2 poorly dogs

blusher_84 · #1 07-09-2008, 12:11 PM

Hi I am new here looking for some advice please
I have two lovely well behaved (better than the kids lol) sheperds

max is 9 and is 32kg and just recently started to have problems with his back legs the vet has given him metacam injection and now he is on 30mg a day but he is whimpering in the night so i wondered if maybe i could gave him half the dose in the morning and and half at night? I am going to the vets tommorrow and will ask but i just wondered if any one else has had this medication for their dog?

Then I have maisy who is max's daughter who is 6 she has problems with her weight she is at the moment 21kg and going for blood tests tommorrow as they think that she has problems with her proteins not working in her body
She is very lively and alert but just really skinny the vets before just said that she is just askinny dog!
She has never had a solid poo since she was a puppy and is always needing to go to the toilet but that has been since she was little.
Both are fed with dry food and treats now and again like a roasted bone

Well thats my two little beautys

GypsyGSD · #2 07-09-2008, 04:11 PM

Gypsy is my gsd who was 10 in july also has a problem with her joints, she gets a bit stiff getting up and down, and I have to watch her exercise to make sure she does not over do it , she was s on metacam daily (30), but I have also been given her pedigree joint care sticks which contain green lipped muscle which has been advertised on t.v and I really can see a difference in her In fact I have reduced her metacam to every other day in the last week and she is doing great I posted a few photos of her a few weeks ago running around like a two year old my vet was not to convinced with this product but I see the results daily, as long as your vet rules out any other problems may be worth a try good luck colleen

GypsyGSD · #3 07-09-2008, 04:13 PM

sorry forgot to say welcome to the forum

colleen

kita · #4 07-09-2008, 05:04 PM

I also use Green Lipped Mussel, but find the Pedigree sticks very expensive.

I give my dog the tablet form and get them from Holland & Barratt. They are derived from the shellfish and are totally safe to give with any other medication your dog is on.

My dog (he is the size of a Great Dane) is on two 500mg tablets a day. I started him off on one 250g tablet about 4/5 years ago now and it really kept him going, if I missed a day he used to really stiffen up and not want to go out. As his arthritis got slowly worse I increased the dose. He is 13 next month (average age for the breed is 11) and I believe that these tablets are the only reason I still have him with me, the vet wanted to put him on Metacam 3 years ago but I did not want to chance the side effects of the medicine.

These are the tablets he is on:

Holland and Barrett - Product details for Green Lipped Mussel

I usually wait until they have a half price sale (which they do every 4/5 months) and buy 6 months supply.

I would definately recommend them and like I say they can be safely given alongside other medication (after all they are a natural food stuff - it is just like eating mussles).

Sue

GypsyGSD · #5 07-09-2008, 05:29 PM

Thanks Sue , I will pop into barrets tommorrow and try gyps on them, and will let you know how she gets on , the sticks are expensive but well worth it I bulk by when they are on offer colleen

LOVEGSD · #6 08-09-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blusher_84

Hi I am new here looking for some advice please
I have two lovely well behaved (better than the kids lol) sheperds

max is 9 and is 32kg and just recently started to have problems with his back legs the vet has given him metacam injection and now he is on 30mg a day but he is whimpering in the night so i wondered if maybe i could gave him half the dose in the morning and and half at night? I am going to the vets tommorrow and will ask but i just wondered if any one else has had this medication for their dog?

Then I have maisy who is max's daughter who is 6 she has problems with her weight she is at the moment 21kg and going for blood tests tommorrow as they think that she has problems with her proteins not working in her body
She is very lively and alert but just really skinny the vets before just said that she is just askinny dog!
She has never had a solid poo since she was a puppy and is always needing to go to the toilet but that has been since she was little.
Both are fed with dry food and treats now and again like a roasted bone

Well thats my two little beautys

Hello

Welcome to the forum - don't forget to post pics so we can see your 2 beauties

Sounds like Gypsygsd & Kita have given good advice.

Lynn
x

Wooferhound · #7 08-09-2008, 01:12 PM

Some of you are may have read my Roo Bear has been diagnosed with HD and is currently on a very low dose of Metacam, she is on half her body weight per day (30kg weight - 15kg dose) and this will decrease this week. Constant pain relief doesn't resolve the problems and therefore it would concern me more than anything that this would be a long term option. Slap me down if I've misunderstood, but I'd be looking at alternatives.

Glucosamine
Cod Liver Oil

Both of the above can be given at the same time, one dose per day and will help joints and muscles. I feed my dogs BARF, therefore the Glucosamine is given through the chicken, and have them on liquid cod liver oil.

As for providing half doses of Metacam, I'd be sticking with what the vet has suggested. As this medicine is generally given once per day, it is best to stick with that I would think. Also, can't see that it would make any difference, it should be working right up until the next dose is due.

With regards to your younger girl, I'd get a second opinion, personally! If you are worried, best to get it checked!

Incidentally, not to interfere, best bet for a nice treat is a raw marrowbone rather than the cooked varieties, the latter can be very dangerous to dogs, splintering and puncturing etc...raw is much tastier and no risk!

Hope this is helpful

Jo

GypsyGSD · #8 08-09-2008, 04:19 PM

Just to say I have the full support from my vet in giving gyps metacam every other day and as my posts show (Gypsy a year after cancer op) she is the picture of health. Long term use of any drug can in itself cause problems so If I can reduce any drug intake and it works I see no need to continue giving a drug daily colleen

Petnanny · #9 08-09-2008, 06:40 PM

My first GSD Ben, had terrible HD, but we were extremely lucky to have a homeopathic vet within our practice. She prescribed 'Rustox' for Ben and he never had pain relief in his life!

It is not something that you keep your dog on at all, just giving an emergency dose as directed, and then only when required. They are amazing. Primarily used for people/dogs with arthritis.

I should stress that Ben was on limited exercise, loved swimming and he also was on Cod liver oil.

Hope the above helps

blusher_84 · #10 09-09-2008, 12:15 AM

Hiya all

Thanks for the differnt bits of advice
My maisy has been to the vets today had a shave and had 4 different blood test to see what is wrong with her ( she didnt like that poor thing )
Tommorrow i have to ring and get the results so fingers crossed xx

As for max well he has decided he does not want to eat today as he does sometimes and there for not had any metacam as it says that he has to eat first!! Have tried all the usual treats but he dont want to know
So guess in morning he will be very stiff

Will post the results tommorrow and some photos soon