Arthritis medications for dogs?
02 Mar 2010
My 10 yr old Border Collie has severe arthritis in his hips and back legs and knees. He has been on Duramax for quite some time. It seemed to help for awhile but not anymore. The Vet has put him on Metacam now. Has anyone noticed an improvement with their dogs arthritis after changing meds? Do they build up a tolerance for one med? I feel so bad that he is in pain. Any advise?
Rimadyl, Metacam, Previcox, and Deramaxx are all the same class of drug – they are NSAIDs formulated for dogs (and in the case of Metcam, cats, too). NSAID use does not lead to the tolerance or dependence associated with narcotic based pain meds (Tramadol, etc), and helps to decrease the inflammation of the arthritic joints, making it an ideal drug for long-term use for arthritis.
Although the NSAIDs all come from the same class, some dogs seem to do better with one medication or the other, so switching meds can be a good strategy if your dog is still having issues with pain – sort of like how Advil is more effective for some people than Tylenol. Rimadyl has gone generic (Novox or Vetprofen), so that may help with the price – the rest, as far as I know, are still brand-name only.
NSAIDs are an important component of arthritis management, but since it is a degenerative disease, there are other things you can do to help your dog feel more comfortable and slow the progression of the disease – glucosamine supplements will help to lubricate the joints, and low-impact exercise (walking, swimming) will help to maintain muscle mass and increase blood flow to the affected joints. Glucosamines come in different forms – chewable tablets (Phycox, Cosequin, Synovi, etc) are the most common form, and take about 4-6 weeks to take full effect. There are also glucosamine injections (Adequan) that can cause a much more immediate effect, although they are generally rather expensive.
A final note on NSAIDs – although uncommon, they ARE associated with liver problems, so it is important to check bloodwork on your dog on a regular basis (every 3-6 months) to make sure that the drugs are not causing liver problems/failure.
Good luck!
5 Responses
2010 Mar 02
a dog at the shelter where i work was given arthoplex for his hip dysplaysia(sp?) and that seemed to help.
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2010 Mar 02
yes
yes
Try panadeine forte in food at night & rub dencorub on hip hind-quarters twice a day
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2010 Mar 02
Rimadyl. I have a 13 year old cocker spaniel and she has arthritis, also in her hip and a back knee. It is a lot worse when the weather is rainy or cold but I give her a half of one or a whole one depending on how bad she seems, and she’s back to normal. Chasing her ball, jumping on the furniture, and playing with the other dogs. It works wonders for her..
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2010 Mar 02
I had a 9 year old german shepherd who had severe arthritis in her rear legs/hips, as well as degenerative nerve and muscle disease. She had a very hard time walking and getting up and down. She was on Rymadol for several years until she had to be switched to Metacam also. She did good on this for about a year then I had her on a vitamin and cortisone shot for several months, and then nothing seemed to help her any more and I had to make the decision to have her put to rest. I don’t think that anything can improve the arthritis, but you can manage the pain associated with this disease.
References :
2010 Mar 02
Rimadyl, Metacam, Previcox, and Deramaxx are all the same class of drug – they are NSAIDs formulated for dogs (and in the case of Metcam, cats, too). NSAID use does not lead to the tolerance or dependence associated with narcotic based pain meds (Tramadol, etc), and helps to decrease the inflammation of the arthritic joints, making it an ideal drug for long-term use for arthritis.
Although the NSAIDs all come from the same class, some dogs seem to do better with one medication or the other, so switching meds can be a good strategy if your dog is still having issues with pain – sort of like how Advil is more effective for some people than Tylenol. Rimadyl has gone generic (Novox or Vetprofen), so that may help with the price – the rest, as far as I know, are still brand-name only.
NSAIDs are an important component of arthritis management, but since it is a degenerative disease, there are other things you can do to help your dog feel more comfortable and slow the progression of the disease – glucosamine supplements will help to lubricate the joints, and low-impact exercise (walking, swimming) will help to maintain muscle mass and increase blood flow to the affected joints. Glucosamines come in different forms – chewable tablets (Phycox, Cosequin, Synovi, etc) are the most common form, and take about 4-6 weeks to take full effect. There are also glucosamine injections (Adequan) that can cause a much more immediate effect, although they are generally rather expensive.
A final note on NSAIDs – although uncommon, they ARE associated with liver problems, so it is important to check bloodwork on your dog on a regular basis (every 3-6 months) to make sure that the drugs are not causing liver problems/failure.
Good luck!
References :