Senior dog scooting, back legs weak. Adequan not working. What's next?

Yes, I agree with your vet, x-rays are a good idea. Glucosamine is fine to give but it is not likely to significantly impact her at this stage. It will not hurt anything but it probably won't help much. If she has arthritis in her hips or spine then she likely needs long term therapy with NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Rimadyl) and pain medication (like Tramadol or Gabapentin). The combination of these two types of medications works wonders for arthritis. She will need to be on them for the rest of her life. If there is no arthritis then this could be a neurological issue which would need another type of therapy (mainly steroids like Prednisone). The x-rays will help to narrow this down. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I am so sorry to hear this. I would make sure she is on a joint supplement - I like dasuquin or flexadin. I would also look into the orthodog hip hound brace. I have had some of my geriatric patients who this has help tremendously with getting up. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on everyone. I would also talk to your vet about whether or not she needs a daily anti-inflammatory to help keep her comfortable. Finally, if you can find a vet in your area who specializes in acupuncture and Chinese herbs, this can be a tremendous help to increase the STRENGTH and decrease pain in an arthritic dog. I hope this helps!

Adequan and other injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (the active ingredient of adequan) showed promising results when they were first tested for use in arthritic patients, but the most recent studies suggest that it's not very beneficial. I have actually stopped recommending it, because the I have not seen sufficient data to show that they are worth the money and need for a regular injection. Some people still swear by it and may recommend in cases where everything else has failed, so that may be the reason it was given to Abbey. Considering Abbey does not appear to be getting any benefit from the injections, I would definitely question your vet about the need for further injections and also about the potential need for other medications to help with the pain. I hope that helps and Abbey feels better soon.

There is more you can do for Dexter. He may improve with acupuncture for the neurological deficits and it can relieve his pain and help him relax and enjoy life. As far as the walking goes getting him specific exercises to retrain his legs will improve his walking. If there is a veterinary rehabilitation center near you they should be able to help you with these exercises and get you in touch with an acupuncture veterinarian. If they offer hydrotherapy, walking in the underwater treadmill will improve his strength and gait. Many dogs do get better so please continue with the medication and seek out some alternative treatments if you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.

I am not sure of your location, but also make sure to check Dexter thoroughly for the presence of ticks. Tick paralysis can present in a similar fashion and is typically non-painful. Removal of the tick and supportive care results in a full recovery majority of the time. Another potential is coondog paralysis if Dexter has had any contact with a raccoon recently. As everyone else has stated, there is always the potential for an infectious or inflammatory CNS disease, trauma, or a congenital abnormality. He may need more advanced diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI) and CSF tap to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Most of these diagnostics are performed by board-certified veterinary neurologists.

Sorry to hear about Dakota's current predicament. Assuming that her two endocrine conditions are well managed, the problem with mobility is likely a separate problem entirely. A myelogram is certainly a decent option for discovering certain abnormalities in the spine, but the best way to rule these out involve a CT Scan or MRI. These are tests that are available only through a specialty hospital in most cases. If she has feeling in all of her limbs, I have doubts that the disease process is of spinal origin however, particularly if this has already been going on for a week. Other causes of lack of mobility are certain infectious diseases (tick borne diseases in particular), traumatic injuries to the spine (fractures to the actual vertebra), severe arthritis, and several different cancerous processes involving the bones and spinal cord. There are also degenerative neurologic conditions that can affected any of the limbs or the brain, ultimately resulting in mobility issues. I tend to lean towards an infectious process or arthritis since there is pain occurring from time to time. I would say that investigating this issue in more detail with your vet would be worth while, with some blood work and a check for tick borne diseases. Hope this helps!

Oh no. Poor girl : ( It sounds like Dixie is experiencing some pretty painful musculoskeletal disorder, which can be either her back or hip area. I would highly recommend taking her to your local vet for pain control medication right away. There are no safe options over the counter that we can recommend here so it is best to have her seen. The vet will also likely recommend x-rays of her back and hips to properly identify the underlying problem so that we know for sure we are on the right course of treatment for her. I do hope that your fur baby feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.