherd Mix with really bad arthritis…what to do?

6 Responses to “German Shepherd Mix with really bad arthritis…what to do?”

1. Comment by B!nd!

   http://www.sashasblend.com.au/
   I have had great success with this product with my arthritic dog.
   It is a herbal based medicine, but my vets all recommend it- and it did wonders for our dog, who developed arthritis early because she was hit by a car when she was a pup- before we adopted her.
   Definately worth a try!

2. Comment by Erika

   I’m not a vet or a vet tech, but I have a 11 year old lab with arthritis. He takes glucosamine tab daily along with Dermaxx which is prescribed by his vet.

   We also have made him some “handicap” ramps to get up and down the stairs in the back yard. Simple plywood with astro turf stapled to it for traction. We have another “homemade” ramp for the truck so he can get in and out of it.

3. Comment by Bobbie L

   What does your canine orthopedic surgeron recommend?

4. Comment by Ritchellei

   Arthritis is often assumed to be a senior dog disease. While it certainly does strike dogs in their golden years, younger dogs are susceptible, too.

   Arthritis is an inflammation in a joint. It gets worse over time, and may begin as simple morning stiffness and progress to lameness and swollen, painful joints. The good news is that while arthritis is incurable, treatment can make your dog feel a whole lot better.

   Check these links for more info.
   http://dogtime.com/arthritis.html
   http://dogtime.com/arthritis-in-dogs-aaha.html
   http://dogtime.com/dog-arthritis-phil-zeltzman.html

5. Comment by crazyme

   you should go to the vet and they can give you an anti flamitory medicine and also a pain pill for her. they may also tell you to just give her an aspirin twice a day. NOT baby aspirin. but i would call the vet or go there before i gave her anything.

6. Comment by King Les The Lofty

   I doubt that you would consider paying for the surgery to give her a year or two more pain-free life (well, pain-free once she recovers from the surgery), but at least pay for xrays so that a vet can see where in her hips (I presume that is where you mean, although the disorder can also attack the elbow joint and the shoulder joint) the problem is, and haw far it has progressed. The vet can then tell you how long various treatments are likely to “buy” her, and their costs.
   If you are one of those who has their dog pluck a frisbee or a ball out of the air, so that the dog lands hind-legs-first, it is also possible that she has damaged the anterior cruciate ligaments in the knees (ACL) – again, you need a vet to check & diagnose.

   If you want to read about the disorders while waiting to see the vet, click http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_GSD_Source then Links then Disorders, after which you go to each of the Elbows section, the Hips section, and the Knees section.
   Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
   “In GSDs” as of 1967