Managing Arthritis in Dogs

Dear Doctor: I have an eight-year-old Golden Retriever with arthritis. I do not like the idea of giving him daily medications, but they seem to keep him comfortable. Do you think acupuncture, or some other treatment, would help him?

Signed, Lisa in Plover

You pose an excellent question, as many dogs (and cats) experience arthritis as they age. Any time we have a health problem that cannot be "cured", it is natural to experience some frustration with chronic management of the condition. There are many medications and supplements available to relieve some of the symptoms associated with arthritis, which most veterinarians use routinely. I believe many veterinarians and pet owners are hesitant to consider alternative therapies.

I was always intrigued by alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, but I never personally sought out these therapies for my pets until a couple of years ago, after exhausting all of the common treatments for arthritis. My black Labrador, Bailey, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when she was a few months old, causing sore hips. To take pressure off of her hips, she would shift her weight to her front limbs and arch her back. As a result, she developed pain in her wrists and spine. Our Bailey was not content unless she was playing with her ball, so it was important to keep her comfortable enough to allow her to play every day.

When she was young, we started her with a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement, kept her at a lean body weight, and provided regular physical activity for her. This helped her for awhile. When she reached five years of age, we added MSM to the glucosamine supplement, and saw improvement. Again, this provided short-term relief. We started to give her a pain reliever (in the same "family" as aspirin), which improved her comfort. Unfortunately, this medication had the potential to harm her stomach, liver or kidneys with daily usage; but, she needed pain relief. We continued this medication, combining it with Adequan injections, to keep her playing ball for a few more years.

When she was eight, she had a total hip replacement surgery on one hip. After surgery, we were able to take her off of the pain reliever, just giving Adequan and the glucosamine supplement. She did great for a couple of years, until she developed an immune-mediated arthritis associated with a tick borne disease (Anaplasmosis). Unfortunately, this left her with severe arthritic changes in her wrists and ankles. She was uncomfortable. I had always hoped that I would never have to make the decision to euthanize my pet due to arthritis, so I decided to seek alternative therapies.

I took Bailey to Dr. Patty Glover, a veterinarian certified in acupuncture and chiropractic therapy. After Dr. Patty's assessment, she gave her a chiropractic adjustment, an acupuncture session, and prescribed herbs. Within a short time, Bailey was running and playing, and did not show any stiffness when she would get up after rest. It was amazing! Between treatments, I had her massaged on a regular basis by my technician, Jamie, who is also a licensed massage therapist. Dr. Patty continued to give treatments to Bailey every few weeks, allowing her to have an active life up until the end (she developed cancer when she was almost fourteen).

I am a believer in all therapies, based on my own experience! I was thrilled when Dr. Patty started to come to my clinic to provide treatment for our patients. We want to be proactive with our pets, so Dr. Patty continues to treat my current pets to help keep them healthy and sound: my three-year-old Lab mix, Ronnie (mild hip dysplasia); Logan, my four-year-old Labrador; and Fletch, my ten-year-old cat. I would strongly recommend any treatment modality that provides relief for your pet's arthritis. The idea is to find what works for you and your pet. Best wishes for the comfort of your Golden!