Sudden Arthritic Inflammation After A Bad Knock Over

[LisaCC]

Hello all,

I got a call 3 days ago from my Mum back home telling me our almost 11 year old lab had received a hard hit to the side from a younger dog and that he seemed fine and she was watching him very carefully as we already know he has arthritis.

The day after he was apparently back to normal even doing zoomies around the back yard.

I don't live at home anymore, but at the moment I am even further away in Melbourne for a conference held yesterday. So not wanting to worry me my Mum didn't tell me until this afternoon that yesterday Sam was rushed to the vet. He was refusing to stand up, even for a food (never happened before) and couldn't wag his tail. He was helped to the car and rushed to the vet.

The knock he received has deeply bruised his spine and hip joints. He was given an injection (Mum wasn't sure what) and put on Rimadyl. He also got given his Cartrophen injection a little early while there.

Today he is much better and back to following Mum around the garden.

But I'm wondering what else we can do for him now and in the future, I have heard good things about Orthopaedic beds and heated beds.

He sleeps inside at night and when It is cold, but is happiest outside during the day when it is warm. The climate is freezing in winter (so a heated bed would be good), but it gets quite hot in summer and I would worry about over heating.

Currently he also receives 3 monthly Cartrophen injections, a cheaper version of Sasha's blend (which has done wonders) with dinner, he also has a jacket for winter and cold nights but the clever thing takes it off himself when he gets too hot. He also gets almost daily swims and his weight is right on want the vet wants but due to past issues all our vets, including specialists, want him to stay a tiny bit overweight, even if this hinders his arthritis.

If anyone has any recommendations for extremely large dog beds (He spreads out to sleep and doesn't curl), experience in using heated beds, or anything else that you find helps please let me know.

This is the first major problem he has had with his arthritis since being extremely ill a few years ago with Inflammatory Bowl Disease.

Please don't recommend a change in diet as he is currently on the only food he can physically digest.

I will be heading back to my home town at the end of this week and will then get to try out any suggestions.

Lisa

As you all love photos here is one of him sun baking and gives an idea of how big a bed he will need!

[dancinbcs]

The heated winter bed I had for my arthritic girl, was a trampoline bed with a puppy heating panel underneath on bricks so the could sleep with the sore bits over the heat but not overheat her whole body.She mainly had the arthritis in her legs.

The other thing that really helps is acupuncture, if you can find someone to do it.

[persephone]

This is the first major problem he has had with his arthritis

Where does he have arthritis? Certain joints only, or widespread?

Hi :) It reads to me as if his lameness/pain was due to bruising from the thump he received?Some bruises HURT .... he was obviously very sore , poor boy ...and yes, a day or two after an injury can be when the inflammation feels most painful ...(for me ,anyway)

I second the use of acupuncture for arthritis ..and perhaps also contact Robert McDowell Herbal ? As for warmth ... have you tried a wool bed? Surely where you are situated you can get your hands on some raw clean wool ? Firmly pack a kid's cot or small bed doona cover with fleecewool.. the less it's broken up the better ... until bed is fairly firm and high ...

Our old working dogs just have wool in their kennels ...and they love it ..I believe it helps their joints, too.

Maybe try buying a suitable sized piece of memory foam from Clark rubber? with a woollen blanket over that ..and a washable cover .... :)

[LisaCC]

Thank you both for your replies.

Where does he have arthritis? Certain joints only, or widespread?

His arthritis is mostly in his hind limbs and front toes. But I'm a little worried that the inflammation was at the spinal region, I have a good relationship with the vet clinic so I will go up myself and talk to them about that.

I second the use of acupuncture for arthritis ..and perhaps also contact Robert McDowell Herbal

I have thought of acupuncture and know that the best (from our experience) vet at our clinic does practise it. He unfortunately was not working yesterday so we have not yet talked to him.

How have you found the effects of Acupuncture? Has your vet seen any clinical changes?

Also where my profile says I'm located is not where my hometown is, it is in the Central Tablelands, the same region as Bathurst which is where Robert McDowell seems to be situated.

I have to admit I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to alternative medicines, but I am more than open to them if they have backing behind them, and seeing as this person is so close to us I will look into him closely.

a trampoline bed with a puppy heating panel underneath on bricks

I like this idea for over heating, but when he was so sore yesterday he wouldn't use his current trampoline bed, so he may use it when it's needed most.

firmly pack a kid's cot or small bed doona cover with fleecewool

I quite like this idea, I should be able to get some pure wool quite easily. How does this bed go during warmer months? I know I definitely wouldn't want wool around me in summer.

Perhaps the memory foam would be better as the wool blanket could easily be replaced with a cooler cotton for summer.

I will just have to make sure I get the least smelly wool I can get, Even as an old boy he has a bad habit of destroying his bedding if he likes the smell of it, Especially hessian!

I also want to mention that for the last few years we have reduced a lot of his behaviours that could cause himself more damage We have gated off the Veranda stairs and constructed a low angle ramp down the side instead. We also rounded off a lot of low fences that he used to use to stand on his back legs to get a better view of the neighbours. He has a wicker armchair he enjoys sitting on and recently we cut a lot of the legs off so he doesn't have so far to jump off.

But he still manages to do surprisingly large jumps and twists in the air when he gets excited. Has anyone had any problems keeping older dogs from self inflicting pain?

Edited October 27, 2012 by LisaCC

[persephone]

Hi... I use Robert McDowell products for myself and the animals :)

The woolen bed I suggested is for warmth and comfort for sore joints in winter.

Memory foam is MUCH more likely to be too hot ..as it does not 'breathe ' like wool I can't use my memory foam pillow in Summer ..it is too hot for me .

Friends with arthritic dogs have seen an improved mobility , and a happier dog , whilst on acupuncture .As for vets seeing clinical changes .. I doubt they can , as the acupuncture works on pain relief :)

But he still manages to do surprisingly large jumps and twists in the air when he gets excited. Has anyone had any problems keeping older dogs from self inflicting pain?

Pain is a great reminder that what we are doing is not really ideal ..so we stop & rest... :)

That's great!! I would not be stopping him from doing stuff which makes him happy .... the less he does, the creakier those joints and muscles get . Certainly lots of jumping and standing on hind legsand running on concrete is not ideal... but playing, walking , is fine in moderation , IMO.He will stop when it hurts :)

Someone will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong - but as an arthritis sufferer, I have been told to keep active ... low-impact activity isn't actually causing damage ..it hurts, because of the lack of smoothness in the joints , for sure , but no extra damage is done because of movement .

Hope your old boy enjoys the relief warmer weather brings :)

[zeebie]

Similar story but smaller dog, lucky we have a top level Animal physio 2 hours drive away and I spent 2 months attending with doggles having acupuncture/acupressure/massage/hydrotherapy (heated water)and commenced him on paws capsules (green NZ mussel and other natural extracts) + omeaga 3 &6 supplement. prior to this injury he had NO evidence of arthritis unlike your dog and has now completely recovered. However someone else who does have large breed with similar story to yours also used same treatment and now has her dog back running in agility, the bowel + joint changes were due to an immune disease process and when this was treated with correct immune suppressant medication hey presto dog on top again and has been ever since he is 10yrs old.

This site may also be helpful he was recently in australia also does email consult/phone etc

http://www.ahh.co.nz/

[dancinbcs]

Some of the penetrating horse liniments are useful as well for an injury like that but check with the vet which ones are safe for a dog and remember to wear gloves if you apply them. It is so long since I have used them that I cannot remember which ones are suitable but think one may have been DMSO.

As well as my girl with arthritic legs I have one with arthritis in the spine as an older dog. She got to the point where there was nothing the chiro could do to help and acupuncture kept her going for about 3 more years than we expected to have her. She would walk slowly into the clinic and bounce out after the treatment like a new dog. We also kept her off pain killers until her last year and she made it to over 14 years.

[LisaCC]

Thanks everyone, sorry I haven't replied.

He is still getting exercise, Small walks down to the swimming hole everyday and a lovely swim. If he still wants to run. a few throws of fetch (until he decides to stop) and maybe even a game of hide and seek :)

I've done some research on NZ green mussel extract and that does seem very good.

I will also check with the vet for some penetrating horse liniment.

I will hopefully be able to source some wool this week to make a bed.

[Jumabaar]

Re evidence for acupuncture- I know there have been a few studies that have shown some positive results. This is a good starting place if you want to know a little more about it http://www.acuvet.com.au/index.php

Recently there have been a number of studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to observe the effect on the brain, of inserting a needle into various acupuncture points. For example:- it has shown that acupuncture points that are used to treat eye problems will stimulate the optic section of the brain, points used to treat stomach conditions will stimulate the part of the brain that regulates stomach and bowel. The most exciting finding is that most acupuncture points have a regulating effect on the amygdala thereby reducing the body's stress levels and re-establishing the normal diurnal rhythms of the body. Acupuncture has also been shown to stimulate the release of numerous hormones including endorphins and other pain relieving anti-inflammatory neurochemicals , these changes can be measured in the bloodstream.

Edited October 30, 2012 by Jumabaar

[LisaCC]

Re evidence for acupuncture- I know there have been a few studies that have shown some positive results. This is a good starting place if you want to know a little more about it http://www.acuvet.com.au/index.php

Recently there have been a number of studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to observe the effect on the brain, of inserting a needle into various acupuncture points. For example:- it has shown that acupuncture points that are used to treat eye problems will stimulate the optic section of the brain, points used to treat stomach conditions will stimulate the part of the brain that regulates stomach and bowel. The most exciting finding is that most acupuncture points have a regulating effect on the amygdala thereby reducing the body's stress levels and re-establishing the normal diurnal rhythms of the body. Acupuncture has also been shown to stimulate the release of numerous hormones including endorphins and other pain relieving anti-inflammatory neurochemicals , these changes can be measured in the bloodstream.

Thank you :)

[LisaCC]

Just an update on Sam. He had an operation today to remove some benign tumours, including a particularly bothersome one on his eyelid.

Operation went swimmingly. :)

Unfortunately the other day we have been told that there is a high chance he has early stages of Degenerative Myelopathy, and the hit may of boosted it. At the moment you wouldnt be able to tell unless you examined him. He hasn't even changed his gait or started loosing coordination.

We have now updated his bed. We found a forgotten foam egg carton single mattress, its been cut in half and put on top of each other to make it thicker, covered in a sewed up bed sheet and then with a folded doona on top of that. We also have a water proof picnic blanket under him incase of any accidents.

After he is recovered from surgery we will be looking into doing some acupuncture, and also hoping to see an animal physiotherapist for some exercises and to teach us how to massage him correctly.

[persephone]

Sam is a lucky boy ..and I'm sure will enjoy all this effort to make him comfy :)

Thanks for the update.

[LisaCC]

Thanks Persephone, we are still planning on making the wool bed you suggested for outside winter use :)

Also if anybody knows anything helpful for degenerative myelopathy please let me know. I know plenty of theory but that doesn't exactly help

[kayla1]

Poor boy. There are some ideas in this thread

[LisaCC]

Thank you Kayla. An obstacle course is a great idea, I will talk to the vet and physio about setting one up. At the moment he is on rest recovery for 24hrs. I have also been told that getting him to repeatedly sit and stand is a great hind strengthening exercise. Luckily he knows those commands well :)

[Mim]

Find a good doggie acupuncture person. My old girl had DM and she was having regular acupuncture sessions which helped her SO much. Your boy probably wouldn't need to go too often as he is in the early stages.

My acupuncture/chiro/physio vet who was treating my girl taught me stretches to do with her legs and suggested exercises like swimming and walking on sand.

Get your hands on some Cherry Knoll Sure Foot ointment if you have wooden/tiled floors. He will begin to lose grip and this product is incredibly good to give dogs grip on slippery floors. I found that boots were way too bulky for my girl.

[Guest Labradork]

I don't have any advice (sorry)... I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about dear old Sam. I hope he's travelling okay :)

[kayla1]

Thank you Kayla. An obstacle course is a great idea, I will talk to the vet and physio about setting one up. At the moment he is on rest recovery for 24hrs. I have also been told that getting him to repeatedly sit and stand is a great hind strengthening exercise. Luckily he knows those commands well :)

There was another thread too, I'll try to find it.

ETA here it is, not myelopathy but some more ideas for muscle strengthening. Hope it helps with your boy.

Edited November 15, 2012 by kayla1

[LisaCC]

Thanks Mim and Kayla for the information, So far is sounds like we are already on the right track. He has a daily swim during his walk, in which he will keep swimming in deep water for quite some time, otherwise he walks in the shallows. It is fresh water so unfortunately we don't have any sand around here, the one place there is sand is around the man-made lake and that is off limits for dogs.

We have already started doing the sit and stand exercises, though very few while he is recovering. We also just went for a little on leash walk in the front yard which has a small incline. He is still quite dopey from the surgery so we only took a few minutes until he went to toilet now he is back asleep inside.

Backwards walking has always been a little trick we have gotten him to do, so that will come in useful too.

We will wait to do any major exercises until we see go back for a vet check and see the physio.

I am thinking of making up a small cavalletti course and start him slowly walking over that. He used to love jumping obstacles so hopefully we can get him to WALK and not dive over them.

The problem we have now is in the next two weeks he is not able to be in water because of his operation. From the noises he makes when he gets in the water and how he acts once he is out you can immediately tell how much it helps his arthritis and probably his DM (now that we know about it).

Does anyone have any ideas that could replace swimming for the next two weeks?

Thank you Labradork, at the moment he seems quite content as he is snoring his head off :)

I'm hating the fact that in a few days I will have to leave him and head back my house 3hrs away to work for the summer and then back to uni. Mum will continue everything with him, but I wish I could be there for him. I will definitely be making more trips home from now on.

[Brookestar]

I love the orthobed from Snooza. They do have lambswool covers on them. http://www.snooza.com.au/index.php/snooza_store/indoor-beds/orthobed.html Trampoline beds are the worst as they are the most difficult to stand up and turn around on, get off, etc. Dogs stand up and turn around in the night, much like we roll over. They do have extra large ones, which my lab loves!!!

Leash walks and swimming are the best for arthritis in terms of exercise. Running can aggravate it more.

Accupuncture is fantastic and I would highly recommend it. It was not something I really believed in, until I was literally forced into it myself. I love it and will have no hesitation at all in using it on any dog.