Dog

[tmax525]

What can I give my 14yr old golden retriever to fight arthritis ect. heard asprin & Iburophen not good for dogs?
Starter her on recovery sa ? Have any safe ideas without exoensive vet bills ??
Thanks Tmax

[skydnsr]

Yes, you could try either an antiinflammatory painkiller like Rimadyl or Metacam, and/or you could try a general antiinflammatory drug like prednisone, and if those are going to work, you should see a big difference within a week.  

It's still not a black or white, either-or propostion, though.  It might work to some degree, but not enough, or it might work great, but not for long.  There is no way around just trying what your chosen vet thinks is best and then hoping for the best.  It's okay to set a financial limit or a time limit on what you are willing to try.

[tmax525]

Any new miracle drug out there , to get old retreiver up and going from not being able to stand on back legs. Without expensive vet bills , exrays, will strong anti-immflammatory drugs possible start working within another week, tried recovery stuff for week , not really working. No guarantees ect. but if I had another retriever come forth with same issues and said made it through , give it a shot as dog healthy shame to put down ect.
Thanks Tmax

[tmax525]

Thanks Skydnsr===for your help , treatment kinda changes daily who ever is on dog duty ect "doggie diapers" and clean up , tends to say time to put down? if somebuddy out there had an older golden retreiver that had these issues , where dog couldn't walk and recovered would be helpful to us to give aggressive treatment  to let her hang in since not in any pain never cost us a nickel in vet bills in OH YA forgot to tell ya turned 15 haha!!!
Hard to tell age looks acts younger haha!!
  "Aloha " Skydnsr you've been helpful ---ya recovery help but not getting up and walking after week!!! Run into anyone with these issues please let me know what there doing ok!!!

[skydnsr]

Your original question was how to help an elderly, arthritic dog, in the most economical fashion.  With your additional information (doggie diapers, can't stand on back legs, considering euthanasia), it is becoming more clear that the situation is very advanced.  Any of the arthritis remedies that have been mentioned work best if started when the dog first shows mild symptoms.  In the end stages of the disease process, they tend not to work nearly as well.  

The only time I have seen a dog have symptoms as bad as what you are describing that then got back onto her feet was one of my own, a few years ago, when I inadvertantly pushed the dog into a state of collapse by exercising her too hard.  After a few days of rest and Rimadyl, she did recover to her previous level of functioning.  She was, I think, 11 at the time.  She lived a couple of more years after that and did still have arthritis but was on her feet to the end.  Now that I think about it, my brother and his family had a dachsund that got a back injury that caused symptoms that severe, and the dog did recover, but she was only about a year old when it happened.

For an elderly dog that has been gradually and steadily declining, it is much less likely to see a dramatic recovery.   It doesn't seem reasonable to me to put all one's hopes into a low-level intervention like oral glucosamine, which I agree can take up to six weeks to fully work (although sometimes it does work faster), if the dog now can't walk at all.  A possibility of six weeks of waiting is too long and hard a time, for both you and the dog.  I think you need a consultation with a vet, to see what all of your options are and to see what the vet recommends.  

You might be able to get some more time for the dog out of prednisone therapy, which is fairly inexpensive.  The presnisone does have side effects that eventually work against the dog, but for a while (generally weeks or months), it can work really well.  There is also a type of injectable glucosamine that can help quite a bit, and it is relatively expensive, but as far as I know, side effects are not an issue in most cases.  The bottom line in this situation, as you are aware, is that 14 is very old for a golden retriever, and so she probably does not have a tremendous amount of time left, no matter what you do.  

It is a very painful, difficult situation that you are in, and I'm sorry.  One of the most painful things about it, in my opinion, is that there are no guarantees and no assurances as to the right decision, no matter which way you go.  If you do try a lot of expensive treatment, there is no guarantee that it will work, and if you do have her put to sleep right away, there is no guarantee that you could not have kept her going for a while with aggressive treatment.  You just have to evaluate your options and resources, make the best decision you can, and then live with it.  

If things get to the point that either you or the dog simply cannot continue as you are, then your decision is made for you.  But it doesn't always happen that way.  Sometimes, you just have to make the best choice you can make, and decide to be okay with it.  You have my heartfelt sympathy.  The love that you have for Sunshine, and she for you, will never be lost.   It goes into a deep well of love in the universe, and we all can draw from it.

[tmax525]

You ever see somebody's dog this old recover and start walking again??
Issues are tough "gig" taking care "doggie diapers" likes to be hand feed but very strong. Some people say put dog down , vet a rip off at this stage just throwing money away ect. Dog been on recovery a week , helps but still can't stand on back legs. If you either heard of a friend or know somebody with Golden Retriever that recovered I'll give it a shot and take care of the dog myself for another week ect, and pay vet bills but like some hope at end of tunnel!!!  Thanks Tmax!!!!

[skydnsr]

With all due respect to Misfits4me, I have seen glucosamine give some relief within a few days, at least in certain cases.  Sometimes it works fast, sometimes more slowly, and sometimes not at all.  All one can do is try it and see. The suggestion to use an anti-inflammatory in the meantime is a point well taken.  Aspirin is itself an anti-inflammatory -- not as strong as some of the other anti-inflammatory drugs, but sometimes it is enough.  Sometimes even one 80 mg dose of aspirin, once a day, is enough for a 60 lb. dog.  Again, all one can do it try it and see.  If larger doses or more powerful drugs are necessary, a vet can always be consulted.

[Misfits4Me]

ALL supplements (Including Recovery) take at least 6 weeks to get into the system......What you need is a strong Anti-Inflammatory from your Vet that will give immediate relief, then as the supplements take effect, you can back off the dose of prescription medication.......Karla

[tmax525]

thanks for info:: ya liked old "Sunshine" to hang in while longer giving her benifit of doubt? Could this recovery stuff actually get her back legs going again shortly or better get some stuff from Vet or is it same basic stuff?
Dogs a hero she was runt of the litter 14yrs strong never seen a vet not one vet bill bizarre , made friends with baby crow that fell out of nest protested it till it could fly , wild rabbit buddy and a pet chicken , weird but faithful dog!!!
Anyway know anthing else could possible get her back legs going let me know , and how long do you keep ttrying!!
Thanks Tmax!!

[twodogsinRI]

I second what was posted but just want to stress that the enteric ASPIRIN is used, dont use tylenol or ibuprofen!!! They are deadly to your dog. I have been giving my older dog a 325mg aspirin (coated) once or twice a day for a while. I shove it into a peice of hotdog. I used to use cream cheese but he got a taste of the pill once and now won't eat cream cheese at all!!!