I just discovered this website and can't seem to get off! I'm learning a lot. But can't seem to find out what I can do for my two older dogs. I'm new to the aging dog experience. Is this just what I should expect?

Atti, my 8 year old Rott mix, had both acl's in her back legs replaced when she was 2. (Her first year is a big?)I start her on glucosomine. I walk her about 2-3 miles every morning to keep her loose. Three weeks ago she came home from the walk and couldn't put weight on her back leg. I rested her and it got worse. Off to the vet. BIG MISTAKE. He does an x-ray and sends it off for the radiologist to read. He tells me it looks like bone cancer in her hip. The radiologist reads the films and tells me there are suspicous cells. I'm not a doctor - but how can you read cells in x-rays? They tell me to take her to an oncologist. The oncologist won't see her until I have either a biopsy or blood work to confirm. I refuse the biopsy and have the blood work. It comes out ok. I take her to another clinic with specialists. They push biopsy. I refused (it would mean taking her leg out of the socket and removing pieces of the inside of the socket - I research the web and find this biopsy can result in her never walking again). I demanded a CT scan. The CT comes back that she does not have cancer, rather a herniated disc, moderate hip dysplasia and arthritis. Can't believe I was actually happy with that news! I refuse back surgery. They send me back to Dr. Gloom. He wants to treat her with Rimadyl and no exercise. This dog cannot live without some exercise so I rested her for a week and now I'm taking her for short walks and giving her Rimadyl twice a day with food. She is just stiff now when she doesn't move for a while, and still favors that leg. My question is does someone have anything else I can do for her? Swimming is not an option here. What is your experience with Rimadyl?

My other dog, Snorkel - a 10 year old husky mix, was paralyzed while jumping for a frisbee about 5 years ago. Dr. Glooom wants to euthanize - I refuse - go to an emergency clinic and have MRI (ca ching!)- it was a loosened blood clot - treated him with steroids. He walks now with a decided limp but is stiffening up with arthritis as well. I've also been noticing fat tumors throughout. He is also on glucosomine and I just started him on half doses of Rimadyl. Short walks for him too. Any ideas?

Thanks for any help or guideance to further research.

Yes, this site/forum is very informative.
Sounds like you have a lot going on with those dogs. And sorry you are "in the runaround"
I will note on just one point, the Rimadyl. Try a search in this forum as "Rimadyl". Read all you can about it. There are some serious side effects to this drug. My vet was quick to prescribe it too. Arm yourself with knowledge.
Michele

I hope you can find a vet whos' advise you can trust. I was very lucky. When my 8 & 1/2 yr GSD started dragging his hind legs a little, my reg vet referred me to Neorologist who confirmed bad discs (using mileogram). Dog had surgery & was perfect until 10 & 1/2 when he needed a hip replacement (orthopedic specialist ref. by my vet) did great, could run, jump, etc., until he came down with bone cancer at 11 1/2. After leg amputation & follow-up chemo by Oncologist (again ref. by reg vet), my dog led a full & happy life until he was 14 & 1/2. I guess my point is, that it is important to do as much research as you possibly can, but at some point you need a great vet who can save your dogs life &/or add many more happy, pain free years. I thank God every day for my dogs' regular vet, neorologist, orthopod, & oncologist, without whom, I would not have had all those wonderful extra years with my dog.

I am so sorry to hear of your dogs trials and your loss. I hope I get that many years with my two pals. Your experience has helped me put some things in perspective. I'm researching like crazy to find our way through this and to keep them healthy/happy. I'm finding that if, when I go to the vet, I come in armed with ideas and research - I end up saving them from some pretty needless stuff.

If anyone else reads this - need more ideas!

So sorry that you are having the horrible experiences with your dogs. Last year my 9 year old German Shepherd was having difficulty and I could tell she was in pain. Went to a vet here and they did xrays. Was told she had HD caused by arthritis. This was no suprise to me, but I could not stand to see her in pain. They put her on pred and rimadyl. This went on for a while. As time passed I realized that I would loose her if I didn't do something different. Since I didn't know who to go to..I looked in the phone book and found a vet that sounded good. I went and he was appalled at her treatment. He took her off of pred. and Rimadyl. He recommened Zubrin and a series of shots..Adequan. After the series of 8 shots..she gets one a month. That has been a year ago and she is much better. No, it doesn't get rid of the hd, but she has lost almost 30 lbs. and the Zubrin works so well for the pain.

I agree about the Adequan. My dogs' Orthopod did the series & then the monthly using both Adequan & Legend. The combination worked really well for many years.

I don't know for a fact how it works in dogs but Adequen & Legend works incredably well in horses for stifle & hock joint problems. But I would think that it would be just as effective for use in dogs with joint issues. It would be my next step if cosiquin or any of the other glucosamine & chondroitin products did not produce the desired results. It is pricey but well worth it if you are in a position to be able to provide this level of treatment for you dog.

Well, I can only attest to how it has helped my girl, Elizabeth. She still is slower and stiffer, but much improved since she started Adequan. She was 9 yrs. in Dec. so I expect she will continue to be a little slower. She still wants to play everyday and run after her ball..so I do that for her. The Zubrin is quick acting and does not do the damage that Rimadyl does. But if I couldn't get it, I would do Rimadyl..anything for Elizabeth. Losing the weight helped tremendously.

I have a 10 year old GSd in the house. Lucky, no issues. We do give him the Grand Flex as well as the actively working dogs.

I have a 10 year old dobermann who is full of arthritus and she is also on the rimadyl, she also have a bad leg een operation was not possible because they heard a noise by her hart, she uses rimadyl now for a year with no problems at all, she also get a natural supplement for her arthritus, she lives a happy life with no pain plays with the other 4 dogs, the last 3 weaks we stopped the rimadyl and she only uses the supplement now and it goes very well at the time, but she is an old lady and I don't want her full of pain, so sometimes I prefer to give her rimadyl and no pain.

Excuses my language, cause in normal live I only speak and write Dutch! dscf0181.rar