sorry,its me again-having been offered steroid injections before i had my hip replacement,i wondered if vets do them for dogs,too?ive been looking online for things to try to help River,she is still limping slightly, at a trot.as i may have said before,her painkillers may as well be smarties,and im now concerned that golden paste may be upsetting her stomach as she has started going out to eat grass,soon after a meal with it in.do they still offer cartrofen injections,anyone think they might help her?thankyou x

Watching last weeks supervet, it appears they do give steroid injections to dogs. How difficult this is to do in placing the steroid in exactly the right place, wasn't made clear, so I don't know if it's something your local vet could do or whether a specialist needs to be seen

Cartrophen is still used, yes.  Whether it will help, no-one can say - but anything's worth a try.  I'm a big fan of trying anything when it comes to pain, as IME, if one thing doesn't work it absolutely does not mean something else won't.  And each dog is different - Paige is doing very well on tramadol but it doesn't touch River's pain at all.  Gabapentin is really helping a friend's two dogs, yet again - doesn't touch River at all!  Even on full dose.

The one thing that does help her is CBD oil.  That's worth keeping in reserve if you haven't tried it already.

Golden paste doesn't usually cause nausea (grass eating) but can cause soft poops if too much is given.  It's about finding the maximum dose the dog can tolerate before seeing unwanted effects.

However, before you go to steroids, there is LOTS more to try first...

I would recommend ALL of:

Riaflex Joint Aid Plus
Riaflex Devils Claw
Riaflex Green Lipped Mussel
A good quality fish oil like Grizzly Wild Salmon oil
And the golden paste...

Be warned that the Riaflex products are not cheap, but I know of nothing anywhere near them in terms of the strength of ingredients and purity and efficacy.  My elderly dog is on all the above, and has no sign of lameness, approaching 14yo (large breed).  She was put on that lot when she showed signs of lameness after getting up.  That resolved after a week on all the above...

If all that lot don't work, then cartrophen is a natural and side effect free injection they can have regularly and I have friends who swear by it on their elderly dogs.  I would try that before any NSAIDs, gabapentin, metacam, steroids etc etc - as these all have more side effects.

If cartrophen doesn't work, then I'd be working out what is effective from those prescription meds I just listed. 

So you are at least 3 steps away from steroids...

thanks Jodi,im seeing the vet on wed,i will ask xxx

nikita-i have cbd oil,i bought a small dropper bottle a couple of weeks ago on a friends advice,i actually havent really given it to her yet,bit worried as to how much she should have,it sounds powerful stuff.sorry about your River(must be something in the name!)what is her problem? poor lass.im going to the vets with River(mine!)on wed,so ill do some brain picking.thanks!

thats extremely helpful,thankyou-ive just ordered some devils claw,but not riaflex,so probably not as good.she definately doesnt have loose poops(raw fed-little brown grapes-)so shall i continue with the golden paste then?and i will have a look at the other supplements you mentioned-thankyou x

I'd continue with it and put her on all those supplements for 2-3 weeks and see if it improves... if not, try the cartrophen...

I had cartrofen injections for my boy and they made no difference but they are available.

> sorry about your River(must be something in the name!)what is her problem?

Chronic quite badly bulging disc and vertebral stenosis, both in her lumbar, and severe osteoarthritis in her front feet.  I will have her in for a review soon and maybe add something else though - she gets the golden paste too but is not wanting to get up in the mornings, as much as she is active and happy when she's out.

Their chiropractor recommended Riaflex too, and if I can afford it at some point I am going to try it for the oldies.  I've also looked around and onetwothreefour is right, it is expensive but worth it - to get equivalent quality elsewhere, you end up paying about the same or even a little more.  Worth the cost.

I can't recall what else you've tried but is acupuncture an option (if you haven't tried that yet)?  That is by far the best thing for River, in combo with painkillers.  Unfortunately I can't afford it for her any more but it made a massive difference when she had it previously.

aw,poor girl-you do well to keep her active-just out of interest,are her front feet swollen?that was the first indication of my Flyss,s arthritis,she had massive front feet.,and ive just noticed my friends dog has enlarged front feet,too.i am going to try riaflex,i like the way they tell you how long a pack will last-doesnt sound such a bad price,then,ive just run out of yumove,so i need to get something else sharpish.
when i saw the vet yesterday,theyre still not clear whats actually causing the limp,though the pointy bone and calcified ligament are a "maybe"-as i said at the time-"trust you!"(to river,not the nice vet!)-shes got another month of carprax,shes going to have a water sample checked next visit(may)(to check the painkillers arent having any adverse effects-i think)
she did mention surgery if it doesnt settle,saying they dont like to interfere with joints,but they usually have good results and they could check out the calcified ligament at the same time,so im starting saving,hah! but before that stage i might try acupuncture-do they have to be asleep for that?
what causes a ligament to calcify?is it dietary(mine are raw fed)or damage related?thanks for reply x

> i might try acupuncture-do they have to be asleep for that?

No they don't from my experience with one of mine.   Much as it might cause them to become sleepy.   I had mine given 2 courses of acupuncture for his intermittent lameness early on, and as I recall, he just stood there (unusual because a Basset doesn't normally stand if he can sit, and doesn't sit if he can LAY DOWN!).

I've had it done to three dogs now (two with success) and they were fully awake.  Well, mostly - Remy did tend to drift off while it was done!

Her front feet are a little swollen, yes.  It's mainly in the second toe on each foot and those toes are very swollen and lifted with it (so the claw doesn't touch the ground, bit like a velociraptor-wannabe).  They are pretty good at the moment though - lots of CBD, golden paste and warmer weather are acting as a great combo for her.

ah,bless!,thanks for your reply.At the moment,im a bit like a basset! x

oh thats good then-yes first time i noticed flyss s feet were at a training class,i suddenly noticed her feet were off the floor,well,the toes!
sorry to be a pest,but the cbd oil you use,is it in drop form?i know youre supposed to work up to an effective dose,where would i start with a 18kg collie? (she has to lose weight too,im ashamed to say,i never noticed it creep up,she was only 17kg last august!)thanks Nikita.

Yes, it is.  Dose varies depending on what you use - the problem with it is that there's a massive variation in strengths and quality!  And in dog response, of course.  The stuff River's on is not that great for a lot of dogs - strength varies, quite a few reports of dogs not responding at all.  But it's the only one I've tried for her that actually helps her, albeit at a ridiculously big dose (but it is very cheap thank dog!).  But conversely, while it does help Ren, it's not that good for her - not the right balance of compounds I think, for her issues.  So she gets a different brand, only one drop twice a day, and that is brilliant for her.  I'm just starting Paige on River's stuff to see if it helps her with her spondylosis as her tramadol dose is creeping up - I've read that dogs do not build a tolerance to CBD, unlike tramadol, so I'm hoping it helps as I've not got many painkilling options left for her that I can afford.

For yours I would start by going to Simply CBD, which is where Ren's stuff comes from.  It's great quality and a sensible price too, unlike a lot of places, and the owner is very knowledgeable about dosing and using it for dogs.  They're on FB too, I think.  Have a chat with him, and see what he recommends.

Also - 1kg isn't the end of the world   And weight is hard to manage when they're wonky!  River is 25kg now, she should be 21/22kg.  Lost 4kg so far.  She piled it all on when she was diagnosed and put on restricted exercise.  We're getting there slowly!

thanks nikita,i think thats where i got my cbd oil,a friend recommended them.  Her riaflex joint supplement came yesterday-delighted to find its a gritty powder an d she doesnt mind taking it,unlike yumove,which i have to poke down her,as she always leaves it in the bottom of her bowl,sucked!ive got 45 days supply,so im hoping i see a result by then,if its going to help!xxx

just an update-my river is off her painkillers(we have some in "just in case",mind)and doing quite well on riaflex joint support and devils alternative-i was amazed the difference after two weeks.there is an occasional limp-quite rare and never lasts long,she may not be completely out of the woods,yet,but she is so much better-thankyou! in fact im so impressed ive just ordered some for my friends dog who seems to be quite a stiff boy for only 8.lets hope it works its magic on him,too!xxx

Yay that's good news

Fab news :)  I've just started one of mine on krill oil, can't afford the Riaflex myself presently as I've got to fork out for a leg brace for her.  Good to get feedback for it though!

best of luck with the krill oil xxx

Ive had steroid injections today in my shoulders and can tell you how painful it was. Felt so ill afterwards and when the local wore off i had nausea and headaches. Do wonder if dogs get similar side effects too. As for the injection site it is very very sore. Tbh i won't look forward to having that done again in a hurry.

Don't say that, I'm having them in my toe next month!  Although I've been told I'll be given a local first.  Hopefully that is the case!

they do vary considerably. my mother used to have them every few months for her back problems as does another family member for in the same area and experienced very little if any pain or side effects afterwards. They took around 10 days to make any difference but certainly helped. so don't panic Nikita hopefully all will be well. and Suejaw I hope you feel better soon

oh good lord! i may have to have them in my knee-eeek!

It does vary!  I had one in my elbow (without a local) which was very painful, and one in my shoulder (with a local) which didnt hurt at all.  The one which hurt was done by my GP and the other at the hostpital so maybe depends on who does them!

Mine were a local mixed in with a steroid. It was thw actual needle going in which was painful. A few of my clients have had them in wrists and feet and both said very painful for them too.  I do know others who said it wasn't. I guess it depends on the severity of the issue and also how you tolerate pain.

I've had steroid injection in knee joint and it was wonderful. instant relief from pain as local hit.  sadly stopped working for me but it really was not painful. I am a complete wimp and did not hurt anything like as bad as the arthritis and gave a lot of relief.  
nerve block on other hand... I would NEVER EVER have that again, couldn't stop crying with the pain (and it did not work)

you poor thing!i had a nerve block in my back but it didnt hurt much,luckily,but im pleased your knee injections didnt hurt,because im a complete wuss if anything hurts me! just a thought,as you say the nerve block didnt work-could it have not been done properly>might explain the pain too xx

knee steroid jab really did not hurt.  I too am suspicious the nerve block was done  badly but there is no way I would ever have it again to find out.  they spent over 25 minutes ramming multiple needles into nerves and it  was that traumatic the nurse had to dress me after as I was so faint & shaking I could not pick up clothes,
steroid jab I would recommend-  it was over in a flash & instant relief .

Thanks weimed.  I'm hoping it does help, painful or not as at present I've not been deemed bad enough for surgery and while it isn't too bad, it's still having an impact when I'm on my feet most of the day! It's also summer of course.  Winter is much worse.

I got plantar fasciitis in my right heel. Then, because I was walking more on the left, I also developed it in that one.
I had a steroid injection in the right first - hardly felt a thing and worked instantly. The injection in the left was so painful and didnt make much difference.
Both wore off eventually and I needed laser treatment in the end.