Pain medication for arthritic older dogs

[saultgirl]

Just got back from the vet for the yearly vaccines, and I asked about something for when my old guy (newf/lab cross, approx 11 years old) is a bit sore.

She gave me Metacam, an NSAID for dogs, which was $65 for 32ml.

Is there a cheaper alternative to this? I have just lost my job and I won’t be able to afford this over the long term.

She said for me to give it to him every day for a week “to see how he does” and then “as needed”.

I don’t think he needs to take something every day. But if we’ve been on a particularly long hike he does seem sore later in the evening or the next day.

Thoughts on this?

[moonriverfarm]

Qi Blends work wonders - check them online for the remedy for arthritis. I have cured a dog’s constant itching with the Skin Soothe blend.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=saultgirl;8567307]
Just got back from the vet for the yearly vaccines, and I asked about something for when my old guy (newf/lab cross, approx 11 years old) is a bit sore.

She gave me Metacam, an NSAID for dogs, which was $65 for 32ml.

Is there a cheaper alternative to this? I have just lost my job and I won’t be able to afford this over the long term.

She said for me to give it to him every day for a week “to see how he does” and then “as needed”.

I don’t think he needs to take something every day. But if we’ve been on a particularly long hike he does seem sore later in the evening or the next day.

Thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]

If your dog does well on the Metacam, you might ask your vet about meloxicam, which is the generic pill form. The liquid has the advantage that it can be measured exactly according to the weight of the dog.

I have used meloxicam for an arthritic 140 pound dog, and it costs only $5.99 per month at Costco. She takes 3/4 of a 7.5 mg tiny pill, so this probably wouldn’t work for a very small dog, but your dog sounds large enough that a dose could be calculated for the pills.

Mine has tolerated it very well, and gets bloodwork every 6 months.

She is also on oral Dasuquin, Phycoxx, fish oil, and Adequan injections. This has worked well for her.

I hope you can find something that will help your dog that will not break the bank!

[fuzzybee]

Subscribing…my 10 year old German Shepherd will need pharmaceutical help soon, also.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=Houndhill;8567332]
If your dog does well on the Metacam, you might ask your vet about meloxicam, which is the generic pill form. The liquid has the advantage that it can be measured exactly according to the weight of the dog.

I have used meloxicam for an arthritic 140 pound dog, and it costs only $5.99 per month at Costco. She takes 3/4 of a 7.5 mg tiny pill, so this probably wouldn’t work for a very small dog, but your dog sounds large enough that a dose could be calculated for the pills.

Mine has tolerated it very well, and gets bloodwork every 6 months.

She is also on oral Dasuquin, Phycoxx, fish oil, and Adequan injections. This has worked well for her.

I hope you can find something that will help your dog that will not break the bank![/QUOTE]

Thanks. That does sound like a reasonable price. This dog weighs 87 pounds currently (although he could stand to lose a few, and I have reduced his ration as of today).

He has been on GLucosamine for at least a year, maybe 2, and I used to do Wild Salmon Oil as well, but after running otu the last time I didn’t buy a new bottle. I didn’t notice any major difference (this was at least a year ago) but now that you mention it, maybe that’s something I could add back in.

[Marshfield]

That body weight is big enough that you can safely use the tablet version. Inexpensive at Wal-mart or the like. Just ask your vet about it, she may not even know it’s an option as it works best for bigger dogs.

[Foxtrot_s]

Depending upon how your dog is feeling, my vet gave our ageing Bull Terrier Cartrophan. It was very reasonably priced - a loading dose once a week for four weeks and then once a month for $20.00 (Cdn) a shot. It made a big difference to her and we could always tell when it was time to take her back for another shot…they said Metecam was the next step up.

[betsyk]

Meloxicam. Super cheap at Walgreens. 60 lb lab mix got 1/2 tab daily for her last few years, and it did help.

[pinkpony321]

I had great success with previcox for my ancient arthritic dog, but was dosing a small dog, so the cost was less than what you’d have to pay. That being said, I found the cost to be reasonable overall. My horse vet sold it to me cheaper than the small animal vet was going to. I don’t know tons about doggy meds but just wanted to throw that in there.

[horsenut_8700]

NSAIDS are great but if you can afford to do Adequan I bet you would see a great improvement. My old Lab was majorly arthritic when she came to me (the only good joints in her whole body were her hips) was on Adequan, Metacam, and gabapentin. A heated bed went a long way with stiffness as well

[cswoodlandfairy]

I have a border collie with bad hips and she is nearly 13 years old. One day she could barely move. We started her on the Cosequin chew tabs, we get them from wal-mart, and I was blow away at the difference it made. We started her on 2 twice a day, but she is stable and comfortable on 1 twice a day. Its about $28 for a 30 day supply. It works great, no prescription needed.

[MustangSavvy]

Adequan is a great option for a older dog. I would also consider starting him in duralactin is another great thing for older dogs. I would just do the metacam PRN and use other management options, as with any anti-inflammatory in can be hard on their renal systems.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8568754]
Adequan is a great option for a older dog. I would also consider starting him in duralactin is another great thing for older dogs. I would just do the metacam PRN and use other management options, as with any anti-inflammatory in can be hard on their renal systems.[/QUOTE]

I’m sorry, what does that mean? PRN?

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=saultgirl;8572864]
I’m sorry, what does that mean? PRN?[/QUOTE]

As needed

[Horsegal984]

Yeah I would use it as needed as well, but I would start some kind of joint supplement (whatever you can afford) and give daily.

Metacam I would give the night after a long hike and the following night, then not again until needed. It will work a bit better if you can stay ahead of the soreness by giving it the night of increased activity instead of waiting till she’s sore the next morning, but if you didn’t anticipate soreness and he’s stuff you can give it then.

[ASB_Stars]

My older English Springer is on Rimadyl, and I also use Pentosan for her. The combination has made a huge difference. Yes, I’ve hard all about Rimadyl, but it is most effective for her, so we test her, and keep going.

Pentosan can be administered Sub Q making it really easy to do, yourself. It is also inexpensive, meaning that you can do it more often, which can be more effective.

[Chestnut_Run]

You might want to consider plain old MSM powder. My 15 year old lab has TERRIBLE arthritis in his spine. The only thing I have him on is MSM. He can go two days without it, but on the third day he can no longer walk. I mix it into his canned dog food at night (he’s missing a bunch of teeth, so gets canned food in addition to his kibble). It’s super cheap as a bonus. I give out to him daily, and on our , now gentle, hike days, he gets a double dose. You’d never know he was going on 16.

[walkers]

Well you won’t like my response but NSAID tear up the GI system in all animals, they can help some but they are not pain drugs.They do not affect our pain receptors in the brain. when my dogs get old and their hips hurt I give them opioids. Yep exactly what you’ll want if you get to grow old and hurting. One dog would wake me up around 3am every evening a soft paw on the bed, open wide took a pill and he went back to his bed. Yes I gave her just enough to keep them happy and comfy to sleep at night.
NSAID do nasty things to us, eat up our guts,damage our livers and harm our hearts . Its big Pharma and the good old puritan USA. Why is it a sin to be in pain in their or our old age.? BTW the side effects of all those designer drugs are horrible to our body. Nature gave us opioids and as species we have taken them for 10,000 yrs,at least. Sure fools abuse them but don’t most of us drink alcohol w/o becoming drunks.Oh yea probation worked real well.
so when my oldies(dogs) are hurting they get the best and when my parents we hurting they also got the best. I almost hit a doctor (30 something) who worried about my 94 yr old dad becoming a addict. I told him he needed a new career.
Some new research on maryjane for neuropathic pain looks very promising. Go the The People Pharmacy for the link. My dogs loved a little smoke.

[csaper58]

www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2b310ed1-e6c4-4de3-8c70-de951421568c&gas=metacam

has Metacam 32oz for $39.99. Larger bottles are discounted also, and have free shipping.

It is a very reputable company. I have done business with them for years.

This drug will need a prescription phoned in.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8578824]
www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2b310ed1-e6c4-4de3-8c70-de951421568c&gas=metacam

has Metacam 32oz for $39.99. Larger bottles have free shipping

It is a very reputable company.[/QUOTE]

I’m in Canada, so I can’t order from there, but thank you.