Pain medication for arthritic older dogs

[RaeHughes]

Metacam needs a loading dose before you can play around with the daily requirements. My last dog was on it for like 5 years - yes, it was expensive but he would have been put down without that extra 5 years if he hadn’t responded. The last 2 were paid for by the manufacturer as he was so off their normal standard and I have a lovely blanket from them :).

My BC is on Previcox - a lot cheaper and more gentle on her tummy. She cannot handle metacam even tho it is a better anti-inflammatory.

BUT human Panadol! Yes, my vet recommends it for my older BC’s “Bad days”. Dose rate - 1/2 of a 500mg pill for a 25kg dog. The lab (who was put down 10 days ago) was on 1 500mg pill for a 40kg dog for reference.

Gee (my BC) has an arthritic wrist - Panadol kills the pain!

BUT PANADOL - paracetamol only. Not with any other additives.

[RaeHughes]

Catrophen is part of my dogs arthritis regime.

[vacation1]

[QUOTE=walkers;8578742]
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.[/QUOTE]

While I don’t dispute the GI effects and the dangers of NSAIDs, this is a little misleading. NSAIDs don’t directly target pain, but in reducing inflammation they reduce the source of the pain. Also, from what I understand, the reduction of inflammation slows the progression of the arthritis.

[Cruisesmom]

No one has mentioned Tramadol. This was my go to that was inexpensive for my geriatric boxer.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

This isn’t where we started (Cosequin DS/msm seemed to help for a few years), but now my 80 lb doberman gets one pill of Rimadyl daily. He is 11 for sure (could be older, rescue). He has been on it a year. We just did full chem panel and all is good (no signs of gastric upset–I do give it after a meal–I don’t know if that helps).

It is expensive. Previcox was more expensive and didn’t work as well. He was still pooping in the house (it hurts to poop I think, so he would try to hold it too long).

He completely falls apart if you take him off the med. Can’t walk. His hind end is paralyzed. Can’t poop outside. We would have to put him down. On Rimadyl he runs around and plays. Between this and his phenobarbital it is around $113 a month.

Tramadol was the first drug we used when my other dobe got cancer. Moved up to strong opioids and then she was euthanized. I don’t know why not for arthritis (same vet).