niam
in
mastiff_love
Anyone w/ an older dog?
Last winter we started noticing that Pony was having a bit of stiffness in his legs, his vet said it was the onset of arthritis and he was started on glucosamine supplements, which seemed to help a great deal. Once the weather got warmer he didn't seem to have the problem any more and we took him off of the supplements for the summer, well at the onset of this winter I noticed a large lump on his front leg right above his paw. We took him in and the vet determined he has osteoarthritis. The lump was swelling at the joint.
He was strted back on the supplements and a daily dose of buffed asprin, which has helped, as he is back to wanting to play and run around, however he does still experienc some swelling on occasion, if he sleeps on that leg during the night.
To late to make a long story short, but we have been wrapping the leg to help keep it warm , he has a elevated bed w/ plenty of padding, elevated food & water bowl. We have put him on a diet to try to lower his weight but he was not overweight to begin with just big at 210 pds. Is anyone else having this problem and knows of anything else, besides the shots he can take (they kinda scare me as i have heard bad things, but do not have any personal experience w/ them) that would help?
We knew this would eventally be a problem but we didn't think it'd be an issue at this age, he is only 5 and his condition is only going to get worse. He doesn't seem to be in pain yet just having some swelling :(
A much older picture of Pony is on the user info page, here is a more recent pic.Hopefully the link works I don't remember how to upload one to LJ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30476845@N05/3061424854/
He was strted back on the supplements and a daily dose of buffed asprin, which has helped, as he is back to wanting to play and run around, however he does still experienc some swelling on occasion, if he sleeps on that leg during the night.
To late to make a long story short, but we have been wrapping the leg to help keep it warm , he has a elevated bed w/ plenty of padding, elevated food & water bowl. We have put him on a diet to try to lower his weight but he was not overweight to begin with just big at 210 pds. Is anyone else having this problem and knows of anything else, besides the shots he can take (they kinda scare me as i have heard bad things, but do not have any personal experience w/ them) that would help?
We knew this would eventally be a problem but we didn't think it'd be an issue at this age, he is only 5 and his condition is only going to get worse. He doesn't seem to be in pain yet just having some swelling :(
A much older picture of Pony is on the user info page, here is a more recent pic.Hopefully the link works I don't remember how to upload one to LJ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30476845@N05/3061424854/