 |
One of the most common orthopedic issues found in young, particularly large breed dogs, is the development of limping. Limping can have many causes from trauma/soft tissue injury to infectious agents like Lyme disease. However, it’s important to not forget about many of the developmental bone disorders seen in young rapidly growing dogs such as Panosteitis or Hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Disorders like these are usually due to defects in elongation of the long bones of these dogs (the exact causes are often not known) and can lead to varying degrees of pain and limping in dogs from as young as 3-4 months of age most commonly up to 16 to 24 months of age. |
The limping can appear in one limb and then resolve, while only later to appear in another limb a short time later. Some dogs can develop fevers and stop eating in severe cases. It is important for animal guardians and veterinarians to work these dogs up appropriately so as to properly diagnose the cause of the lameness, as well as the treatment and prognosis. Most pet’s symptoms will resolve with rest and anti-inflammatory therapy including prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl, Previcox, or other pain medications like Tramadol.
I have found natural supplements like Proanthozone as well as Yucca Intensive to be helpful in some dogs. While the exact causes are not known for most of these conditions, many veterinarians feel that over supplementation and/or excessive protein intake may be involved.
| While growing pains are common amongst human children as a part of growth and maturation of the long bones, dogs often experience similar type pains as growing puppies. While this most commonly occurs in larger breed dogs, any dog can be affected. Usually between the ages of 4 and 18 months this often presents as some sort of limping or stiffness, which can often shift from one limb to another, after seemingly resolving on its own for a period of time. |
 |
It is important for a veterinarian to do a proper exam and workup to differentiate such symptoms from other causes of lameness that can present as any of the tick-borne diseases, especially Lyme disease. However, unlike Lyme disease, many puppies with growing pains or problems in maturation or calcification/elongation of their growing bones, present more with long bone pain, rather than the joint pain more common in infectious diseases. Usually through a combination of a physical exam, blood work and x-rays, these possibilities can be sorted out.
Some of the more common “growing pain” diseases in dogs include panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy (known as HOD). There are also certain calcification defects involving the joints of particularly large breed dogs, known as osteochondrosis or OCD that can also cause pain and lameness in young dogs. While in the latter condition of OCD, surgery is sometimes necessary, however, most of these other common “growing pain” conditions of young dogs can be treated through a combination of rest, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medication such as Rimadyl or Deramaxx, and mild opioid medications such as Tramadol.
Some clients will also supplement with antioxidants like Proanthozone, as well as fatty acids or Yucca Intensive. While most puppies typically outgrow most of these conditions by sexual maturity, some dogs can be so severely affected that on rare occasions (if surgery is not an option) euthanasia is rarely needed. While many of these conditions are not well understood, in terms of exact causation, it is important to feed your puppy a good quality natural diet, but also to recognize not to overfeed or over supplement as well, which some believe can also play a role in some of these conditions. .
 |
Many aging or senior animals, particularly large breed dogs, often suffer from degenerative spinal and/or joint disease, often limiting their mobility and agility, which makes it difficult for them to climb many stairs or jump up like they used to as younger dogs. |
While we have an emerging group of options in treating such pets, including nutritional supplements, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other pet pain medications, many of these handicapped animals also benefit from various physical devices in helping them ascend different areas of the home, just as routinely help handicapped humans move around easier.
In addition to complimentary medical therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and the emerging veterinary specialty of physical rehabilitation, I also find it helpful that guardians consider physical devices and assistants such as pet ramps and pet stairs to ease the work load on an aging or diseased spine or joints. In addition to pet ramps or pet stairs, many pets can be fitted for various type of carts attached to their lower body, which can often help dramatically as well in those pets with failing use of their lower legs because of spinal, arthritic disease, or even helpful in the post surgical disc disease candidate.
 |
How can I help my pet from developing signs of aging and declining mental function? This common question asked by guardians of geriatric cats and dogs and can often be helped by a combination of several dietary approaches, including supplements and, if necessary, prescription medications. In the canine world, this decline in brain function is often referred to as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. |
Signs of this syndrome seen more common in dogs but also in cats include disorientation, changes in behavior ranging from dullness or apathy, anxiety to irritability, as well as exhibiting changes in the sleep-wake cycle often awaking their guardians in the middle of the night, sometimes in a confused manner and/or wandering around the house aimlessly or getting trapped in corners. Along with these above changes, frustrating house soiling problems can also be seen.
By using a combination of dietary and nutritional supplements and sometimes prescription medications, many aging pets can sometimes be brought around to increased levels of alertness and activity not seen in years. I have found a combination approach, using (first and most importantly) a proper and balanced fresh homemade diet or at least a natural brand like Be Well, Wysong, or Wellness, along with various supplements offers the best chance at response. Recent research published in the journal Vet Therapy in 2008 showed in a double blind placebo study, how the supplement SAMe, which is particularly abundant in the liver and brain, to be helpful. Products such as Denosyl and Marin are excellent products to consider and have a sufficient amount of SAMe to make a clinical difference in many pets.
Vetri-DMG helps with chemical reactions in many cells, including the transfer of oxygen by the blood and into the brain. My favorite antioxidants which can help with mental alertness and acuity include Proanthozone, Cell Advance, and Super VitaChews from 1800PetMeds used all together. I have not been as impressed with Evsco Antioxidant. Fatty acids have also been studied and shown to help brain function at both ends of life, with my favorites being Nordic Naturals Omega-3 fatty acids, Pet Cod Liver Oil, and Super Pure Omega 3. Combining many of these supplements, along with a natural minimal processed commercial diet offers the best approach in my opinion in helping these aging pets.
As many pets get older, particularly in spayed or neutered dogs (being much less common in cats), the muscle tone often weakens around the urethra leading to the frustrating problem of involuntary urination and soiling of the home and pet bedding. And while there are many factors often involved from anatomic problems, hormonal issues, and weakness of the nerves to the area, there are at least certain drugs that can help effectively control this symptom in the majority of pets.
| One of the more common and effective first line choices often reached to by veterinarians is the prescription drug known as Proin. By tightening the sphincters around the urethra, regular use of Proin can help pets better retain urine between incidences of voiding. We will often use the lowest effective dose of Proin to control the problem, sometimes even being able to taper the dose to a few times a week down from the initial once daily to twice daily dosing often used. |
 |
Before your veterinarian places your pet on this drug, it’s important to rule out other medical disorders through a urine analysis, possibly urine culture and if indicated or needed, a blood panel and possibly x-ray studies. It’s also important, particularly in older pets to have blood pressure measured, as the increasing recognition of hypertension in dogs and cats from various cardiac and metabolic diseases can be exacerbated by the use of this drug. In fact, it was cardiac and hypertensive complications that led to the main ingredient in this drug being taken off of the human market only a few years ago. However, in the vast majority of dogs this drug has proven safe most of the time.
When Proin fails to work, especially in spayed female dogs, the use of low doses of prescription estrogen or Stilbestrol (as it is known as) or DES, can sometimes be quite helpful in managing urinary incontinence in conjunction with Proin or by itself. And while many of us learned in school of the dangers of estrogen therapy in dogs, I have not found in my 19 years of clinical practice many problems from using low dose hormonal therapy with estrogen to be problematic in dogs. However, these dogs all should be periodically monitored with blood work if taking DES or Stilbestrol long term.
I’ve found in my experience that some of the natural products out there like HomeoPets Leaks No More to not help most of the dogs I have tried it on. Sometimes chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture done by trained veterinarians can sometimes help those cases where weakness of the spinal nerves is involved with the urinary incontinence.
