How can I help my older goat with arthritis feel more comfortable?

Poor Olivia. As they age it can be so difficult as their internal organs are functioning perfectly but their bodies are developing arthirits which can be crippling. I would start her on some joint supplements if you haven't already. I like dasuquin and flexadin. You can actually do both as long as your seaparate each one by 12 hours so you would give dasuquin in the AM and flexadin in the PM. If she has trouble slipping on slick floors I would consider buying some Dr. Buzby's toegrips to help with traction. You can also start her on an omega-3 fatty acid to help with her joints. I would also talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and inflammation if needed. You don't have to give her this daily but just on the days that she is having a tough time. Although, if every day is tough, then don't hesitate to give it. Finally, I would consider getting her some acupuncture as this can really help relieve pain if you can find one in your area. The goal with geriatrics is to give the a good QUALITY of life over quantity so focus on her pain relief and her mobility to see if you can help her feel better. I hope this helps !

There are medications that can help with the foot rot and arthritis. The foot rot is best treated with good hoof trimming and daily soaks. Below is a link to some great information about foot rot and treatment options. http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/410/410-028/410-028.html Arthritis usually requires daily administration of an anti-inflammatory. Unfortunately, we cannot (legally and ethically) advise medication without having an established patient-doctor relationship. It is also dangerous for us to advise medication without examining Dora and fully understanding her condition and medical history. If you suspect arthritis, then I highly recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. While you may highly suspect arthritis, the vet may find something that was not previously detected and the diagnosis and treatment could be completely different than what you suspect. Also, no medication is completely safe and it's possible that Dora could have an adverse reaction to the proposed medications, which could make things much worse than they were before. For these reasons, it's always best to only give medication as directed by your veterinarian. I hope that helps and Dora gets better soon.

When I have patients with arthritis or starting arthritis I always recommend starting a glucosamine supplement. This can be bought over the counter or online. A great animal one is Cosequin. All the directions are on the bottle. This will help lubricate his joints. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! Poor Harley, it is hard getting old! He could have arthritis or a spinal degenerative issue. I see a lot of older pugs with hind leg issues at Harley's age. Usually I start them on a steroid and gabapentin. Sadly it tends to be progressive if the neurologic spinal issue. If it is intermittent then starting Harley on a joint supplement and Omega 3 fatty acids may help if it is arthritis. Below are brands of each that I like for my patients. I hope this helps and good luck! https://www.chewy.com/nutramax-dasuquin-msm-joint-health/dp/35838 http://vrshealth.com/canine-products/canine-omega-benefits/

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!

Hi there. There are many prescription medications that are safe and effective for arthritis pain in dogs, so I would encourage you to take Abby to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can discuss some options with you and get her started on an NSAID or appropriate pain medication to help make her more comfortable. In the meantime, you can try starting her on a daily glucosamine/chondroitin supplement such as Dasuquin or Cosequin, as well as an omega-3 fatty acid supplement like Welactin - both of these are very safe, and have been shown to help with arthritis in dogs. These can be purchased over the counter or ordered online without a prescription.

Hello. The best thing to do is start Bella on a good glucosamine supplement. Products made by Nutramax like Cosequin are excellent. A good quality fish oil supplement may be started, too, as this can help some aging changes & may also help with her itching. Do consider one of the Nordic Natural fish oil supplements as they are highly regarded by veterinarians. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.