My lab has arthritis

Luvmykitty · 03-12-2008, 08:43 AM

I've been noticing off and on that my older dog has been limping a bit and his "knee" on his front leg has been swollen. My vet said he has arthritis. I asked what to do for him and he said I can give him glucosamine tablets and can buy them at any drugstore. He said he could prescribe stuff but that he has had good luck with ordinary tablets that you can buy over the counter. He did say not to follow the directions for people but to crush one double strength tablet and put it in the dog's food every day.

Anyone else get this advice or try it for their dogs? Any other suggestions to make my dog more comfortable when he has these attacks of pain?

Pet'sBestFriend · 03-14-2008, 04:49 AM

About the medicines or treatment that you could do to help your doggie, I'm sorry for I couldn't suggest anything specific. But I think the pain that humans who have arthritis feel are the same with what the dogs feel if they have arthritis too. Because I too have arthritis, what I normally do is to cover the affected area with a cloth that was dip in a hot water. It would really relieve the pain on the affected area.

Luvmykitty · 03-14-2008, 06:46 AM

I'm sure heat would help relieve the pain when he is having an attack. The vet mentioned putting a hot water bottle under the blanket in his doggie bed for him to lay on with his front legs. I'm not sure he would leave the wet cloth on his leg but I may give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion.

puppylove · 03-15-2008, 11:42 PM

I know my oldest likes to cuddle with a blanket and pillow and make a nest. His bed is next to the heater so it gets quite warm and cozy. We've also bought one of the microwaveable packs (normally with rice or buckwheat hulls) to use, a rather large pillow he can cuddle as well. The best thing we've done is make sure he's on a good quality food and give him Missing Link Plus which is a supplement with glucosamine in it as well as many other beneficial things. His bouts with arthritis and hip problems have completely gone away, and he has bad joints from having Lyme as well as being 12 years old.

BillysMa · 03-17-2008, 01:43 PM

Yes, I would think that the cloth would be detrimental eventually because it would cool down. However a hot water bottle or a heating pad would provide more lasting relief for him. Did the vet tell you what dose to give him, of glucosamine?