My 14 year old black lab is lame in her hind legs. It started about 1 year ago very mildly and it has gotten progressively worse in the last two days (of course, a holiday weekend and today seems to be the worst I have seen). I have been helping her outside to urinate and poop, but she doesn’t understand that’s why I’m there, even when standing in the middle of the pooping section of the yard. She just starts to sniff around and then looks at me like, excuse me, I need to go so please leave. I’ve been elevating her back legs (very slightly) with a towel wrapped around her mid-section and she pulls along with her front legs. She has incredible front end/body strength. She seems happy, eating and drinking well. She even stretches and crawls across the living room floor to get to her toys and plays with them. She is on glucosamine and an aspirin 325mg twice a day. My only issue and problem is the cost of a vet visit for pain medications. Our guinea pig had a health problem and exhausted our funding for just about everything. I don’t want her to hurt and/or suffer. She hasn’t given me the "sign" that she’s done with this and ready to leave us yet. Do you have any advice for OTC medications I might be able to give her to ease her pain and keep her from hurting?

Therapeutic ultrasound or neuromuscular electrical stimulation for dog with arthritis?

My dog has arthritis and her vet said that she should get the ultrasound and NES.
I am reading very mixed reviews and cant see where people have had success with it.

She is taking Tramadol every two days one 50mg tablet. and fish oil 4000mg, glucosamine, and sometimes a steroid (medrol 2.5 mg)
The vet gave her glucosamine shots (1 week every day, then every 7 days and then 2 weeks and so forth)
In addition he has given her a shot for pain (cant remember the name) which works, (she can then walk and does not have weak hind legs)

I also give her baths in warm water to relax her muscles, heating pad (the ones you put in the microwave and is moist)

She eats very well.

Please NO rude comments or rude opinions.

Hello.

I’ve come back home to southern Arizona now,… a long way from the folk and GSD events where I found Mindy, in Washington state, this now nearly 1 year old, beautiful and very smart female.

I get so many questions about her gait/ walk. Even the old man veterinarian said "I don’t like the way she is walking (hind legs)" MOre than one person at the ball fields I take her to exercise have asked questions like: "Whats wrong with her?" And yet, the other evening, when I was away staying at a dog friendly motel we went to a dog park in Tucson and a smart young man heard someone make another comment about her walk, and he said, "He doesnt know what hes talking about. That’s the way they are supposed to be, with "a forward stance." (rear legs at the ready, one foot behind the other)

Before we left the area where Mindy was born and her siblings go to these confirmations meets, I spoke with a gal who told me that Mindy has what appeared to be a temporary condition that might have been making her uncomfortable. I think I wrote that medical term down somewhere, but haven’t found those note papers.

Mindy comes from two ladies who have co bred these dogs in Renton WA for about 35 years. They are bred for show; "grand victor; grand victus." Mindy was missing one of her 42 teeth and I was fortunate in being blessed with this dog. I had become familiar with the local club and I guess folk sensed I was OK. The breeder said "We want to give Mindy to you.

What I have been doing is giving Mindy at least every other day, a tablet of 750 mg of Glucosamine Sulfate with 600 mg Chondroitin Sulfate, crushed, and 1/2 adult aspirin, mixed with her dry Kirkland Lamb & Rice dry food, which I moisten (when I do this) so it goes down easier. I would like to know anyone comments on this, as well as any other things you may wish to tell me.

I really appreciate it. Mindy and I thank you.

Walt

I have a 6 year old Retriever/Spaniel mix. He has been on phenobarbital for 3 years now due to cluster seizures that started when he turned 3. He hasn’t had any seizures in about 2 years but the vet (and myself) want him to stay on it just to be safe. He is now showing signs of joint pain in his hind legs. I’ve done the research but can’t come up with an answer as to whether or not it is ok to give him chewable glucosamine tablets while he is on the pheno. Any help would be appreciated!