Steroid treatment

[MARYLOU30]

Hi was just wondering if anyone's dog has ever had steroid treatment. I explained on a previous post that Freya (approx 9 yrs old) has recently been diagosed with early CDRM and arthiritis. When diagnosed the Vet gave her tablets for her arthiritis and a steroid injection for the CDRM and said he would recommend regular (every 6 weeks or so) injections in a bid to slow down disease and keep her muscle tone. I have since read up on steroid injections, as we have noted (and others have commented) that she seems to have put weight on since this injection (only 2 weeks ago), that it can make them gain weight and actually cause muscle wastage - it could also potentially lead to other lnesses, Cushing Disease being one of them. I am a bit concerned that having on steroids for a long period of time may prove to do more harm than good, but wanted to know other people's experience/ advice before discussing the matter with my Vet - our follow up appointment is on Friday.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Louise

[LOVEGSD]

Sorry I've no experience of this but I'm sure someone on here will....xx

[sami]

My Sami has also been diagnosed with early cdrm and arthritis but she is 13 years old. She is on supplements for her arthritis but has no treatment for the cdrm.

I have not had experience of steroid injections but Sami has had steroid tablets for AF in the past and they make her so ill I would not let her have them again. She was gasping for breath, listless, feral in her search for food and peeing constantly.

How bad is the cdrm? In Sami's case the view is that at her age it is likely to be pretty slow progressing.

Sami is basically just very weak on her back end but can run about and such with no real problems. The only noticeable sysmptom is if you pull on her lead or put any pressure on her back end her legs collapse under her.

[MARYLOU30]

Hi Tracy

To be honest, I wouldn't say that Freya is showing many symptoms other than just generally being slower at getting up and if you push sideways on her back side, she sways a little rather than standing firm. She is also slower at getting upstairs (she sleeps in bedroom). The only reason I went to Vets was because she appeared to have slowed down in general and had a limp for a day of two (after exercise only) so we thought that she may be developing arthirits. Vet says that both appears to be in their early stages as she hasn't really lost any muscle tone and is fine in herself.

I don't know if it is a coincidence but she was only spayed in March and I did consider whether it could be hormonal changes bringing on condition.

I have been looking into hydrotherapy/ holistic appraoches etc but will have to check if covered under insurance for these treaments. Just don't want to go to Vets spouting stuff I have seen on internet and making a fool of myself. I also don't want Freya to suffer from other illnesses just due to medication. I would rather her have a shorter more enjoyable life than a longer miserable one.

Louise

PS: She is also on Carprodyl 50mg x 2 daily with each feed for arthirits - not sure if this is to be reviewed at next appointment or whether she will stay on this.

My Last Girl Cimba was 9 years old when diagnosed with Arthirtis
But she had steroids (prednisolone) for her AF from the age of 7
She had injections now and again to supposedly help
It didnt and tbh if I had the chance again she wouldnt have been on any steroids or injections.
I favour the homeopathic route with my dogs since finding out much more than what I knew then.
I do think hydrotherapy would be beneficial for her and because its so gentle on the joints it wont hurt her.
Their are natural anti inflamatories found in foods that I would use too.
Linda x

[MARYLOU30]

Hi Linda

Thanks for the reply. Did Cimba have any side effects with the steroids?

Louise

Originally Posted by LUTGARD

My Last Girl Cimba was 9 years old when diagnosed with Arthirtis
But she had steroids (prednisolone) for her AF from the age of 7
She had injections now and again to supposedly help
It didnt and tbh if I had the chance again she wouldnt have been on any steroids or injections.
I favour the homeopathic route with my dogs since finding out much more than what I knew then.
I do think hydrotherapy would be beneficial for her and because its so gentle on the joints it wont hurt her.
Their are natural anti inflamatories found in foods that I would use too.
Linda x

[sami]

Hi Louise

Linda and I have talked before about the steroids and her Cimba was I think pretty much the same as Sami, they are not nice, especially in the doses for AF which are pretty high.

Its dificult your dogs symptoms sound pretty much the same as Sami's. I take it you are not sure of she is 9 or older, in which case she may be getting to the elderly phase of her life.

CDRM seems to progress quite slowly when the dog develops it late on, where as if they get it younger, about 6 years old seems to be the age, it seems to develop more quickly. This is only anecdotal (sp?) though so dont hold it as gospel.

Hydrotherapy is very good for CDRM so that is an option.

You are doing the right thing in questioning whether the drugs are going to affect her more than the CDRM but only you can decide after discussing it with your vet.

[kita]

Are the steroids for the arthritis or the CDRM?

If they are for the CDRM I don't understand why, as steroids would not help CDRM.

Having her spayed may well have hastened the onset of the CDRM, any stressful event does.

Swimming/hydrotherapy is the best way of keeping them going and fighting CDRM.

I have used Green Lipped Mussel tablets (from health food shops) with great success for arthritis.

CDRM is very variable and differs greatly from dog to dog. I have known dogs that have gone off their back ends virtually overnight and others that have lasted years with the condition. I think the average time is about 12 months/two years.

My girl was approx. 12 months after diagnosis when I put her into a cart and she had a further 12 months of quality life before the CDRM spread to her front legs and she was unable to operate in the cart. But that was before the time of hydrotherapy for dogs and although I did take her swimming it was only in the very late stages - too late really to do any good.

Sue

[MARYLOU30]

Hi Tracy

We got Freya from a rescue about 3 years ago - she was a stray and they didn't really have any info. on her so her age is a guess. Personally, I think that she may be slightly older.

She's happy in herself and will run/ jump/ play no probs. She has been slowing down for a few months so if it is because of this, I don't necessarily think that it will be a fast progressing illness (although obviously I don't know how long exactly she has had it) and I do wonder whether if the 'if it's not broke don't fix it' approach may be better where the drugs are concerned, espcially seeing as there is no actual cure.

Been looking at those dog carts for the future aswell, although couldn't imagine her in one of them - we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it - my house will look like Shopmobility by the time it gets to this point.

Louise

[sami]

That tends to be my approach too, I sometimes think you can jump in to quickly to try to cure something that cant be cured and make the dog suffer in the process.

Good luck