What can I give my senior dog for back leg weakness and joint pain?

Unfortunately, there aren't any OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. It would be best if Mightus is seen by a vet as soon as possible for this, and I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet sooner than Friday. Otherwise, I would rest him until he sees a vet. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. I would keep him confined to a small room or crate if possible to keep him from moving around too much. Financial help: You can see if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/

Poor Blitz. I would first make sure you have him at a healthy weight. These things can be so much harder to handle when they are overweight. I am most worried about the aspirin dose as it can cause an upset stomach and even a GI ulcer when given for too long. I would talk to your vet about trying Galliprant or rimadyl or something similar for pain and inflammation. Galliprant is the safest for the liver and kidneys. I would also look to see if you have an alternative or integrative vet in your area that specializes in Chinese herbs and acupuncture. I have had great success with these and dogs with severe arthritis and pain. Finally, I would look into a brace that helps these guys stand up. It is called orthodog hip hound brace. You can also look into Dr. Buzby's toegrips or pawfriction to help him with traction on slick floors if that seems to be troubling him as well. I hope this helps!

Poor Pepper! First off, please do not give her any more aspirin. It's not safe to give in dogs because it causes GI ulcers and GI bleeding. It could be that she is suffering from arthritis, but it could also be that she has torn a ligament in her knee called the cranial cruciate ligament. This would lead her to be unable to put any weight on it. It's very clearly hurting her a lot because she won't put weight on the leg. She needs to see a vet for this problem, and I would call the vet first in the morning to get her an appointment to be seen asap. Tonight, rest her as much as possible. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she's done. Do NOT give her any more aspirin or any other human pain medications. The vet can prescribe safe ones as needed. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

No, do not give Chief baby aspirin. It causes GI bleeding and ulcers in dogs, and is not safe to give at all. It sounds like he could have some back pain or possibly hip pain. He needs to see a vet as soon as possible for this problem. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can treat it as well as prescribe safe pain medications for him. Please take him into the vet first thing tomorrow morning, and rest him until them. No running, jumping, or playing. Don't pick him up unless absolutely necessary. Take him out to toilet on a lead only and bring him right back in when he's done. Best of luck.

No ibuprofen is not safe to give to your dog. While aspirin had been used for pain relief many years ago now there are safer pain medications specifically for dogs. Aspirin can cause gastric ulcers and intestinal bleeding so I never recommend it. Your veterinarian should examine Hershey as she may have injured the ACL on the other leg. Over 70% of dogs who damage one ACL damage the other one within a few years. Hershey will need rest, no jumping, controlled leash walks and pain medication to get better without surgery. If there is a dog rehabilitation center near you they can give exercises for home care and can provide therapy usually including hydrotherapy. If the ligament is torn completely and the lameness not improving in a few weeks with rest, therapy and medication then Hershey may need surgery on the other knee too. Please talk with your veterinarian about prescribing a safe pain medication for Hershey. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hershey.

Dogs can experience pain from a variety of health conditions, including [osteoarthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/),[ dental disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/dental-disease/), [urinary tract infections](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/utis-in-dogs/) or traumatic injuries, among many others. While it is extremely difficult to see our four-legged friends in pain, there are no safe and effective over-the-counter medications for managing pain in dogs (or cats). Over the counter pain relievers for humans, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen (Aleve) are all toxic to animals. Aspirin should also not be given to dogs because it causes significant irritation and potential ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract, and it inhibits a dog’s ability to clot blood. If you think that your dog is in pain, your best bet is to take him to your veterinarian. After performing a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam/), your veterinarian will be able to prescribe safe and effective medication. Only give pain medication to the pet for which it was prescribed due to risks with drug interactions, improper doses or contraindications with certain medical conditions. ### Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Galliprant is a registered trademark of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.

I always recommend against giving baby aspirin to dogs. It makes it more difficult to give them medication if we need to switch them. If Jack hurt his rear leg I do recommend a physical examination be performed on him at a vet. Dogs can have just a simple soft tissue injury but they can also have issues with their knee cap or even an Cruciate ligament rupture (like an ACL in a football player). Going to the veterinarian they can prescribe good anti-inflammatories that would not be able to be given if you gave the aspirin. They can also dispense good pain medication to help Jack. Until you can get him to a veterinarian I recommend strict rest and only leash walks to go outside to the bathroom and then back inside. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Jack feels better soon.