Suggested Non-Surgical Dog Arthritis Treatments

by John B
(Perth, Western Australia)

I have a Border Collie, Red healer Cross: Female 8 yrs, in very good health on natural food diet and not over weight.

Problem: deteriorating and painful instability in rear leg due to botched cruciate repair job 2 years ago. Joint is very loose and probably has degenerative joint condition.

Perhaps an anti-inflammatory medication could be of benefit such as Rimadyl (carprofen).

What do you think ? We are wary of more surgery.

Kind Regards,

John Barwick

Vet Suggestion Non-surgical Dog Arthritis Treatments

Dear John,

I am sorry to hear about your dog’s post-operative problems. Yes, if she is in pain a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like Rimadyl could go a long ways towards keeping her comfortable.

Other medications like Tramadol, gabapentin, and amatadine could be used in conjunction with or instead of the NSAID if necessary.

Nutritional supplements that help maintain joint health could also be very helpful for your dog. Many products are available – look for ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, ASU, and Vitamin E. One that I frequently recommend is called Dasuquin.

Physical therapy, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, external braces, and other options also are available to you.

Talk to a veterinarian who specializes in the nonsurgical treatment of canine orthopedic problems to determine what combination might be best for your dog.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM