butterfli25 said:

Lol, yeah he always manages to find the table food too.

Oh sweetie, I logged on just to reply to this thread, I saw an orgnote and just KNEW it was from you I'm so sorry to hear this, it's a menace in the shepherds. The problem with mixes is that often the owners haven't done a proper health checkup before breeding their dog and it's so irresponsible.
Ok, here we go:
- Rach is absolutely right in that dog food doesn't contain the proper amounts of chondroitine/glucosamine, it's just eye candy and a selling point. If the US is anything like Sweden though, there will be glucosamine powder or pills available. I suggest looking for it online, it'll be much cheaper than in a pet store. You can also try a horse supply store, the containers are bigger but it should be less expensive. I give Uzie the powder, she doesn't have any problems (her hips and elbows are x-rayed and she's an A/1 which means perfect ) but since it gave my Ollie at least 2 more years (he had arthritis) I'm better safe than sorry. Clucosamine takes a while before it comes up to full effect, it can be up to a couple of months. He should then eat it always for the rest of his life.
- Sebastian is a big guy, hip surgery is worse for the dog if they're big. You also must take into account that he might never get better despite surgery being done. But, there certainly are things you can do before making the surgery decision:
- The right exercise: Swimming is great, if you have a good lake nearby or a dog rehab center. A little is best at first of course, it helps ligaments and muscles grow stronger without the weightbearing walking does.
- Walking him, preferably on soft ground like grass, woods etc. He should keep a normal trot up so maybe some jogging for you. Not for very long though obviously, just a few minutes. Then when he gets better, a slight incline walk is good but then he must only walk.

The exercise thing shouldn't start until he's well again, the immediate inflammation he has right now only requires short walks and then rest. If he wants to be entertained do some hide and seek games that doesn't require running.
Now, with the medication: Ollie took Rimadyl for about a year with no problems whatsoever but it stopped working eventually. However, all cortisone medication strains the kidneys and if Sebastian has to be on cortisone for the rest of his life it will shorten his life expectancy. There are less strong cortisone meds, I can't for the life of me remember what Ollie took that worked wonders the last years of his life but I'll look it up right now and get back to you. In the meantime I think you should go with the Rimadyl, it's not as bad as they make it sound. If he were to react to it you'd know very early and then you can just stop. It's not a med for long term treatment but for now it's probably what he needs to heal it out.
Surgery is an option but try the other stuff first, give it a bit of time.

I'm so sorry sweetie, I hope what we say here will help both of you.

Ok the two other medicines that Ollie took, I don't know if these names/active substances have the corresponding names in English but at least the vet should know. They're both listed as anti-inflammatory meds.
- Metacam, active substance meloxicam
- Romefen, active substance ketoprofen

The first was given to Ollie when he initially presented, and the Romefen he got when Rimadyl stopped working. That he took daily for years and it, coupled with glucosamine, gave him additional years. He lived till he was 12.

Oh, one more thing: 20 lbs?? That sounds a LOT, if that pic of him is recent I doubt it could be that much. Could you please take a pic of him standing up, from the side? That would give a better idea of his weight... also I doubt that you in particular would allow your dog to get that much overweight, you're too good for that.

butterfli25 said:

I don't blame you.

Your boy is soooo adoreable.

My cousin has a German Shepherd that I'm absolutely in love with. He's a big dork and he has so many facial expressions. His name is Chico.

butterfli25 said:

You're welcome. @)-}----

Here's one for a natural pain reliever:
http://www.recoverysa.com...a_dogs.htm

Teacher said:

oh Jen you know you are my boys' Org mama!!!
he weighs 106 now but still has a waist line and looks really good. His vet wants him in the 85-95 range, but when he was there he looked to skinny to me and he was HUNGRY! but he looks good, I will probably get him down below 100 right at about 95, that's 10 lbs and see how his mobility is.

A quick note. Dogs can not assimilate the glucosamine sulphate the sulphate molecules are too large to be absorbed through the gut.

Dogs need glucosamine HCL

butterfli25 said:

If he gets too hungry look for a light type food, JWB has good varieties of that too. Also you can shred some carrots if he likes that and put it in there, dogs can't digest the fibres in veggies unless they're liquified but it'll be a filler. Same with rice, potatoes and pasta, in smaller amounts it shouldn't affect him but unless it's liquified he can't digest it. However, some dogs fart a whole lot if they're given human food... Uzie is one of them

thequiet1 is right btw, I think we all took for granted that we knew there are diff kinds of glucosamine but just to clarify: There are two kinds, the one for animals works on all animals (as far as I've been taught at least) but not the human kind.

butterfli25 said:

All the people I know who have had animals with bone or joint pain have given them glucosamine suppliments and they're doing fantastic. It's worth a go - it's just a suppliment and won't cause harm.

I've had dogs with hip dysplasia. It's heartbreaking. I hope he'll be ok.

Teacher said:

Some animal products on the market do have glucosamine sulphate only in, this is why I stated about glucosamine HCL. Also many dog owners do purchase human glucosamine sulphate due to the price being lower. Always check the labels before purchase as people could be paying out for something that does not work

Hey butterfli,
I sorry about your baby's bad hips.I have a old dog to an I has to give her a asprin once a day make shore you give it with food so it will not
up set his stomach an if you can use a towel to hold up his back end it helps alot.take out for short walk to him moving.
I hope I that helps

thequiet1 said:

he's getting the injections now.

thanks

sebastian good luck sweetie

roseland said:

thanks!

butterfli25 said:

Vets meds in my opinion always the best to use. I hope he feels much better, please give lots of belly rubs from me.

thequiet1 said:

oh I will he LOVES belly rubs thanks

Boriqua1130 said:

I read about this stuff on german shepherds.com
thanks!

butterfli25 said:

He is gorgeous, I grew up with germy's and remember them having hip problems

Seems like it's something to do with the breed

I had a dog that was half German Shepherd and he also had hip problems when he got older.

butterfli25 said:

i hope your doggy feels better right away!

he has a wound on his nose from barking at the dog next door through the fence

he gets his second adequan shot today, he's been doing fine though. thanks to everyone for their kind words and support.

butterfli25 said:

You're welcome!