Arthritis in vertebrae - how can we help?

Dakota has had severe arthritis for years. So I wouldn't count your guy out just yet. She has it all down her spine, in both hips and even in her tail. I did the shot series, that helped. I also have had her on glucosamine and chondroiton (sp) plus Deremaxx for a long time.

Make sure you're still giving him exercise - but do it so that he's walking on grass - not concrete or asphalt. Swimming is good if he likes water. And make sure he has a very nice comfortable bed. 

Rascal has some arthritis in his neck as well (and he's only 4). Callie recommended Knox Nutra Joint, and my vet recommended glucosamine/chondroitin and some light massage. I've read that vitamin E and fish oil can also be helpful. I think these are more mild treatments, but hopefully they'll still help a bit! 

Steroids aren't specifically for "pain" -- they are an anti-inflammatory to reduce the inflammation in the bones/cartilage which then *does* relieve pain.  But it's often used as a first step to more seriously relieve that inflammation 'faster'.  However, both steroids and nsaids (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like carprophen and deracoxib - Rimadyl/Deramaxx- and others) are very hard on the liver. You may want to ask your vet about using milk thistle and/or the pharmaceutical version called Denosyl (not sure what it's counterpart would be there for you) to help the body cope with the drugs.

The Knox NutraJoint probably isn't available for you but it is simply gelatin (bovine) and calcium as a supplement.  Not a pain reliever but it does a really good job of helping put the materials at the body's disposal to rebuild some of the cartilage lost to the arthritis.  I've used it with great success on myself *and* on several of my elderly dogs.  Not fast -- takes about 2-3 months to work because it's actually a repair rather than just a pain med or anti-inflammatory.

Also -- ask your vet about using some form of relaxant along with the anti-inflammatory.  As an arthritis sufferer myself I can tell you for a fact that when you 'hurt' you tense up. That, in turn, makes bone rub on bone *harder* and makes it all worse.  You can maximize the anti-inflammatory by giving a mild relaxant (I use valerian root -- not habit-forming long term and it's pretty gentle, as is oat seed and a few others) -- it simply relaxes the tension which then allows the anti-inflammatory to work better and more efficiently.

Also some massage with a topical anti-inflammatory (several essential oils work super well -- like peppermint, wintergreen, etc. and don't make fur gunky) can really help as well.  It gives a ton of relief particularly when something has made the arthritis worse (a bit too much activity, weather, etc.)

If you want to email me I've got an article on all of this that I'd send you.  The herbs are easier for me to tell you to 'find' because I don't know brand names that apply there.  Just email me if you want it.

Acupuncture is SUPERB if you can find someone good. It helps pain and it helps again with longevity without drug damage.

Some prevention and understanding of how arthritis works can make a HUGE difference in longevity.  I tend to rescue arthritic animals because I've had rheumatoid arthritis since I was a kid and I control it with an incredibly small amount of nsaid daily.  When my mother was my age her joints were horribly distended and bent already.  And mine arent'.

 Good luck!

Thanks everyone! Callie, I sent you a  PM. that article would be great!