Aging dogs

[prosperia]

My father's dog Sparky is 16yrs old. They had him checked at the vet last week, and though he is doing well for his age (his organs are working well), his hips and backbone are deteriorating. They have been giving him glucosomine, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice. He doesnt seem to be having to much trouble, but I worry about him being in pain.

[Allie Oop]

Our previous dog lived to be 14 before he died of Cancer. He did very well until he was about 11 when he started showing hip and back problems (he was a large breed dog (95 lb. GSD/Rough Collie). We did the glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM route and it really did help. I think he did have some discomfort and occasionally if it appeared to be too uncomfortable, we gave him Rimadyl for a day or two. Toward the end, we gave him hydrocodone. (We had a prescription on hand from the vet for those kind of days.)

 

I think that his quality of life was very good until the last 3 to 4 weeks of his life. All you can do is watch and try make them as comfortable as possible. There are some good medications that can be used.

 

Regards,

[luvmybc's]

King is a 13 y/o 90lb German Shepherd and is nearing to his last months. We give him Glucosamine, but he is continuing to have serious problems getting up once he's laying down. He's also VERY wobbly in the rear (he commonly will sway side to side and occasionally use the wall to help him walk, poor guy).

 

The one thing I find helpful is something as simple as a towel that I put under his belly to help him get up and outside to go potty. As soon as he can find his balance and I'm sure that he won't fall, I'll release the towel. I found a similar thing called a comfort lift carrier: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...2&N=2001+113678

 

Give Sparky a big bear hug for me! I hope you get some useful input that can ease his pain.

[Lin]

I use yucca for painful days -- it really seems to help my St. Bernard/Shepherd mix rescue. His pelvis was broken by some guy beating him when he was little and arthritis set in. You can get it in any natural pet supply store.

 

Lin

[prosperia]

Thanks,

He isnt having any trouble getting around on his own, though he does move slowly. I hope he never gets to the point where he cant get around, and have to be put down. He's been such a great dog. When he does go, I hope he goes naturally.

[Joan]

Originally posted by prosperia:

He isnt having any trouble getting around on his own, though he does move slowly. I hope he never gets to the point where he cant get around, and have to be put down. He's been such a great dog. When he does go, I hope he goes naturally.

Hi. I'm hoping the same for my Rip. He turned 15 in October. His back has been deteriorating for several years. All things considered, he's getting around pretty well, though we have to boost his rear end when he gets up unless he's on carpet. For a while, he was on Deramaxx and Tramadol, and that combination seemed to work very well. Then I ran out of Deramaxx, and he got only Tramadol for about a week. I couldn't see any difference, so now he's just on Tramadol. It's cheap, seems to help, and doesn't have any side effects that we've noticed.

 

My best to Sparky!

[muggs]

My old dog Levi lived to almost 18 - PTS last April. His last few months he couldn't get up on his own. We tried several pain relievers and also found like Joan that the Tramadol worked best for him. I think when he was aging before that point the glucosamine, etc. helped.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Tramadol is my best friend. It makes me a little loopy and nauseated with vertigo, but it's worth it on those really awful days. It's more than a painkiller - it's an anti-inflamatory.

 

My old buddy Greg was having a bad time of it around the time he turned 14, until we put him on predisone. It was like throwing a switch, the difference was so noticeable. Not only were his joints more comfortable, but he also gained a lot of weight (muscle) and was more active in general, all of which helped his hips in turn, also.

 

I'm not a fan of pred for younger dogs, but it made a lot of sense in a dog that almost certainly wasn't going to live long enough to experience the long-term effects. And in fact he was taken the next year, after a series of severe strokes.

[Snorri the Priest]

My Kali will be 12 on 24 April. The vet says that, in his experience, a farm collie from these parts lives for an average 12-14 years, so I am keeping a good eye on the "oldie" (who is my best friend, to whom I fel I owe a great deal).

 

He's getting a bit deaf, and I don't think he sees as well as he used to, but he seems in good form otherwise (and the vet said last week that his general health was fine). For a while, he was looking slightly "off" (nothing to put a finger on), and a friend (a retired vet) suggested something called "Vivitonin", and my current vet agreed it was worth a try.

 

Now, Kali gets vivitonin, plus a vitamin supplement (SA37) in his dinner. Whichever is doing it, one certainly is having a good effect!

 

Vivitonin is marketed as a medication which "can help to prevent" strokes (to which Border Collies are prone, in later life) by improving circulation in the brain.

 

Kali is now as fully alert and "ready" as his (possibly) failing senses allow. We used to be able to whisper "biscuits!" and have him sitting bolt upright by our feet immediately, now we have to shout, but he's still there, like a lightning flash!

 

My first ever BC, "Glen", made it to 19, with no special treatment (there was none available in his day), so my hopes for many more years of Kali are still strong, like him. The longer I can keep him going, without turning him into a vet-dependent stooge, the better-pleased I'll be. He has been a wonderful friend, and he deserves the best I can do for him.

 

Snorri

[BustopherJones]

Midnight is also getting up there in years, and while she is generally in good health (despite being a survivor of cancer and a few other major issues over the years), she also occasionally suffers from the aches and pains of old age. (But then again, so do I; I have reached the age where what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.) We also give Midnight glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM capsules based on our vet's recommendation, as well as a prescription medication. In addition, we use gentle heat in the areas of discomfort, along with a massaging technique that the vet taught us. I don't know how many years she will still be with us, but I hope it is as many as possible; what I DO know is that her ashes will be buried with DW, while Shadow's ashes will be buried with me. (If we both predecease Shadow, the vet has promised to take her into her own home, and will spread Shadow's ashes on my grave when she goes on to Rainbow Bridge; but in that case, I'll be waiting for her, instead of the other way around.)