You & Your Pet by Dr. Wise

Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association 11 South Angell Street #347 · Providence, RI 02906 (877) 521-0103 (866) 277-0238 Toll-Free ·Fax

Can dietary supplementation give dogs with arthritis significant relief?  If so, which ones have proven to be useful and what can I expect if I use them?

As with humans, arthritis in dogs can be extraordinarily complicated to find true relief for their pain.  Certainly, the two most common forms of arthritis we are confronted with in veterinary medicine are hip dysplasia (ball and socket joint of the rear legs become eroded away) and ankylosing spondylosis of the lower spine (bony fusion between vertebrae).

Twenty years ago the only viable options we could present to owners whose animals were in obvious discomfort were anti-inflammatory pain medicines like aspirin or corticosteroids and several surgical procedures.  These are still used commonly, but if we can eliminate the need for surgery with appropriate and safe dietary supplements, this is the ideal solution.  Remember, surgery should be a last resort, not a first. 

Chondroitin Sulfate/Glucosamine and Prozyme are the two supplements that have become universally accepted in veterinary medicine.  The beauty about these two is that neither is a "drug," if you will.  They are naturally occurring compounds in the body.  Chondroitin Sulfate/Glucosamine are the natural components of cartilage and have been proven to delay onset of clinical signs in a case diagnosed early.  It will help repair damaged cartilage and dramatically increase the amount of synovial fluid (joint fluid that gives cushion to our joints).   Clients must be cautioned that four to six months may be needed to see expected results, although in my experience, it has been of shorter duration.

Prozyme are naturally occurring pancreatic enzymes originally formulated for gastrointestinal problems in people (Tymezyme) and animals.   It was found that the threshold to initialize pain was increased dramatically.   It is known that 15-25 percent of the protein eaten by animals is never digested.   Using this product, it was found that less than five percent is undigested; therefore a greater percentage of protein is now available to be used for reparative purposes or stimulating the immune system.  The key is to consult with your veterinarian about what will work best for your beloved pet.

Rex, our eleven-year-old German Shepard, has so much difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying position, and walks so slowly.   He is not active like he used to be.  Is this arthritis, and if so, is there anything that will help him?

Yes, this certainly can be arthritis.  Dogs develop arthritis as they age, just like people do.  They can get arthritis in any joint, but with aging it seems to be worse in the hips.  This is why it is more difficult for them to rise to a standing position.  It seems to be worse in large breed dogs because they have more weight to carry on their legs.  However, I have seen definite arthritis problems in small dogs, too.

Unfortunately, our pets cannot talk to us.   Therefore, we have to observe the signs that they show us.  They cannot say "My hips sure hurt as I get up."  Most arthritic dogs do not show sharp pain.  You can move an arthritic joint in all directions, and the dog will not show pain.  It mainly hurts him when he puts his own weight on the joint.

Now, a word of caution.  A dog with the signs you described could have some other serious medical condition.  A dog with weakness could have heart disease, anemia, infection or many other medical conditions.  The dog should be examined by a veterinarian to make sure his general health is alright.   If it turns out that his problem is only arthritis, then medicine can be prescribed to help him.

In the past two to three years, new medicines have been developed that have greatly helped dogs showing pain from osteoarthritis.  Even I have been amazed at how much these drugs have helped many of my patients.  I can see it when I re-examine the dogs after medication and the clients say "It's great!   He is back to his old, active self again.  He is like a young dog!"

These medicines do not cure the bad arthritis, but they do relieve the pain.  In the end, that means a happier life for your dog and for you.

My nine-year-old Labrador has chronic arthritis and has been limping on her rear legs and slow to get up.  Is it safe to give her aspirin?  Are there other pain relievers you might suggest?

Aspirin is a very common pain reliever that can be used quite safely in a dog.  It is often a first-line pain reliever used in mild to moderate musculoskeletal problems.  It is best given in buffered form (Bayer, Bufferin, generic tri-buffered aspirin, etc.)  to reduce irritation to the stomach lining.  You may want to give it with or just after a meal to reduce the risk of an upset stomach.  Most importantly, before starting any medication, check with your veterinarian about your pet's medical problem and get the appropriate dose and form to use.

There are other stronger pain relievers than can be tried if aspirin isn't tolerated by the dog or if it doesn't seem to be helping.  Common household pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen and Tylenol can have more serious gastro-intestinal side effects and are rarely recommended in dogs.  Cats in particular should never be given Tylenol.  A number of new prescription pain relievers have become available in the last year which appear to have minimal side effects.  These have proved to be quite effective, even in some long standing chronic arthritis cases.  Ask your veterinarian if your pet might be a candidate for one of these newer medications and remember to always check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any over-the-counter medication.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.