funny as anything that resembles food that i toss at my lab, it's gone in a millisecond.
Glucosamine & Codroitin & Labrador
- Thread starter Tunnelratt
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Many Labs have shallow hip sockets- therein lies the genetic hip issues. I have Sydney, an 80lb female Lab, 7 yrs old, shallow sockets (doesn't bother her yet) and has a slight limp from an injury a few years ago but still runs like a freight train on nitro. She eats EVERYTHING ROBUSTLY so weight control is key. Also, access to a pool is very nice, casual massge and / or stretch (dogs LOVE this) while watching TV. IAMS ProActive Large Breed has served us well, throw in some organic NEWMANS OWN wet canned food, fruits, veges, etc.
My biggest challenge is keeping her ENTERTAINED, I swear she's human, she can exhale {{{PLAY WITH ME }}}}}}} and lay guilt on me like no one else
Hey, we humans grow old too and we'll never have the pure soul and heart of a dog.
Thanks for the precision. I couldn't remember the name of that relatively unknown affliction.
From the article, Aspirin and Reye's symdrome:
However don't take it overboard. Aspirin has many, many more advantages than practically any other joint and pain medicine around. That's why I said that
83bj60 said:
When in doubt, check with your medical practicioner.
Hmmm. Funny, that sounds just like something my lawyer would like me to add
Giant Lab? I got one too! Take a look to the left.
Large Labs notoriously have hip problems when they get older. I have always heard from vets the benefits of glucosimine and condroiton. Spelled wrong I'm sure. Give it to them now to help out for the future. I sure do. On a side note, I met someone in France who was walking tiny little yellow labs. I told him I had never seen such small labs. He said he was a breeder and this was his specialty "Champaigne Labs". He told me they were bred smaller to avoid hip problems when they get older.
Large Labs notoriously have hip problems when they get older. I have always heard from vets the benefits of glucosimine and condroiton. Spelled wrong I'm sure. Give it to them now to help out for the future. I sure do. On a side note, I met someone in France who was walking tiny little yellow labs. I told him I had never seen such small labs. He said he was a breeder and this was his specialty "Champaigne Labs". He told me they were bred smaller to avoid hip problems when they get older.
Sporin
Site Addict
My nearly 10 yo Lab/Golden mix (female, 60#±) started having some stiffness and discomfort this winter, in the mornings she was very stiff and gimpy getting around.
We started on this and it seems to have helped but who really knows?
Dog Arthritis Treatment: Moderate Canine Arthritis Care with glucosamine from Drs. Foster & Smith
We started on this and it seems to have helped but who really knows?
Dog Arthritis Treatment: Moderate Canine Arthritis Care with glucosamine from Drs. Foster & Smith
Jomama
Lucideye
There are also English Labrador's that afaik, are the same as traditional lab retrievers but bred to be smaller, sub 50ish lbs..
- Thread starter
- #27
Well, we changed up some of the snacking, started giving the glucosamine, he gets an 81 milligram asprin when it appears he may need it, gets a rubdown.....Damn, I dont even get that kind of treatment, but what the hell, he's a good dog, even figured we would start his brother on some of the treatment.
Trust me, these dogs have a really hard life.
Jack is the Red, Duke is the white
They like the couch in my office
Trust me, these dogs have a really hard life.
Jack is the Red, Duke is the white
They like the couch in my office
Thanks for the precision. I couldn't remember the name of that relatively unknown affliction.
From the article, Aspirin and Reye's symdrome:
However don't take it overboard. Aspirin has many, many more advantages than practically any other joint and pain medicine around. That's why I said that
When in doubt, check with your medical practicioner.
Hmmm. Funny, that sounds just like something my lawyer would like me to add
it's pretty much a kid related beware IIRC, I just felt the need to 
I used 1/2 a tablet glucosamine on my large (15") 10y/o Beagle.
Wife uses the stuf on her horses.
Wife uses the stuf on her horses.
FWIW, when our mixed breed (husky/shepherd/collie) was <1YO, she was exhibiting signs of hip dysplasia, mostly as a result of growing too fast, we were given various exercises and a recommendation for glucosamine. we tried all sorts, and eventually tried chewables, (honey and lemon) she would sit, shake, and catch her meds, loved them! 
sugar and such could be a worry, but after she was fully grown we stopped, and she has been free of hip problems, so
sugar and such could be a worry, but after she was fully grown we stopped, and she has been free of hip problems, so
English labs are typcialy the show type, they have the blockheads and are stockier, the American labs are more of the field labs, they are taller, leaner and have more of a pointy head.
the English labs are more docile(typicaly) and not as bright(typicaly) this is what Beau was.......
one of my clients has a Sharpie/lab mix.....it looks like a mini(40-50lb) lab(with a bit of extra skin) and doesnt shed.....cool "mistake" dog
Labradoodles just dont do it for me....
the English labs are more docile(typicaly) and not as bright(typicaly) this is what Beau was.......
one of my clients has a Sharpie/lab mix.....it looks like a mini(40-50lb) lab(with a bit of extra skin) and doesnt shed.....cool "mistake" dog
Labradoodles just dont do it for me....
Chondroitin/glucosamine - chondroprotectants - who knows how effective they are - most veterinary surgeons will recommend them in the hopes they provide some long term benefit. I liken them to using a rust inhibitor on your rig. POR your rig and it will still rust just hopefully much slower. Arthritis is a progressive disease and hopefully the chondroprotectants slow the rate at which a joint deteriorates over time.
NSAIDS are more useful in addressing the immediate discomforts/pain associated with joint disease.
I feel NSAIDS trump chondroprotectants once dsyplasia becomes clinical. If you went in to see your doctor for a headache, you wouldn't want him to hand you a vitamin - you'd want an aspirin - BUT he might suggest, that if you take these vitamins, then your headaches would be less frequent and less severe. Bonus - I'll do that too.
Two things - you're treating based on presumption - I'd recommend you get xrays of the hips so you can accurately diagnose dysplasia but also get a sense of degree. You might be surprised - either that the hips are worse than you believed or that his lameness may be due to something other than dysplasia and necessitate other treatment considerations.
Aspirin really has been replaced in veterinary medicine with safer and more potent NSAIDS. I would encourage you to explore with your vet whether they would be indicated given his clinical signs and radiographic changes. Not all pills are equal just because they are pills - and the potential is there for you to see a greater benefit to your pet with possibly less frequent medication and certainly safer medication if you were to use a different medication. I would encourage you to discuss these options with your vet.
Good luck. But do start with xrays!!
NSAIDS are more useful in addressing the immediate discomforts/pain associated with joint disease.
I feel NSAIDS trump chondroprotectants once dsyplasia becomes clinical. If you went in to see your doctor for a headache, you wouldn't want him to hand you a vitamin - you'd want an aspirin - BUT he might suggest, that if you take these vitamins, then your headaches would be less frequent and less severe. Bonus - I'll do that too.
Two things - you're treating based on presumption - I'd recommend you get xrays of the hips so you can accurately diagnose dysplasia but also get a sense of degree. You might be surprised - either that the hips are worse than you believed or that his lameness may be due to something other than dysplasia and necessitate other treatment considerations.
Aspirin really has been replaced in veterinary medicine with safer and more potent NSAIDS. I would encourage you to explore with your vet whether they would be indicated given his clinical signs and radiographic changes. Not all pills are equal just because they are pills - and the potential is there for you to see a greater benefit to your pet with possibly less frequent medication and certainly safer medication if you were to use a different medication. I would encourage you to discuss these options with your vet.
Good luck. But do start with xrays!!
hip surgeries are pretty successful.
we did one. They recover better when they are younger.
- Thread starter
- #34
Definite X-Rays, I have to take him in for shots, it would be good just for info, as he is back to his old self again, haulin ass up and down the stairs, and around the property, he may have just twisted something