Strauss's 11th birthday - Page 2

Dogs have to be a in a lot of pain to show pain. I prefer to be proactive. JMO. I'd ask your vet when you get a chance. 

Acupuncture may also be a good option for him...given that the neck, spine, hips and stifles all looked good, he still may have some impingement on the cauda equina bundle, acupuncture and/or chiropractic treatment can be of assistance. 

I love the very last photo, Xeph...makes me choke up a bit, looking into his eyes and seeing who he is. Funny thing, as I type this, Neil Young's "Long May You Run" just came on the radio--and it is precisely what I wish for this gentleman-warrior. Happy birthday, Strauss!

Those wise eyes, what they exemplify at his age is extrodinary.....  Love it.

OK,  what I did for my almost 15 year old sammie girl was resistance training;  whatever way she wanted to go I would put a slight amount of finger pressure on her rear leg (outside muscle) and let her lean into my finger pressure, both sides for 30 seconds to a minute each side several times/day.   Also  up and down hills, like a driveway cutout or a gradual hill and I started her with that about the age of 13 as I felt she was starting to decline somewhat and boy did I see a difference in a couple of weeks.  Also I picked up one foot at a time on level surface and hold the foot for a bit, then go to the next foot.  Did that once per day for months.  Helped her a lot and the best part is "I" could see a noticeable difference.  Good luck  Nan

As Jenni78 said, the dog has to be in a lot of pain for it to be noticeable by people.  Starting the Adequan injections early, is not simply a recommendation, its the best way to help the dog keep what muscle mass they have left.  Adequan reduces their pain and has limited healing properties in the cartilage.  By giving it to the dog earlier, rather than later, you are reducing the speed at which the cartilage breakdown occurs. The dog will also become more active, which will help maintain or slightly increase muscle mass and will allow you to more easily introduce a maintenance, exercise regimen. 

Using Adequan is a science with horses and the methodology for its uses is not much different with dogs.  By starting the injections early, his joints will last longer, his arthritic pain will decrease and will delay the need to introducte painkillers.  The reason why you pair the injections with Type II Collagen and HA is because it improves cell adhesion.  You will see far greater results with that combo that than the usual NSAID and glucosamine combo that vets prescribe (note, you will eventually need to do this too, but it should not be your first choice). 

Starting earlier rather than later, also applies to the steroids.  Some vets won't pair an injectable steroid like prednisone with an NSAID and many dogs organs can't handle that combo either.  So before the dogs needs to get on NSAID's full time, get them on regimen of injectable steroids.  I've seen it tried both ways on German Shepherds, by a couple of owners that were nurses.  They gave the Adequan and injectable steroids themselves to the dogs.  The dogs that got Adequan and steroids early, when they first started showing difficulty moving had much more tone rear leg muscles than the ones that got it later, as a last resort.  I can't say if they lived longer, but they were significantly more mobile at an older age than than peers, in similar condition.

Last, get any questionable teeth pulled out while he's still strong.  You'd be surprised how many decent looking teeth actually have completely black, rotten roots, beneath the gumline.  Bad roots, broken teeth and infected teeth really sap the energy and will out of old dogs because they are dealing with other pain issues, in addition to the bad teeth.

On a more positive note, I love when these dogs get old and are both fully mobile and healthy.  Its a different kind of cute, like a reverse puppy.  Yours definately falls into that category.

Second momo's comments fully...re the early intervention to help preserve the muscle mass in the hind limbs, and especially regarding the teeth. If you notice any degree of foulness to the dog's breath, insist on your vet doing not just a dental cleaning, but take x-rays of the teeth as well--my old girls each had slab-fractured molars that didn't look bad to the naked eye, and which didn't seem to bother them, but I know a necrotic odor when I smell it, and sure enough, when we shot films of the mouth, there was decay below the gum level and those teeth needed to come out. The bacteria that is showered into the bloodstream from below the gum tooth decay will cause havoc with a senior dog's organ functions, and most definitely will adversely affect their lifespan.

Beautiful old gentleman! Long may he run!

jackie harris