10 year old lab - hip arthritis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend acupuncture. It really, really helped my older dog and gave her at least an extra year's worth of quality of life. She had arthritis and spinal stenosis (fusion of the vertebrae). After her first few sessions she was galloping around the yard like a puppy and jumping on the bed again. We started with multiple sessions in a week, then weekly, then tapered to biweekly. It can be pricey but you will see results. I know others who had success with hydro therapy but that was less practical for us.

PP with the lab. Thanks! Our vet mentioned acupuncture because our lab does have fusion of the vertebrae and muscle atrophy, and her hind legs sometimes spread apart if she's on wood floors. Does "okay" if on grass, yoga mats, or concrete. It just all gets really expensive (Galliprant and Adequan), so I'm not sure if we can afford the acupuncture. Will definitely check into it. She's part of our family, and we adore her! She was a rescue--we've had her for 5 1/2 years and can't bear thinking of her gone...

PP who recommended acupuncture. What you're describing sounds very familiar to me. The other thing my old dog used to do is "knuckle under" on her back feet when standing - like she didn't know that her foot was positioned the wrong way. Loss of sensation from the spinal compression. It is definitely pricey, but even if you can do a couple of sessions it does make a big difference. I hope she feels better!

[Anonymous]

PP with a lab on galliprant - also make sure you keep nails trimmed if you have wood floors. Makes a HUGE difference for my dog with slipping/gripping.

[Anonymous]

How is Adequan given? Into the specific joint or intramuscularly so it has a systemic effect? Our 10 year old is really aging and the Galliprant helps but not enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend acupuncture. It really, really helped my older dog and gave her at least an extra year's worth of quality of life. She had arthritis and spinal stenosis (fusion of the vertebrae). After her first few sessions she was galloping around the yard like a puppy and jumping on the bed again. We started with multiple sessions in a week, then weekly, then tapered to biweekly. It can be pricey but you will see results. I know others who had success with hydro therapy but that was less practical for us.

PP with the lab. Thanks! Our vet mentioned acupuncture because our lab does have fusion of the vertebrae and muscle atrophy, and her hind legs sometimes spread apart if she's on wood floors. Does "okay" if on grass, yoga mats, or concrete. It just all gets really expensive (Galliprant and Adequan), so I'm not sure if we can afford the acupuncture. Will definitely check into it. She's part of our family, and we adore her! She was a rescue--we've had her for 5 1/2 years and can't bear thinking of her gone...

PP who recommended acupuncture. What you're describing sounds very familiar to me. The other thing my old dog used to do is "knuckle under" on her back feet when standing - like she didn't know that her foot was positioned the wrong way. Loss of sensation from the spinal compression. It is definitely pricey, but even if you can do a couple of sessions it does make a big difference. I hope she feels better!

PP here. Yes--she does that "knuckling under" and turning her back legs inward a little, too. She's also walking with a "swish" to her backside. I was thinking weak muscles, but your mentioning loss of sensation makes sense. I really appreciate your encouragement and suggestions! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend acupuncture. It really, really helped my older dog and gave her at least an extra year's worth of quality of life. She had arthritis and spinal stenosis (fusion of the vertebrae). After her first few sessions she was galloping around the yard like a puppy and jumping on the bed again. We started with multiple sessions in a week, then weekly, then tapered to biweekly. It can be pricey but you will see results. I know others who had success with hydro therapy but that was less practical for us.

PP with the lab. Thanks! Our vet mentioned acupuncture because our lab does have fusion of the vertebrae and muscle atrophy, and her hind legs sometimes spread apart if she's on wood floors. Does "okay" if on grass, yoga mats, or concrete. It just all gets really expensive (Galliprant and Adequan), so I'm not sure if we can afford the acupuncture. Will definitely check into it. She's part of our family, and we adore her! She was a rescue--we've had her for 5 1/2 years and can't bear thinking of her gone...

PP who recommended acupuncture. What you're describing sounds very familiar to me. The other thing my old dog used to do is "knuckle under" on her back feet when standing - like she didn't know that her foot was positioned the wrong way. Loss of sensation from the spinal compression. It is definitely pricey, but even if you can do a couple of sessions it does make a big difference. I hope she feels better!

PP here. Yes--she does that "knuckling under" and turning her back legs inward a little, too. She's also walking with a "swish" to her backside. I was thinking weak muscles, but your mentioning loss of sensation makes sense. I really appreciate your encouragement and suggestions! Thank you!

Meant to say, "I was thinking weak muscles only, but your mentioning loss of sensation makes sense to me."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP with a lab on galliprant - also make sure you keep nails trimmed if you have wood floors. Makes a HUGE difference for my dog with slipping/gripping.

PP here with 12 1/2 year old lab. Yes, thanks--you're so right. We've learned to keep her nails trim and also the hair around her pads (the vet's office does it because we get her groomed there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Adequan given? Into the specific joint or intramuscularly so it has a systemic effect? Our 10 year old is really aging and the Galliprant helps but not enough.

I believe she's getting it intramuscularly. They're also alternating sides each time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CBD oil rubbed on the body parts that hurt. Topical.

Where do you buy it?

I mean, I live in San Francisco and work in the cannabis industry, so ... where I buy is not necessarily where you buy because I know the owner of a dispensary who will deliver to my home if I ask him to.

Lord Jones is suppose to be good. https://lordjones.com/collections/cbd-tinctures

[Anonymous]

A PP mentioned the Help Em Up Harness and I can't recommend it highly enough! Check it out here:

https://helpemup.com/

We got one of these for our aging GSD (after getting rugs to cover our hardwoods and the other things recommended) and it gave us another year of good QOL with him. Highly recommend!

[Anonymous]

Our vet put our dog on Galiprant and Gabapentin for pain. He's doing much better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CBD oil rubbed on the body parts that hurt. Topical.

Where do you buy it?

I mean, I live in San Francisco and work in the cannabis industry, so ... where I buy is not necessarily where you buy because I know the owner of a dispensary who will deliver to my home if I ask him to.

Lord Jones is suppose to be good. https://lordjones.com/collections/cbd-tinctures

PP here. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A PP mentioned the Help Em Up Harness and I can't recommend it highly enough! Check it out here:

https://helpemup.com/

We got one of these for our aging GSD (after getting rugs to cover our hardwoods and the other things recommended) and it gave us another year of good QOL with him. Highly recommend!

Thanks! I have the senior lab and was considering the Gingerlead.
https://www.gingerlead.com/

It does seem that the Help Em Up Harness distributes the pressure more evenly. I'll check it out--thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your dog struggles to get up make sure the floor is not slippery or put down rugs. The Help em Up harness is also very useful.

Yes, as long as they are non slip rugs. Better yet, foam workout tiles (1" thick). Even better yet, interlocking foam carpet squares. Looks like carpet. Rubberflooringinc is where I get mine.

Me again. Rimadyl from the vet was a Godsend for my lab.

+1, we also have him on gabapentin and over the counter joint supplement called movoflex