Adaquan injections - Page 3

I have used it and it helps .. get a prescription and give it yourself .. saves a ton of money and easier on your dog.  I do subdermal and it works just as well .. read the research and it did as well subdermal there too!

bubbabooboo, before I begin I know every dog is different.  However, I have seen first hand the difference between subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of Adequan.  Remember, I am not saying that a subcutaneous injection does not work.  What I am saying is that the effect is longer lasting and causes less nausea to the dog when given intramuscularly.  Also despite what you have read, it is well known that subcutaneous injections absorb into the body less efficiently than intrantramuscular injections for many types of medications (human and animal).  Horses only get Adequan injected intramuscularly and there are many studies addressing why its best to do so.  The label even says to give it by intramuscular injection to dogs. 

I also know medical opinions vary, but when I told my e-vet and my regualr vet that the substitute vet gave the Adequan subcutaneously, they both said he was careless and he should have at minimum read the instructions on the label, noting it works best when given by intrantramuscular injection.  I will continue to tell people to give intramuscular injections of Adequan for best results.  Its not cheap, so I feel its best to try and get the fullest effect of what you have paid for.  I personally will never allow Adequan to be given subcutaneously to any future dog I own, that may need it.

I need some help, we are 3 weeks into the loading dose of adaquan injections, and I am not seeing any improvement, actually I think she is getting worse. To top that off her appetite is going down hill. This AM she could barely get up and was limping very bad and would not eat. As I have stated before she is only 4yrs old. This is killing me seeing her like this. My Vet seems to think she will get alittle better but does not seem very optimistic on the whole.  Does anybody have any words of wisdom or encouragement? I know her quality of life must suck right now! I hope this is not a sign of worse to come maybe just a bump in the road? I don't know.

Thanks all

Pain is an appetite supressant so don't jump to thinking it is another problem.  It may just be a symptom.  I don't think three weeks is enough time to see an improvemnt.  Had  you taken the xrays to someone else for another opinion?  Is she still on glcosamine and pain meds?  Are you exercising her at all?  If you pay close attention to how she is limping, it might geive you a clue as to if it is really her hip, of her spine or something esle that was not even looked at....

if you can get some frozen green tripe and top her meal off with that.  you are still feeding raw right?

Darcy

Yes Darcy, still feeding raw, I have a freezer full of green tripe that she used to love but does not eat now.  She is still on the glucosamine, Tramadol although lately she will not take them. The vet put her on 10 days of rimadyl we are at 6 days now into and really no improvement. Had blood work done and urine test all seemed good. I have noticed that she is putting so much pressure on her good leg that her foot seems to be splayed out when standing and she licks it constantly when lying down. The vet looked at last week and could not find anything wrong with it. I guess I will have to take the X-rays and get another opinion. I even talked to the vet about a spine issue and he said that on the last round of pics it looked good. We have not been walking the past week because she was limping so bad. She seems to be so crippled up now I don't know what to do. I am going nuts over this! A dog with mild HD should not be in this much pain correct? I really need to find out what is going on and what to do. For now I guess I will see if the injections help but I have to be honest I thought I would see some improvement, not a worsening situation. Thanks for any and all help!

Not enough time.

90 days minimum for it to be fully in their system.  Same goes for supplements like glucosamine.  What brand of glucosamine are you using?  If its not Cosequin or Dasuquin you need to switch to one of them.  Its the only over-the-counter supplement with human grade quality control.  The other brands are mostly junk with a few limited exceptions.  The only other human grade quality control supplment is Animal Health Options Promotion, but its not over-the-counter, only a vet can order it and its more expensive than cosequin or dasuquin.

Every vets opinion is different, but my two vets have said consistant excersice is key.  If the dogs not moving they will stiffen up and feel more pain.  Moving and excercise helps reduce pain.  She should be walking because muscle atrophy is going to make her symptoms worse.  She needs to be lean and muscular with stamina to stave off the overall hip dysplasia pain.  I don't know what her exact condition is, but 45 minutes of slow walking twice a day with hills should be the minimum, if she can handle it.  Laying around will make it worse and harder for her to recover.  Do you have access to water or a pool?  Hydrotherapy could be the right thing for her in the begining process of gaining her muscle tone back. 

Thanks for the replies. She is taking cosequin ds capsules I sprinkle on her food, but she has been hit or miss on eating sometimes eats in the AM and won't eat the PM meal and vice versa depends on the day.  I have tried the chewables but she would not take them, so I swiitched to the capsules. We will get back on the walks. The rymadyl she will take (go figure she loves the stuff that is not good for her) the Tramadol I have to put in her mouth and rub her throat while holding her mouth.  Will have to see who has hydro therapy close by.

I don't like that she's licking at that hind paw...that suggests pain that's neurologic in origin, which brings me back to the question of cauda equina syndrome as opposed to the mild dysplasia being the issue.  Do you know if she has any transitional vertebra in the lower section of her spine?

Hexe, I am not sure on the vertebra issue but I am calling the vet today, because yesterday she was walking a little sideways and bumping in to things when she first got up. What is cauda equina syndrome? What are the treatments for it, if any? Thanks.