The Old Dog; Best tips for keeping him comfortable?

[PeanutButterPony]

14 YO English setter in good weight and good health. He’s losing muscle as he gets older, but once’s he’s up and about he toodles around and enjoys his routines.

He has:

• a huge yard/farm to explore so he gets ample exercise. he still enjoys going riding with us, keeping up with two walking horses on local jaunts of 30-45 minutes a few days a week
• Cetyl M joint supplement (5/day)
• Diamond Senior feed free choice- he's never been a food hog, he'll eat what he wants and leaves the rest
• a good companion in a medium sized goldendoodle female who keeps him entertained but doesn't maul him
• a good dog bed at night, indoors and a kuranda 'cot' on the porch during the day.

are there any other joint goodies that might help him? His hips/loin area is just about wasted- he’s pretty stiff about getting up and down and he has a hard time lying down…he just sort of sinks to the ground. Once he’s up, he’s good.

He’s in good spirits, a happy guy- open to suggestions. thank you.

[supaflyskye]

It sounds like you’re doing everything right. =)
SmartPak makes a supplement for senior dogs, but if you give it w/ your current joint supplement it might be too much joint stuff, I’m not certain. I’m sure SmartPak could help you figure it out. There are some some muscle building supplements for dogs too that you could look into.

[Doberpei]

Sounds like my 15 year old English Cocker. After a visit to the vet for a senior dog check up, I just started her on Dasuguin and Welactin. Vet also recommended Adequan. My girl has a fused hock after being hit by a car. Because she hates shots and the vet, I am holding off on the Adequan, but a friend who is a vet tech at the vet’s did offer to give her the shots, if we can convince the vet to give us the prescription. (Apparently they used to, until someone injured their dog).

[Foxtrot_s]

I don’t know what your supplement is but our ageing Bull Terrier did very well on a monthly Cartrophan shot. After loading dose, only $20.00 month (up here). Vet came out to the car to give it to her and she didn’t know the difference. When the month was almost up we could definitely tell and then would take her in again, even if the month was not up…in three weeks, or so.

[Marla_100]

I’ve switched around w/ many different joint supplements. Some gave a little improvement and some did nothing. But what just helped my 13-14 yr. old dog is ONE shot of Adequan. Amazing improvement within a few days. The second and third shots did not show much improvement so I think we will just go in monthly or so for one shot.

When that stops working I’ll look into pentosan or something else.

[arapaloosa_lady]

I’d consider raising his food & water dishes off the ground a bit. The old dog creakiness can extend to being a little uncomfortable to bend all the way to the ground.

There are also raised dog beds that may make the transition to getting up a little easier. Your average “good dog bed” would be like you or I sleeping on a body pillow - it’s nice & fluffy but not much support.

[S1969]

I can’t rave enough about my elderly dog’s alternate therapy vet - he gets chiro and acupuncture as well as Chinese herbs from her about 4-5 times a year. I really thought that we were just “keeping him comfortable” in his last year or so…about a year and a half ago when he went to his first appointment. He is 14 now, and I really don’t see him going anytime soon… in fact, he’s really great now!

My younger dog has had chiro from this vet as well, but for dog shows and perfect gaiting more than anything else…but I am truly a convert and will definitely keep all my pets going for chiro and/or alternative options through their older years especially.

My old guy had some serious “neuro” symptoms - weak hind end, tripping, and neuro evaluation confirmed it. The vet believes his main reason for neuro symptoms is pinched/impinged nerves, not from a degenerative condition…so alternative treatments have helped a lot.

Maybe I should do it for myself as well - if only I could find a good physician that also practiced alternative therapies… hmm.

[My_Two_Cents]

We decided that keeping our old dog comfortable for the time he had was more important than just keeping him going. When the joint supplements no longer kept him comfortable we did not feel badly about giving him tramadol to keep him comfortable. Pets sometimes need pain control to get thru the day just like people.

[vacation1]

On the supplement side, fish oil is supposed to be very good for joints. I was giving my older dog Nordic Naturals in capsule form, have switched over to liquid (on the food) of a different brand.

Medicine: Painkillers and an anti-inflamatory such as Rimadyl will probably help your dog a lot if his hips/loin are bad. My 16yo has arthritis in that area as well, the hind end sinking down when she stands too long. Even with the medication, she has pain and discomfort here.

Otherwise: Massage really helped my dog recover from an arthritis flare a few years ago - loosened up her neck, in particular.

Just in general, keep an eye on changing/deteriorating circumstances, because they can go very suddenly from “ok with walking a nice walk” to “ok with walking around yard.”

[HappyTalk]

Seventeen going on eighteen year old JRT. She cannot do NSAIDS a they affect her liver very quickly. During an acutely painful phase of arthritis, we started her on the loading dose of Adequan and laser therapy EOD. Now several months later, she gets laser 2X a week. She is jumping on and off furniture, going on walks and digging. Laser can really help for comfort.

[glfprncs]

I have a 16 y.o. Cushing’s pup that’s got a lost of muscle wasting and is really creaky. I started him on a turmeric paste and I have to say, it’s given him lots of pep and comfort again. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory.

The key, though, is that for the body to absorb it, you can’t just give the ground spice or the pills. There’s a website run by a Australian vet (Dr. Doug English) that has done a lot of research and studies and has created a recipe that he calls “Golden Paste.” I make a batch every 2 weeks and put it in mason jars…one for me, one for the dogs. I notice a difference, too.

http://www.turmericlife.com.au/turmeric-recipes-golden-paste/

[Foxtrot_s]

Cartrophan is Pentosan in a doggy formulation. Worked for us.