My dog Deputy, and his Arthritis

My dog Deputy, a 15 year old Yellow Lab, Is experiencing arthritis in his hips, and other places. He has been showing signs of the affliction for a couple years now, but of late it seems to be interfering a little more with his normal activities. The vet prescribed Dura-Max and Glucosamine - Chondroitin, I think that it has helped, with no or limited side effects. Because Deputy has been more reluctant to get up, after laying for a while, and been more unsteady on his feet, I asked the vet if there wasn't a better pain med that I could use. He Prescribed Tramadol 50 MG. That may have helped the pain, Deputy doesn't say much about that, but it seems to have caused a good deal of anxiety and constipation. Poor Deputy was up all night pacing and panting, and I mean all night, he was in and out of the bedroom, around the bed, back and fourth for hours. About every hour or so he would start to whine to go out, where he assumed the position, and waddled about with no results. After two days, I stopped his new pain meds, and he had a good night, allowing yours truly to have a good night also. The pain meds must have made him anxious, causing all the panting and pacing. Poor guy, it seems that either it's the arthritis pain or some side effect that continues to effect him. I've been massaging, rubbing and scratching his hips and hind legs and he loves that, I wish I knew better, how to do that. When ever I walk up to him, he looks up with that longing look and arranges himself to best receive the rubbing. I suppose that some of you may be thinking at this point, why not just put him down. I have given that some consideration, and I don't think that it's time yet. Otherwise he is happy, smiles whenever he see us, eats aggressively and seems to be enjoying most things much as he always has. He brings his toys, and wants to play fetch, or tug of war, sometimes he romps about like a puppy. I too have arthritis, and wince when I stand up, sit longer than I used to, am a little unstable on my feet, but you better not be considering putting me down just yet. I think I'll know when it's time. It's the massage thing that I wish I knew more about, he loves it so, I wish I could do that better for him.
Tom

awww poor guy, I just love dogs an one in pain just makes my heart cry. The glucosamine-chondroitan I know works in humans rather well, but the only thing is it takes weeks to work. It has to build up in the system to be at full potential. Maybe ask your vet if its something he should stay on, an what he thinks. Lots of people I know take that, an say they can move very easily again. The only draw back that I know of is once you start to take it, you can't stop with out the joints goin back to hurting again. I know it "oils" the joints really good. Its just a thought, but I would ask my vet if it works the same way on dogs as it does on humans.

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