Arthritic Dogs

[Sarah]

What do you feed her? I've read lots of things saying that natural diets help with arthritis

[chimama]

Let me start off with Sandy's story....I was on my way home (mom's at the time), from work...& saw this puppy beside the road....I got out & looked her over, she had the mange, lice, fleas, ticks, e.g., so I took her home with me....then I called the Vet & took her in that same day, spent quite a bit of money to get her all new again....after all that healed up, I tried to re home her, because at the time I really didn't want a pet.....I was young, busy with work, & running with friends, e.g.....anyways, she looked over at me one day with the cutest ever puppy eye expression & melted my heart, lol....so I talked mom into letting me keep her....well when she hit about 8 months....she become a handful....she kept me stressed out....she was always getting out of the fence, getting into neighbors garbage....made them mad, getting into fights with my mom's dogs, I had to keep running home from work like once a week or more...which was bad, because it was happening way to much....so we finally got some line that goes on the bottom of fences to keep them from pushing it out...I forget what it is called....ok, so then she gets mad because she can't get out anymore & starts chewing the fence....every single day....we tried breaking her from it....but impossible...so during that time she managed to ruin most of her teeth down to nubs...I was even coming home after work, & would walk her for an hour or more a day....I was young, so I had the energy to do so...I thought that would help calm her...but it didn't....anyways....so later in life...she has had several teeth removed because she got where she couldn't eat because of the pain, she only has like 2 in front now, so she slobbers all the time....she can't eat anything to hard....because she can't chew really good. She eats kibble mixed with can food...because we have to make it easy for her to eat....I don't know if I could have changed anything back then, of if I was doing things wrong....I walked her, played, & would just sit & talk with her ever evening for an hour or more...I have never had a dog that was as difficult as she was back then....she has really changed into a whole different dog since she moved to my new home with me in 2005-06.....she instantly became more relaxed, calmer, & super sweet, & no trouble. Thinking back....I wonder if it was the other dogs that caused her to be how she was...my mom had a chow that she always seem to fight....the chow would even pinch/bite at my legs when I would go out & pet on Sandy....anyways….sorry to keep rambling on...I get asked a simple question, & go on & on, lol.

[chimama]

We don't have any homeopathic trained vet's in this area. I live in a small town in S. E. Kentucky in the States, & you have to drive for hours to do anything it seems. This is basically a coal town with the average restaurants, 2 theaters, & just a few clothing stores.....I would love to live somewhere bigger.....but at least crime isn't as bad here as the bigger cities. We have two vets & that’s it. I had a fallen out with one, & refuse to go back….long story. I take Sandy to an out of town Vet.; it is around a 30 minute drive when he is in that town. His main office is almost a 2 hour drive.


Forgot to add......it has been hot here...we are in the summer months. It has been around 97 & up...but the last few days in the upper 80's, & starting to cool off at nights....fall is around the corner. She has a homemade bed; hubby made for her....it has two dog beds built in...very comfy, the other dogs love it...she laid in it for awhile, but stop using it....now she likes to lay in between two shrubs I have & on some pea gravel that surrounds them. Maybe because it's been so hot? She comes in the house in the winter...so may try a dog heating pad then....but can't keep one plugged on the porch during the day, because Dakota & Ivy like to chew everything up. =/


Geez.....I am going to shut up now before I write a novel.

[Lucy]

Don't apologise for talking lol its a forum, its what we all do!

Ok, as far as diet goes, I understand that she can't chew all that well but you can buy, or make, grinds which she should be able to eat probably easier than kibble.
Since the bones are mostly chewed for teeth and she doesn't have any, feeding grinds is perfectly fine. The bone in there will help keep her stools firm and also she'll get the health benefits from it.

Even if you don't want to switch her on to raw, I'd still get some salmon or maybe cod liver oil and start giving that to her with her food. Obviously you can't stop the arthritis but hopefully it will help to ease it.

I've looked at this is an interesting article on it:
www.naturalmatters.net/article-view.asp?article=986
She suggests Evening Primrose Oil for certain types of Arthrtitis

Also this article www.earthclinic.com/Pets/arthritis.html suggests adding vitamin C to the diet.

I really hope you can find something that helps Sandy with her pain xx

[chimama]

Will try the suggestions...like adding it to her current food. I am sure she would go nuts for Salmon lol...do you just buy can? or is the certain ones to not buy? We have small deli's here....but mostly just like hams, chicken, e.t.c. She still has some teeth.....I get her teeth professionally cleaned about twice a year...just to make sure she doens't loose those. Thanks for the links....will def. read them.

[rosiesmum]

Good luck

x

[Lucy]

You can try Grizzly Salmon Oil or theres also Healthy Hounds which is slightly cheaper, not sure if you have that over there? They both come in the bottles with pumps.
I know theres a certain kind of salmon that you should steer clear from over there, can't remember the name though. I'll ask Tracy or Kristi.

You can also get salmon oil capsules which would be easier to give. You can give the human grade ones which might even be cheaper than ones made for dogs.

If you give cod liver oil or any other fish oil, then you need to add Vitamin E so the body can process the oil. You don't need to give it with salmon oil though (as far as I'm aware).