My dog has arthritis and hip pain. What else can I do to help?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about your baby! The good thing is that arthritis has some treatment options that can be quite effective. That diet is excellent. However, the metabolic aspect of it is for dogs who need to lose weight. If Koko Rae is already in a good body condition, you can get the Science Diet j/d that is great for joints but does not have the metabolic component for weight loss. That diet alone can make a huge difference. Deramaxx is usually used on an as needed basis for pain control. You could also consider joint supplements such as Dasuquin and Cosequin. All these things can help her tremendously. Good luck and have a wonderful day!

You really need to consult with your veterinarian about the use of Adequan and the best dose for your dog. If his arthritis is severe than he may need to be given Novox on a daily basis. If you are concerned about possible side effects, try to find the lowest daily dose that still provides relief for him. You could also talk to your vet about adding in Tramadol and/or Gabapentin for more pain relief.

Hi there. Thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry to hear that Cocoa is having this issue. She sure is adorable! Unfortunately, we cannot recommend that you give any over the counter medications to Cocoa. We are not allowed to do that by law since we haven't examined her in-person. Dogs are actually very sensitive to over the counter medications and if she has any conditions underlying (like kidney disease for example) those medications can make it worse. I suggest you get her to your vet for an exam. It is not common for small breed dogs to have hip problems so it would be best to get her examined to figure out what is causing the problem. Then you can discuss the options for treatment with your vet. In the meantime all I can recommend is that you use a natural joint supplement like the Missing Link Plus but you are not likely to see an immediate effect. http://www.allivet.com/p-1647-missing-link-vet-canine-plus.aspx Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Arthritis can be difficult to control, however there are options for Roxy. Firstly swimming is helpful to build muscle strength but is easy on the knees. Supplements including omega 3s, fish oils, glucosamine sulphate (the HCl version just gets peed out), along with injections of Cartrophen can help as well. Keeping Roxy lean with moderate intensity exercise is recommended. Allergies can be difficult, however chat with your vet about Apoquel. This is a medication for seasonal allergies. There is also atopica and cyclosporin as well as steroids for allergies. Try to avoid the steroids however as they cause muscle wasting which will make the arthritis worse. Best of luck with Roxy!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Chloe is suffering from arthritis. Medically, in addition to an anti-Inflammatory like previcox there are additional pain medications she could be started on. Adjunctively to medications, laser treatments, hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill), and acupuncture are all options you could look into to help her as well. Good luck!

Poor Rocco! There are many treatment options for managing hip dysplasia in dogs. I'm not sure what kind of medication he's currently taking, but many dogs with this problem benefit from a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Rimadyl or Previcox along with a pain medication like tramadol and/or gabapentin. Glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to be helpful in many cases, and can safely be given with all of the above medications. Finally, adjunct treatment options like laser therapy and acupuncture can also be very helpful for some dogs with hip dysplasia. I would recommend talking with your vet about these options to see what they would suggest as the next step for Rocco.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree that this is possibly arthritis especially if this has been an issue before. Usually this can improved with joint supplements like Cosequin and the food Science Diet j/d. Pain control medications such as NSAIDs and gabapentin can be used on an as needed basis to help with pain. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment of this. If they agree that this is likely, they can go ahead and prescribe this to help her. Good luck and have a great day!