Arthritis

[zoe08]

I was wondering if there is a way you can tell if your dog has arthritis? I dont know much about any of this, but my mom's dog is not jumping up on the porch anymore and is going really slow getting up the steps, if she even tries. We think she will be 10 years old this summer.

She had problems last summer though getting little stickers in her feet that we couldnt get out. But she is not holding her feet up when she walks.

We just wonder if this could be arthritis?

[MrsRottie]

It's quite possible it is arthritis, taking into account her age and such. Is she affected by weather at all?
You could try giving her chondroitin and green lipped mussel extrace (both natural remedies) that will help if it is arthritis, but more importantly not harm her if it isn't. If she responds to those after a month or so them it may well be worth paying a visit to the vet.
Vitamin C is supposedly good for arthritis too but I don't know much about that....

[pittiegirl]

Another can't hurt to try remedy is Knox gelatin. Packaged as Knox Nutra-Joint it is available, I think, at most stores. It helps gradually rebuild the cartilage that has worn down in joints.

This is common in older dogs and while these remedies will help, it's also very important to keep this dog lean and also to do everything else possible to keep additional stress off of her joints. Maybe your parents could build her a ramp?

[zoe08]

Thanks!! I will let my mom know about those things...where can we find them?

She has never really been affected by weather except she eats more in the winter I believe.

This has just barely started. When I was there last with Zoe on Easter she was running around playing with Zoe.

[lassie]

My old boy has a glaucosomine tablet a day. plus a cold liver oil capsule.I buy them from the Health shop and he seems to be fine now.

[zoe08]

My mom is pretty sure it is stickers in her feet now cuz today she was rolling in the grass and when she got up she yelped and then was holding up her back foot. She is going slow up the porch, but she will jump off of it.

[lassie]

whats a sticker. is it a grass seed???

[zoe08]

Ummm...I dont know how to explain...prickly things from the ground I guess....we had 2 kinds, the big ones which are easy to get out....and ones that are like little tiny pieces of grass kind of but they are stickers...and they get in her feet and we cant find them to get them out

[lassie]

Hi maybe what we would call a grass seed

[Tunsafun]

If you do find that it is arthritis, why not giving the dog celery grass. i grow it for my old boy and add it to his food once a week. he's able to move around more comfortably now and is even playing with the puppy.

Just a thought

regards
tunsafun

[3 goldens]

At 10 I would give 10 to 1 that the dog does have at least some arthritis. My golden boy, Buck, turned 11 in Feb. He is slow getting up and slow getting down, but does pretty good once up. He is on the glucosamine/MSM capsuls, two in the morning, one at night. I also give him an EsterC, a fish oil, and a doggie vitamin each day. also I have heard a lot about the Knox Gelatin working, not only for dogs but also for people.

[lassie]

the Knox Gelatin working, not only for dogs but also for people.
interesting;) where do you buy it from? and is it in tablet form. Was thinking for myself:D

Erm i think you can only buy it in the USA having searched the net:(

[Jake2006]

I've heard that Devil's Claw is also useful for the treatment of muscle and joint problems. I've no experience of it, however, a friend of mine has a 14 year old border collie who has degenerative bone disease and really advanced arthritis and she swears by it.
I hope this helps.

[3 goldens]

The Knox Gelatin can be found in Walmart or even grocery stores. It is a powder and actually is like unflavored jello. One lady on one of the forums i belong to had such bad knees she had been on canes for several years and somone told her to try the gelatin and said it would take a few months to work. Well, she had been on it about 3 months and one day found heself walking down the hall without her canes and have not used them since. She has put all her dogs on it, and several others on the board have also strated using it for there and the ones that have been on it for a while say they see a real difference. I am going to try it for my old man and myself as I have arthritis.