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Arthritis and skin problems iin an old dog, supplements?

6K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  spotted nikes 
#1 ·
Hi there, I have an older basset hound/beagle mix, we are guessing that he is about eleven years old. He has the basset body and bow-legged look, and has a lot of weight on his front paws. He has developed arthritis in the front paws, and recently I started him on cosequin. He's been on it over a couple of weeks and he isn't limping as much.
I would like to find something more effective though.
What about Glycoflex, SynoviG3, etc..? Of the three, which is the best?
Next, we've been fighting with skin issues in my dog. He is on flea prevention, and doesn't seem to itch. His paws are red, he licks between the paw pads constantly, and I dont know why.. he has always licked his feet but they seem redder. They're also swollen.

He is missing fur on his stomach, it has thinned. He has sores on his mouth, he has always had them and since we switched him onto a ceramic bowl from plastic; the sores haven't been as bad. They're these red bumps, that break open from time to time and bleed, they're around his mouth on the bottom jaw and below his nose.

Little bites, he is on flea prevention, whats up with this? Or is it a reaction to something outside? Sometimes he'll even get these bumps under his skin that go away after a while.


Redness and bald spots:


Sores around the mouth:


Pink, swollen paws:



Not sure what else to put..
We were wondering if the skin problem might have been caused by an allergy, maybe wheat or grains.
We switched him from Innova Senior to Earthborn Primitive Natural and Evanger's Chick en and Rice.. both of which are free of gluten.
I also started giving him fish oil, 1000 and Vitamin E 400. But that has only been going on for two or three days... I'm hoping to improve his coat and improve his joint function a little.

Can anyone give me some insight? The vet just says he might have a doggie version of athlete's foot... and had me washing his feet for months with an antifungal wash, with NO change.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
MismatchedMongrel ,

>He has developed arthritis in the front paws, and recently I started him on cosequin. He's been on it over a couple of weeks and he isn't limping as much. I would like to find something more effective though.
What about Glycoflex, SynoviG3, etc..? Of the three, which is the best?<

All 3 have good reviews and differ some in active ingredients. You would have to try each to check benefit on your dog.

You could try human grade glucosamine/chondroitin supplement @ dose 1500mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin and add a small amount of vitamin C @ approx 25mg to help your dogs digestive system absorb the glucosamine/chondroitin. If using human grade supplement make sure it lists the active ingredients by name and how much per dose and does not say compound or blend as you won't know how much of the glucosamine or chondroitin you are getting. I buy this from Kroger and a 2 pill dose = 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin. I grind up 1 pill and mix w/ 1 tsp peanut butter for AM meal and same for PM meal with a total dose of 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin per day. Plus a little Vitamin C... It will take about 4 weeks to see full benefit for whatever you are using.

The licking of paws could be from the pain in paws. After being on a therapeutic dose for at least 4 weeks if dog is still in pain check with vet for his opinion on pain relief meds.

The Earthborn prim nat is a good food and there are many more that are grain free. Try to stay on 1 Dog Food long enough to see if there is a benefit for your dog.

If licking a lot, the use of anti-fungal shampoo may be needed, use type for dog so ph is correct. You may also check out Micro-tek anti-itch shampoo.


>Next, we've been fighting with skin issues in my dog. He is on flea prevention, and doesn't seem to itch. His paws are red, he licks between the paw pads constantly, and I dont know why.. he has always licked his feet but they seem redder. They're also swollen.<
This could be a flea allergy or something with food or environmental. I would try to eleminate the food issue first with new protein source, the Earthborn may help here , however it may take 4 to 6 weeks to tell.

Watch out for household stuff like carpet powder and insecticides/cleaners and fumes etc. Yard insect control , standing water , items in garage should be checked, and , poison foilage and stuff in yard as well as a general good look around for anything your dog may eat that could cause problem.

>He is missing fur on his stomach, it has thinned. He has sores on his mouth, he has always had them and since we switched him onto a ceramic bowl from plastic;< You did good here as some dogs a allergic to plastic.

>Little bites, he is on flea prevention, whats up with this?<
You do not say what flea prevention your dog is on , some topical types can cause problems , also if the flea prevention contains permethrin I would stop using this right away. Make sure the bedding is not a source of flea problem, if yes throw away and replace anything in question . During the dead of winter if you are sure there is no flea problem on dog and in house , you could do a test to see how dogs skin does with out flea prevention

>Not sure what else to put..<
Eliminate anything you think may be a problem...........

>We were wondering if the skin problem might have been caused by an allergy, maybe wheat
or grains.<
YES... A dog can become allergic to a food he has eaten for years without problems.

>We switched him from Innova Senior to Earthborn Primitive Natural and Evanger's Chick en and Rice.. both of which are free of gluten.<
Stay with a good 4 or 5 star Dog food..

>I also started giving him fish oil, 1000 and Vitamin E 400. But that has only been going on for two or three days... I'm hoping to improve his coat and improve his joint function a little.<
This is good , stay with it ....

>Can anyone give me some insight? The vet just says he might have a doggie version of athlete's foot... and had me washing his feet for months with an antifungal wash, with NO change.<

Try the above and post back results. If you bathe dog too often dry skin can result, also never bathe with water above skin temp and always rinse well. Make sure to dry dog well, and , if using blow dryer use very low heat.
If dry skin is a problem, try oatmeal creme rinse and dry well..............

Best , oldhounddog
 
#3 ·
Eliminate common proteins, and grain. Try something like Taste of the Wild Pacific Salmon, or High prairie formula.

Have his thyroid checked. Low thyroid/cushings can cause skin issues.

Add Fish oil to his food. Use the dose for adult people. (It acts as an anti-imflammatory, helps skin/heart/immune system.)

Ask your vet about doing a loading dose of Adequan (one shot every 4 days for a month, then do it again every 6 months-a yr, whichever is needed). The loading dose given that way for a month has proven to be most effective. It has been proven to help rebuild joint lubrication.
 
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