Dylan is nearly 13 years old, He was a rescue from a family member who moved abroad, we've had him for nearly 4 years.
He was always a big dog, huge head and weighed around 9 stone or so when we had him and was suffering with arthritis even then. He's always been a lovely dog, brilliant with the others and has been like a big cuddly uncle to them!
We've always managed his joint problems with Glucosamine after discussing with the vet and he's done really well. Just recently he's lost weight but he's wanting to eat more than ever. He still likes his walks but once round the "circuit" is almost too much for him now. He's having trouble now just trying to get in position for a poo and I know that it may be that we now need Metacam to help him. The most worrying thing is that overnight he had vomited up semi-digested food and some orange colour liquid, He's so sorry for himself but has just had a bit of food and has mooched about a bit. He's also been making a strange "hacking" noise.
I'm going to ring the vet tomorrow but think they will have to come out as I doubt we will be able to get him in the car without hurting him. I so don't want them messing about with him too much if you know what I mean, he's a lovely gentle old man.
Don't get me wrong, I'll do anything if it will help him, guess I'm just a bit scared...
Thanks for reading

Just get him checked out by the vet and be guided by what they suggest.

It is always a worry when oldies become ill but try not to worry as it maybe just a blip

Thank you :)

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Don't get me wrong, I'll do anything if it will help him, guess I'm just a bit scared...

I think all of us have been in that position and know just how scary it can be. Let your vet look at him and advise you - the most scary thing of all is not knowing what is wrong as one's mind runs off in all directions. Once you know what you are dealing with it somehow makes it that little less frightening even if it's not the best of news ....you will at least know what you are dealing with.

Hopefully, as Lucy said, it's just a blip.

Please come back and let us know the outcome.

A lot of this sounds similar to me as I have an almost 14 year old Malinois bitch with similar problems. Unless the hacking noise is in fact kennel cough (lots of it about), ask your vet about laryngeal paralysis. Turned out that's what my girl has got, and it's making her cough, sneeze, and vomit most early mornings.  As she was also getting very confused I was asking my vet about Vivitonin tablets and he said that was an excellent idea as that could in fact help with the LP as well as the confusion. As it happens she's just as confused but her vomiting has become a LOT less.

Ripley's legs gave out completely at one point in August, did not work at all, none of them, and we thought that was it, but the vet prescribed Onsior (seems to be stronger than Metacam as neither Metacam nor Rimadyl or Glucosamine did anything at all for her) and it was like a miracle. She only needed to be on them for about a week, then she was able to come off them again. Now if she gets stressed her legs go again and then we give her a tablet and then she's okay again. When necessary though dogs can be kept on it for life.

> Unless the hacking noise is in fact kennel cough (lots of it about), ask your vet about laryngeal paralysis. Turned out that's what my girl has got, and it's making her cough, sneeze, and vomit most early mornings. As she was also getting very confused I was asking my vet about Vivitonin tablets and he said that was an excellent idea as that could in fact help with the LP as well as the confusion.

Oh that's really interesting! My oldie also coughs and hacks a lot, and that's increased lately. I wondered about kennel cough for a while as we go to a training field frequented by a lot of dogs, but no other symptoms and it seems to be intermittent. She vomited more when on Loxicom (Metacam) but I stopped it when she had a brief stomach upset and TBH I don't think she needs it now, as the clicking joints and stiffness on rising, for which she was originally prescribed it, have gone.

Hello everyone and thank you for your replies! The next day Dylan was back to normal, no more vomiting and eating normally (nicking the others food as usual!!). He's much happier and almost dances when the Bonio's come out!
I've had a chat with the vet and he's coming out early next week to check the boy over. I'll mention all your thoughts to him!
Sorry for the delay in posting, I'll keep you posted but am feeling more confident thanks to you guys xx

Glad the old boy is back to normal :-)

Glad he's feeling better :-)  You may not need metacam for his joints - have you tried any natural supplements?  There are myriad options and through a bit of experimentation and combination I've been able to take two of my five arthritics off conventional painkillers altogether, one of whom only a year ago could only function on a high dose of PLT only with no other painkillers touching her.  I'm hoping soon to be able to take the others off non-steroidals (such as metacam) completely too, I think they're nearly able.

Thanks all
Nikita can I ask what you have tried? We have only used Glocosamine and Litozin so far plus other over the counter joint care products. I'm really keen to find some other options to metacam if at all possible (not to do with cost at all, just heard some nasty stories regarding long term usage!!)
Thank you x

Nutoquin plus only available from your vet has helped my elderly lab,she is also having hydrotherepy.As she was lame last year she has also had a course of cartrophen injections that have worked wonders;

Sheila

I've been trying different things for the same reason.  Currently my guys are on combos of turmeric, devil's claw, DLPA, green lipped mussel, coconut oil and ginger.  But there are plenty of other options, these are some...

Shark cartilage
MSM
Nutroquin et al as Annabella says, there are a few similar products - I've tried Seraquin with some of mine
Hyalauronic acid
Eggshells (can't recall the specific factor that helps but it can be bought as a supp)
Omegas at high dose can be anti inflammatory
Chondroitin
Bromelain (must be given at least an hour before or three hours after food)

I think there's a couple more I know of that I can't remember right now, and there will be others besides.  Periodically I have a google around to find new things to try - just started the ginger this week after doing that.  I only just 'discovered' DLPA back in October and so far it's been the best thing I've ever tried, it's been the key to getting some of them off conventional stuff and also the only thing that works for Remy's joints (pain from a combo of four different conditions, and unresponsive to almost everything).

Therapies can help too - hydrotherapy is great, acupuncture and chiropractic too, and Bowen therapy is supposed to be very good.

Wow thanks guys, lots of Googling is about to commence!!

Just to add kelp and vits E and C can have an anti inflammatory effect too.  I knew I'd forgotten a couple, I just found the list I made from my last googling!