Please answer my question…no snide remarks. My 5 year old dachshund mix has back issues occasionally. It is not a terrible condition yet, it just flares up once in a while. She is having a flare up right now. Ive read that glucosamine tablets have helped with back problems (i know it is for joint/hip health…but i think it could only help her back.)http://www.petco.com/product/106986/Cosequin-Bonelets-Hip-and-Joint-Support-Dog-Supplement.aspx?CoreCat=LN_Shopping_DogSupplies_HipandJointSupport I just want to keep her from getting worse and keep her comfortable during a flare up.
Also…what is your view on doggy asprin? Is this a good way to go to help with pain occasionally?
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751695

I will take her to the vet if it worsens, of course!….she can still run and play everyday, its just occasionally she gets a flare up in her back. Just please answer what I asked, not just telling me i should take her to a vet immediately.
The reason im reluctant to go to my vet at first sign of trouble, is because the owner of the vet hospital always treats us like we are bad people. My dog has a skin condition–chronic. Yet, she always thinks that we don’t care for our dog properly and makes rude comments. Our vet, in the same office, is remarkable. He is great with our dogs. So, that is why I put up with the rude owner—i will never switch vets. I just try not to go in for everything because she thinks we are not caring for our dog properly—which we are, the dogs skin condition is chronic with no chance of cure (trust me, we’ve tried everything)
Zgzig….my dog has dimodex. When I found her she was abandoned and covered in horrid scabs. I got her healthy. She is on Ivermectin 1% daily. The vet said she had a possibility of being cured in a year….it’s been 5 years and if I take her off the meds she starts getting scabby again and begins losing her hair. If she stays on her meds she is just fine.
Ive tried medicated shampoos and all kinds of supplements. She is currently on Dinovite daily…but the medication is whats keeping her skin under control

i have a horse that has some joint problems, and has recently tore the lateral cartilage in his stifle. he’s really sore and depressed right now, and i have been giving him bran mashes about once to twice a week to perk him up and make him feel special. he tends to eat anything that i put in there, so i was wondering if there are any additives that i can put in to help with his pain.
i’m currently using:
half of his usual gran ration and that much bran
molasses and honey drizzled over the top
a tiny bit of peppermint extract
table salt to keep him drinking
powdered electrolytes
sliced carrots and apples
a few horse cookies on top =]

he is currently on MSM and glucosamine supplements, and on pain medication.

So me questions are:
-what kind of ingredients do you use in your mashes that may have different flavors for variety?
-are there any NATURAL ingredients that i can add to help with his pain?

wendy-
if my horse was otherwise healthy, i would be concerned with diabetes. but its only a matter of time now until we have to put him down. he has so many problems that there is no chance for recovery. we’re just concentrating on keeping him as pain-free and happy as possible until i can bear to let him go. he was the only horse that i’ve ever had a great connection with, so i am sure you can understand how hard this is. so please no attacks on me for being selfish. he is on the supplement daily. the vet has said that we should try anything possible to help him, and the reason that i want to go natural with this is so it wont interfere with his other meds. what i was actually looking for was an oil or something that was a natural pain releiver. ex. lavender oil for calming.
please no nasty comments; i cant really handle them right now.

I tore my ACL and meniscus a while back. I decided not to get surgery. Are there any supplemental meds or pills you can take to strengthen your knee? I’ve been taking glucosamine tablets twice a day which are supposed to strengthen your bones and joints. Just wanted to see if there is anything out there on the market that can be more helpful?

Before I receive a lot of answerrs recommending diet and exercise, please note that I injured my back in 1993 and have already done everything. I take the Omega 3 Fish Oils, Glucosamine, Multi’s, etc. Drink lots of water and am in my 3rd go round of Physical Therapy to keep my muscle tone. Already did chiropractor, decompression, massage therapy and even acupuncture and nerve ablasion 5 times. I am not a condidate for disk replacement because I have facet joint probs.

My Dr. wants to fuse lower 4 from tailbone up.

I really need to know if you had fusion and what you feel about it. Or if you know someone and what they feel about it. I am in pain now 24/7 and can only walk for 1 hour tops and that is after I take a pain pill. It sucks! I used to be so energetic but the last 4 months I have gone down hill. I don’t want to up my meds from the current vicodin (norco) and ibuprofen because I have been there and done that and it took me a year to get off (after I found out how horrible they are for you and my doctor told me that if I had surgery while on them; such as emergency surgery if the bad disc actually ruptures, he would be unable to control my pain).

What say all of you? Work or no?

Please add what you are doing for pain management– I take Norco and Ibuprofen. Do you do anything, non opiate, that seems to help? Other than what I have already mentioned?