Hi, I wonder if I can ask some advice please.  We have a 9 1/2 year old Parsons Jack Russell bitch called Pip - we've owned her since she was 5 as she's a rescue dog and she weighs 7.5kg so not overweight.  I've been noticing over the past few months that she's not quite as keen on our walks; I used to laugh that we could never tire her out but lately I've been finding she's been lagging behind a lot and not looking so comfortable. 

I noticed a little while back that her head seems to nod slightly when she walks and trots so she doesn't look quite sound to me so I took her to the vets who had a look and thinks that maybe she has a problem in her front right elbow.  He gave me some Metacam which duly gave her and I rested her (well, as much as I could, she still bounded around the front garden!)  I took her back again on Monday and saw a different vet and again he suggested front right leg at the elbow and has given me some Metacam too and told me to slowly pick her walking up during the week until we're back at what we were.  He did say it could be the beginning of arthritis and we would need to have X-rays done so we can see what's going on if nothing changes.  The vet says she looks like she's slightly turning her front leg out as if to be more comfy.

I can't see any improvement at all; she seems not too bad when we start off and then it seems to set in and make her not look comfy and lag behind whereas if it was arthritis I would have thought it would be the other way round.  I think I'm going to have to put my hand in my pocket and shell out for her X-rays as she's only got basic insurance cover as the premium for her went up to £70 per month!  She has IBS too so whilst she's on Metacam she can't have her steriods so her tummy is a bit sore, poor girl.  She's having Zantac for that.

My question is if it is arthritis will it be managed by yet more tablets so we can go out walking properly again?  I suffer from mental health issues and need a dog I can take out for a long walk if I need to.  At the moment, though hubby isn't keen, I'm even considering getting a puppy so we could have a dog I can take out when it's older but also have Pip on retirement.  I hate the fact she's lagging behind with her head bobbing and am worried if she's in pain or not.

Sorry for rather garbled message; I'm feeling rather worried about my poor little girl right now :o(

Thank you x

It does sound as though she's in pain.  I'd go for the x-rays - better to know what you're dealing with so you can treat her the best way possible.

It may be that she needs medication to manage it, but there are also a lot of natural remedies that can be just as (if not more) effective than conventional meds, it just involves a bit of trial and error.  Turmeric for example is an excellent natural anti-inflammatory, and has been much better than any drugs for a couple of my dogs; it also helps soothe the gut so could perhaps be of benefit for Pip that way too.  I use it to help one of my dogs get over the odd bout of colitis.

Then there's the more typical stuff - glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, fish oil - or other stuff along the lines of turmeric, such as coconut oil, devil's claw, shark cartilage, hyalauronic acid, bromelain (which can help boost the effects of turmeric if given together) and so on.  One of mine barely responds to anything except PLT (conventional drug) but I have to be careful because she's prone to colitis; but with a combination of raw meat/fish and rice, devil's claw and coconut oil, she is almost pain-free and her arthritis is absolutely awful.

Exercise-wise I'm afraid that the best way forward with arthritis, if it is that, is little and often - shorter walks but more of them, and doing it that way can actually improve the condition as well as preventing it getting worse through overwalking.

Thanks very much for getting back to me Nikita; I'm going to book an appointment now to see the vet and get X-rays done as I just hate to think she's suffering and as you say we need to know what's going on.  Very interesting to read about the turmeric etc; will research them.  As for IF it is arthritis, that's what I thought we would have to do ie little and often; may start researching breeds of puppies (and talk the husband around!).

As I've always preferred to try other solutions before going down the drug route, having had success with a Bioflow bracelet myself, my daughter bought a Bioflow collar for her old dog and the difference in her mobility was soon noticable.  I could always see the difference in her movement when they'd removed it to bath her and forgotten to put it back on again!
The old lady is now gone but the collar is in the cupboard, waiting for the next in line, an 11 year old with no problems at the moment.
I've found this, which I think is cheaper than we paid for our 10 years ago, so as not everything works for everyone (just like drugs!) then I'm sure that you'd get your money back.  :) :)
http://www.bloomfieldmagnets.com/bioflow.html?gclid=CMC_mtPXl78CFW_LtAodRhIAWA

Yes, I completely forgot other therapies too!  I have a bioflow magnet on the fridge from a broken collar waiting for me to sew it into something to try, I really must get on with that.  I always hear good things about them.

And there's chiropractic (go for McTimoney if you can, much gentler than the traditional type), bowen therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy... many options :-)

Thanks very much, very interesting - may well contact them.  I have heard some good things about the magnets too :o)

Got to be Bioflow - they are really strong magnets - not cheaper imitations.  :)

Nothing works for everyone but I've been wearing my bracelet for 13 years now - before I didn't even have the strength in my hands to pull the duvet around my neck!  :(

good advice already given, I've used most of the things mentioned with a dog that had severe arthritis.

On the exercise front could you get Pip a buggy? That way you can still walk as far as you want and she can get out for short walks and back in the buggy when she starts to lag behind?

I see quite a few people with these nowadays and I had a bigger version for my old girl, they're fantastic for getting infirm dogs out and about.

Thanks for your replies.  The buggy is certainly something to consider for her; think she'd really fancy being pushed around everywhere!!

Just got back from the vets; he said she is being very stoic and not letting on where the pain is but he's thinking elbow/shoulder.  She doesn't show a huge limp but I know when she's right or not and to me she's certainly not right.  He has recommended X-rays but warned me that it can cost up to £400; told my husband and he's not keen but I think we're stuck between a rock and a hard place.  We could use stronger painkillers but all that'd do is mask it temporarily and I really believe we need to get to the bottom of this for her sake.  She is insured but only third party as the premium went up to £75 per month last year due to her age and her IBS.  I have to call the vets tomorrow to say whether to go ahead or not and in the meantime can walk her for 10-15 mins daily. 

Poor Pip; wish she could talk and tell us what's hurting :o(

The problem is that an x-ray may tell you what the problem is but it may not.  And it isn't going to cure anything...... :(

At 9.5 years, what sort of treatment would you consider if you knew what was going on in there?  For me, it's pain free and comfortable at that age rather than be pulled around by strangers.  :) :)

Sorry, how do you mean about pain free and comfortable rather than pulled around by strangers?  Do you mean not go ahead with the X-ray for now and try out one of the Bioflow magnet collars and see what that does - £25 or so is a lot cheaper than £400!  This is all a nightmare for me as I suffer from anxiety issues anyhow and I just want the best for Pip, bless her.

Just to let you know I've ordered a Bioflow magnet from Amazon and will see how it goes.  Thank you for all your help and advice everyone.

I used a Bioflow collar on an elderly retriever. She had arthritis on her spine and was getting very stiff and unhappy. A friend mentioned they had used a Bioflow collar on their dog with good results so I thought it was worth a try. I was amazed by the results, she went from a poor old soul who was sliding about on the kitchen floor unable to manage to help herself, falling over when going out of the patio door into the garden, so poorly I was seriously thinking of calling it a day. The collar arrived, I put it on her, by the evening she seemed perkier and more certain on her feet. The following day she was clearly stronger and much happier. I took her for a walk and she positively bounded about. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
The effects seemed to last about a year and we had to look for something else to help her. I still can't quite believe how well it appeared to work.

At 9 and after X-rays my terrier was found to have arthritis in both front elbows. I felt he was too young to be bombarded with tablets so we decided on a different route. When he was first diagnosed we were about to go on holiday and I didn't want it ruined for him by being too uncomfortable to walk so I did get him pain relief but he seemed really off colour on them and almost not quite there if that makes sense. Anyway when we got home he started weekly hydrotherapy (this became monthly at the suggestion of the staff) and they even showed me how to massage him to help with blood flow etc. He also began weekly, then monthly cartrophen injections and also I bought some Vets Kitchen glucosamine liquid supplement which gets squirted on his food daily. Anyway, the change in him was amazing and we were suddenly able to get out and about properly. After 16 months we stopped the hydrotherapy although I want to start again purely because he loved it. It was my laziness that stopped us going really, kept putting off booking and weeks became months. The vet was really happy at how things turned out and said that one of the three things or a combination was helping a great deal. Anyway, he'll turn 12 soon, he's a happy chap, bit stiff legged now but enjoys life. We don't allow him to walk miles but he could. He's also always picked up to put in and out of the car, on and off the bed, just to prevent sudden jolts (basically he's treated like a King!). So three years later he's still not on pain relief although eventually I expect he will be, I just wanted him as free from medication as possible for as long as possible because I felt there would be no going back once started.

Thank you for sharing that - it's really encouraging to read and I'm so pleased he's still drug free!  Pip's been playing with my SIL's 6 month old Cocker puppy Monty and have to say you wouldn't know there's anything wrong with her, bless her :o)

>(basically he's treated like a King!).

And why wouldn't he be!  :-)  :-)  :-)