My senior dog was diagnosed with bone spurs. How do I manage his pain?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. So sorry to hear that Bean is having this issue. The best option is to speak to your vet about getting him on some anti-inflammatory medications. These medications (like carprofen for example) work extremely well in managing arthritis pain in dogs. You could also (as an adjunct) put him on a joint supplement. This alone will not do much but combined with the anti-inflammatories this will surely help. I suggest this one: ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Missing-Link-Ultimate-Joint-Supplement/dp/B000SSN04M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522145466&sr=8-2&keywords=missing+link+dog ) The final option is to get him on prescription diet made to help the joints like Hill's j/d. This diet can sometimes be powerful enough to help that you don't even need the other two things I mentioned above. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF1Y7kXO6ww ) ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hills-Prescription-Diet-Canine-12kg/dp/B00XHXJP1W/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1522145551&sr=1-2&keywords=hill%27s+j%2Fd ) If he is overweight, getting him to lose weight is imperative for relieving pressure on the joints. I suggest you talk to your vet about the above and they can help direct you on how to proceed. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The x-rays are a bit difficult to interpret because they are a little fuzzy, but I can see that Maicah has some minor changes on the bottoms of her vertebrae - called spondylosis. This can definitely cause discomfort in the back. I would talk to her vet about treatments that can help with this kind of pain. I am not able to evaluate her hind limbs because the assistant's hands are covering them up. Another possible cause of her stiffness is joint pain caused by the ehrlichia infection. This should improve with appropriate treatment.

Hello, Greyhounds are predisposed to cancers of the leg bones, which is why we always like to take x-rays whenever a senior greyhound starts limping. I am concerned with your description of being able to feel bone and unsure whether that is normal for him or not. Another muscle strain could be treated with Previcox just the same as the last one. Your veterinarian could best guide you on whether an x-ray is necessary after a physical exam. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I agree, surgery at this age would not be ideal given her age. You do not indicate what meds she is already on, but she should be receiving an NSAID such as meloxicam, carprofen, or any one of several excellent drugs in this classification. I would also have her on gabapentin, possibly tramadol, & maybe even Adequan injections, just in case some of her joints are painful. An alternative for the NSAIDs would be steroids as they are very good at reducing inflammation, but that does put her at some risk for side effects. Hopefully, these can keep him comfortable for some time to come. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The alternative to surgery is time, physical therapy, and pain medications. I would recommend starting with an examination by a vet to determine what the issue is and if it is starting to cause neurologic deficits. The vet can help determine the best course of treatment and supportive therapies to keep Buzz comfortable. It is also important to do cage rest (the doggie equivalent of bed rest) if you think that he is having another bulging disc.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be quite painful and strong pain control medications such as opioids and NSAIDs should be considered. I agree with your veterinarian in that it takes several weeks on antibiotics to resolve. I would recommend that you consider contacting your veterinarian so that they consider prescribing something strong to treat his pain. I really hope he feels better.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is severe hip dysplasia present in both hips, I am afraid. The left hip id also subluxated and I suspect it is causing more discomfort than the right hip. Hip dysplasia is a disease that dogs are born with. Arya must have had it sine a puppy but most likely it was not as severe as now. Spondylosis in the lumbar spine is usually a result of infection of intervertebral disc. Typically, it is an accidental finding in dogs that do not cause mobility problems. However, CT scan of the spine would give more detailed information about the severity of spondylosis.