General decline in muscle power

[ghggp]

My beautiful rescue sheltie Chance has been steadily declining in mobility.
He is now 13 years old.

Yesterday he had a very hard time getting up from sleeping. I had to hold his rear up as we climbed the stairs to go to bed. He is on Cosequin (Glucosamine Chondroitin), Vibrant Pets for seniors and Tramadol when he seems in pain. He has also been diagnosed with bone spurs.

I have tried laser therapy and at first it seemed to help but then did not have much impact. It is a bit pricey at $150 for 6 sessions.

It breaks my heart to see him move less and have difficulty getting up. You can tell that his rear legs have reduced muscles. He pulls himself up using his front feet/shoulders

Since it has been bitter cold here in Michigan I am reluctant to take him out for walks. I know I will do anything for him as he is my heart dog. We are so bonded!

Found this website and had great information for seniors.
http://www.2ndchance.info/arthritis2.htm

If anyone else has ideas to help we would appreciate it.
Thanks, Gloria & Chance

 

[trini]

Gloria, love your Chance's gentle face.

Our most recent rescue boy, Dakota, although much younger (7 years old) than your Chance also has severe arthritis in all four limbs and bone spurs in both elbows. He is on daily Dasuquin, Super Snouts joint powder (100% green lipped muscle...very stinky!) and also gets Metacam as needed. But he still struggles. Like Chance, Dakota has significant muscle loss and most days can't even make it up the 2 steps to come in from outside...I have to give him a lift up...and indoor stairs are a total no. He does like to sleep right in front of the heating duct in our bedroom...the warmth seems to help. As with Chance, it is sad to see him lie on the sidelines when the others are racing around having fun...he would love to play but seldom joins in for more than literally a minute or two.

Wish I had a magic answer to help. Hugs to Chance.

Trini

 

[ghggp]

Thanks Trini!
He does have the most expressive face.
To me, his face reflects his kind and sweet soul.

So sorry to hear of Dakota issues. It breaks our heart when they are no longer able to do the things they used to do! Seems like you are doing everything possible to keep him comfortable

Thanks for letting me know the meds he is on. A few questions...
If I tried Dasuquin would I stop giving him Cosequin?
I have not tried Metacam. However, for pain Tramadol is a last resort. The rescue recommended: Heel Traumeel Tablets. That has helped too.

Had to take him to emergency a few weeks ago when the pain was so bad that he could not lay down at all... VERY SCARY. He recovered after pain meds and muscle relaxers were used together.

Not sure if this combination would help Dakota.
Hugs to you and Dakota

 

[trini]

Thanks Trini!
He does have the most expressive face.
To me, his face reflects his kind and sweet soul.

If I tried Dasuquin would I stop giving him Cosequin?
I have not tried Metacam. However, for pain Tramadol is a last resort. The rescue recommended: Heel Traumeel Tablets. That has helped too.

Had to take him to emergency a few weeks ago when the pain was so bad that he could not lay down at all... VERY SCARY. He recovered after pain meds and muscle relaxers were used together.

Yes, you can see his sweet soul in his face.

I think you would use the Dasuquin in place of Cosequin (I do for Dakota)...but if you decide to try the switch ask your vet to make sure he/she agrees.

Metacam is both an anti-inflammatory and reduces pain...so far I have not resorted to Tramadol but do have some on hand just in case it is needed.

I am so sorry Chance had such an intense level of pain to require an emergency vet trip...that is just heartbreaking...but thankfully the pain meds and muscle relaxer helped him. Was the muscle relaxant Robaxin? I use Robaxin combined with Metacam for Mickey's spinal issues when he has a flare-up...but hadn't thought of using Robaxin for Dakota. I will ask my vet whether he thinks it would help Dakota...thanks for that tip!

Hugs back to you and Chance.

Trini

 

[ghggp]

Trini,

Here are the meds that the emergency vet prescribed:

Pain: Gabapentin 100mg 2x per day
Muscle Relaxer: Methocarbamol 500 mg 1/2 table 2x per day

It was really scary when he could not lay down at all. He was panting so heavily (my bedroom is 50 degrees) so I know he was not hot! He kept pacing and pacing for hours and would not go down. As soon as he would try he jumped up in severe pain. Emergency was the only option.

Glad I did as he finally got relief!

Fyi, I forgot to mention, I have a heated floor in the room we hang out in as I work from home. Maybe that is helping him now.

Hope the info on his meds helps Mickey and Dakota.
I will ask my vet about switching to Dasuquin
We are such good mom's...

 

[trini]

Trini,

Here are the meds that the emergency vet prescribed:

Pain: Gabapentin 100mg 2x per day
Muscle Relaxer: Methocarbamol 500 mg 1/2 table 2x per day

It was really scary when he could not lay down at all. He was panting so heavily (my bedroom is 50 degrees) so I know he was not hot! He kept pacing and pacing for hours and would not go down. As soon as he would try he jumped up in severe pain. Emergency was the only option.

Glad I did as he finally got relief!

Fyi, I forgot to mention, I have a heated floor in the room we hang out in as I work from home. Maybe that is helping him now.

Hope the info on his meds helps Mickey and Dakota.
I will ask my vet about switching to Dasuquin
We are such good mom's...

Interesting that the Gabapentin was used as the pain med...Mickey is on Gabapentin for his seizures but it doesn't seem to touch the pain he gets when his spinal issues flare-up. I am so glad, however, that the Gabapentin worked for your Chance...anything that helps is a blessing!

I will mention possible use of Gabapentin for Dakota to my vet, since his issues are very similar to your Chance's and if it made that much difference for Chance it might do the same for Dakota. Plus, the good thing about Gabapentin is that it doesn't seem to have the serious long term side effects that Metacam can have.

Oh, my Pixie (yorkie) says she would love your heated floors! LOL When we have a fire going in our wood stove she lies so close that her hair gets hot enough that it almost feels like it will burn your hand when you touch her...she is 100% a "heat soak".

Trini

 

[ghggp]

Oh, my Pixie (yorkie) says she would love your heated floors! LOL When we have a fire going in our wood stove she lies so close that her hair gets hot enough that it almost feels like it will burn your hand when you touch her...she is 100% a "heat soak".

Trini

Ha, Ha...
I have an OLD Persian cat and he LOVES the heated floors!

 

[Bradt9881]

Fletcher is young and is pain free, but he loves sleeping on the cool tiles of the shower, or in front of the gas fireplace.

 

[Sheltiemama]

We do laser therapy for Max. About once a month or every 6 weeks. When we took him in the first time, he was a 3 legged dog. He wouldn't put any weight on that 4th leg at all. After the initial month of 3 treatments a week, we were able to start backing it down.

Now I take him whenever he starts to look "limpy".

 

[Caro]

Gabopentin is used as a type of long term pain relief but works for neurological pain (it blocks neuro pathways). Epilepsy drugs are also used in humans for pain relief as well. It isn't necessarily a good one for arthritis (I've spoken with Tully's ortho vet about it). Tramadol is a pain reliever and like most pain relief has a short effective life, anti-inflamms provide longer relief.

Is there a reason he can't take NSAIDs? There are milder ones than Metacam.

I really recommend seeing a physio - they will give you strengthening and stretching exercises. One exercise uses an unsteady surface (like a cushion or exercise disc) to switch on their stability muscles - th ones that help with arthritis. You put their front legs on the cushion and then lift alternate legs and hold for 5-10 secs (depending on how stable they are). The you switch to front legs on the cushion.

There's a website that has diagrams of the dog stretching exercises - I'll post it when I find it. I've got it book marked as I intend doing my own website to post all the info I have on managing arthritis in dogs.

Also important to keep mobilising the joints if you aren't going out to exercise.