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Time for a little senior veterinary examination for Miss Cheoah and an explanation in our efforts of harnessing Cheesewhiz.
Many of you have noticed that Cheoah is now wearing a Ruff Wear Web Master (yeah, that’s one of those Amazon Affiliate links) during our walks. At 13, she has some arthritis that can flare up some days. We shifted to using this harness for walks to take pressure off of her neck. The harness has a handle and is strong enough to be used as an assist tool, though we don’t need that at the moment.
Yesterday, we dropped by our vet for Cheesewhiz’s regularly scheduled senior exam. She seems to be doing well with the arthritis and everything else seems to be perfectly normal. And don’t let her kid you—she loves going to the vet because she gets to mooch treats off of everyone who works there.
Since everything checked out, we aren’t changing anything in our treatments or diet, just continuing to do our usual thing.
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Way to go girl! Glad you’re doing well. And just think, you got away from the boys, and got Hu Dad to yourself!
shh…. don’t tell your brothers. but you’re my favorite one! XOXOXO
Love seeing a good report from the vet, Cheoah! Well done!
I lost my 12 year old lab two weeks before Christmas. She had arthritis. I gave her Glucosomine/Chrondroitin is I remember correctly. Bought at Costco. I also started her on a Pawbiotic that I got online. It just made her feel better though not sure it helped with the arthritis.
I have a an elderly dog with joint issues on meds and when those no longer worked by themselves I added laser therapy after reading Hu-Dads recommendation. It worked wonders!!
she is looking great!
I’ve also read about serrapeptase addressing a fairly long list of issues, including arthritis. I use one called serrapet.
Happy to read you had a good Senior checkup. The key to good health is to keep on walking and sleep by the fire. Nice harness.
Oh, yes, we are big fans of regular walking for achy joints, especially for the Hu-Dad. We take him for a walk at least once a day (and usually more).
Way to go Cheoah, good for you pretty girl. I’d be interested to know what you are using for your arthritis. I have some pretty bad and I am a year younger than you! My mum is thinking about changing my treatment I am on at the moment. I take a supplement and CBD oil, but it seems I need something stronger now.
Wooos to the Herd.
Khumbu
Our long-standing treatment policy is:
Every single dog gets salmon oil with every meal. Good for coats and arthritis.
Every dog, starting at the age of 6, gets a joint supplement once a day. We happen to use Synovi G-4, recommended by our neurosurgeon (those pesky torn CCL’s from a few years back), but a number of high quality options exist.
Laser treatments can be quite helpful for short-term benefit. (Sorry, we tried acupuncture at one point on another dog and couldn’t identify any real benefit. We know others swear by it.)
When we have to go pharmaceutical, we start with small doses of carprofen (brand names are Rimadyl, Carprovet, and Novox). Carprofen is a NSAID which attacks inflammation. We start with it in the evening to provide a better night’s sleep, but will use it morning and evening for advanced cases. Yes, we know some dogs have side effects from those, but we have found that they are a great long-term pain management tool without issues.
And, finally, when pain management becomes critical, we add gabapentin in varying doses. Unlike a NSAID, gabapentin is strictly a pain tool.
Miss Cheesy is at the beginning of the cycle and takes a small dose of Carprovet once a day (half of the maximum dosage for her) as her only pharmaceutical. She also gets her Synovi G-4 and salmon oil and we have switched her food to a senior diet with the extra joint supplements.
Hope that helps.
I can’t tell you how much that helps me thank you. As you know we are pretty remote, from a good standard of vet, but our locals do their best. It always helps us to have a bit of advanced information before in appointment, and they come visit us at home without any extra cost!
Apparently I am not the easiest of patients so acupuncture and laser treatment are really not an option for me, besides the fact this is not offered locally!
The anti-inflammation is what we think we need to hit next, but something that does not upset my tummy. I am restless at night at the moment and if I am honest, as much as LOVE our walks and WANT to go on them my little ol legs are not as keen or behave as we would like them to. I sometimes have no control over them! I have used, in the earlier days, salmon oil (along with Acana Pacifica), progressed onto Cosequin HA and then Flexadin advanced (as given to us by our vets), plus now CBD oil! I do have Acana wild coast food, now apparently I am worth the cost 🙂 What is the senior diet you have moved pretty Cheoah to? Is she still an Acana girl?
Thank you again for taking the time to reply, we really do appreciate it.
Muchos wooos to the Herd and yourselves
Khumbu
Miss Cheoah-I LOVE that you are such a GOOD girl at the vets office-although the treats seem to help. I am happy that your harness is working well and everything else for you is doing well!!! YAY for Cheesewiz!