I wanted to share my experience with what I consider to be a miracle treatment that we don't hear enough about (even my vet failed to mention it as an option when Gunther's arthritis got to a point of requiring medical intervention). When I approached her with it after learning about it online, her reasoning she explained for not bringing it up was the expense involved, but by my figures I found it in the long run to actually be cheaper than the more widely accepted approach of using NSAID's for managing arthritis pain. I'm talking about Adequan Canine. If you've never heard of it allow me to introduce you. If you've heard of it but decided against it then perhaps my own account may give you cause to reconsider (P.S. I own no stock in the company who makes it and receive no reward in recommending it except the knowledge that I may have helped relieve another dog's suffering from this debilitating condition).

Gunther started showing signs of arthritis a few years ago. My vet determined that it was in his knees (she could actually hear it popping during his bi-annual exam). For a long time his symptoms were only minor (some difficulty rising from a laying down position, a hesitancy to climb and descend stairs, and most noticeably a decline in his ability to jump into the van on his own--over time it became quite precarious where you weren't quite sure if he was going to make it or not). You may ask why I didn't start him on treatment with NSAID's from the get go. The reason is I was (and am) terrified of them based on what I've read and my own experience. Prior to the arthritis, when Gunther was younger he developed a limp at one point for no apparent reason. He tested negative for lyme's and leptospirosis (sp?) so believing it was unlikely to be arthritis due to his age at the time my vet determined he most likely twisted an ankle or something while jumping around on his walks. She gave me a couple of weeks of Rimadyl to ease his pain while it healed which I started him on immediately. Near the end of the two weeks however Gunther stopped eating and became lethargic. After a couple of days of him refusing to eat I brought him back to the vet. When tested his bloodwork showed a problem with his liver. Believing it was a toxic reaction to the Rimadyl I stopped administering it to him immediately. After a couple of weeks we tested him again and everything was back to normal suggesting the Rimadyl was indeed the culprit. While this was going on I read all sorts of horror stories about dogs experiencing serious complications to their health from NSAID use, even dying in some cases. A few sources suggested that labs are statistically more likely to experience a toxic reaction than other breeds. As a result I've been reluctant to go down that road again if at all avoidable.

So I started him on glucosomine supplements in the hopes of improving his condition or at the very least prevent it from worsening. About a year ago though I knew I had to do something more. His arthritis had progressed to the point that I was lifting him into the van daily, staircases were out of the question, and his walking slowed down considerably with him needing to sit and rest every minute or so. When it got to the point that he could no longer make it to his swimming hole, I knew I had to ease his suffering no matter what the risk. Still hoping to avoid the NSAID's I scoured the internet yet again for an alternative. After much searching I finally came across a site that mentioned Adequan Canine. Conducting a search on the Adequan brought up more information. Apparently people were experiencing excellent results with it. Technically a drug, you could basically think of it as glucosomine on steroids injected intramuscularly. It had been shown to actually aid in the healing of the joints rather than simply masking the pain like NSAID's. That and it had no reported side effects (whether that's still true I can't say but that was the case at the time and I can confirm that Gunther's never had any adverse reactions on it). I got very excited.

I made an appointment with my vet the next day to discuss Gunther's options , stressing my interest to her about the Adequan. She had only good things to say about it based on other dogs' results that she'd treated with it. She was aware however of my financial situation and warned me of the cost. I forget her exact quote at the time but it was in the $40/$50 range per shot. I had already researched prices for the drug online and had found a source (Discount Pet Drugs) where I could get 4 5ml. bottles (enough for 10 injections) for $169.95 (free shipping included). The basic regimen for the adequan was a loading period of 2 2ml. injections per week for 4 weeks, so the 4 bottles would cover the loading period plus cover 2 months after the loading period when the shots went down to once a month. I asked my vet if I provided the medication how much would she charge me to administer the shots. She said she wouldn't administer the shots in such a case but that she could write me a prescription and teach me how to administer the shots myself if I wanted to buy the drugs online. So that's what I did. She charged me $5 for the prescription and even provided a bunch of hypodermic needles for free. I ordered the drugs and when they arrived she walked me through giving Gunther the first shot. I'll be honest, to this day (over a year later) I still get nervous when giving him the shot but money's so tight I'd have a hard time affording them otherwise so I work through my own anxiety and manage to do it.

So how did Gunther do on it? The only word I can think of to describe the results is incredible. He showed signs of improvement after the first two weeks and by the end of the loading period you couldn't even tell he had arthritis. He still wants to be lifted into the van but how he has jumped into the van on his own unexpectedly a number of times without any problem, I think for the most part he just enjoys being pampered--who could blame him). As for his walks, he's back to his old self. He makes it to his swimming hole and beyond without a problem (I sometimes actually have trouble keeping up with him on the way to the pond now, he's so excited about the thought of going swimming and in a hurry to get there). I've been so impressed by the results I can't help but enthusiastically recommend it (sometimes annoyingly so) to anyone I come across who has a dog with arthritis. A lot of people are put off by the thought of injections rather than a pill but I think the potential benefits are well worth it if you can overcome that. And as far as cost goes, if you're willing to administer the shots yourself, then at $169.95 for 10 injections giving one per month that's only $17 per month. Try finding a month's worth of Deramax or even Rimadyl for that price. And all without the potential risk of the NSAID's!

I hope this helps a few owners looking for a solution to their dogs' arthritis problems. I know there's no guarantee that any one drug will work for everyone exactly the same, but in my book the Adequan is as close to a miracle treatment as you can find at present. I just hope it continues to work as well for Gunther in the years to come. That's my one wish: a long pain-free life for my best buddy.

[mrandrei]

Good to know that treatment works for your dog!

[Corky/Max]

Types of Arthritis in Pets
Acute Traumatic Arthritis in pets generally manifests rapidly as a swelling and lameness and is almost always a direct result of trauma to the joints. While this type can never be directly avoided, it is one of the few types of arthritis that may require immediate surgical intervention to prevent onset of permanent osteoarthritis.

Auto Immune Arthritis in pets is also known as rheumatoid arthritis. Your pet's own immune system attacks the joints and typically affects several joints at once. The synovial membranes generally will become inflamed and mobility will lessen. The cause of auto immune arthritis is generally unknown.

Degenerative Joint Disease in pets is generally synonymous with osteoarthritis. Symptoms include a destruction of parts of the joint, generally isolated to the cartilage. Pets with this condition may also experience intermittent inflammation. This condition is one of the most common types of arthritis in pets.

Hip Dysplasia in pets is a type of osteoarthritis that affects the hip joints of your pet. This can sometimes result after an acture injury, but can also occur due to normal wear and tear or infectious agents. This disease causes a number of complications. A common misconception is that hip dysplasia is always an isolated condition. This is not true, it is quite possible for hip dysplasia to spread to other joints as the disease progresses.

Hypertrophic Arthritis in pets has to do with the development of bone spurs. The best analogy to describe a bone spur would be walking on a tack all of the time, because the joint is not smoothly moving along but instead is being poked by growths that are very painful in both humans and animals. This generally occurs as a result of trauma or osteoarthritis.

Infectious Arthritis in pets is characterized by lameness and sore joints. There is always an underlying infectious element to this type of arthritis. This type of arthritis generally occurs as a result of trauma and secondary infection to the joint. Antibiotics should be used for this type of arthritis.

Inflammatory Arthritis in pets is one of the least common forms of arthritic conditions in pets. Generally, osteoarthritic conditions occur much more frequently as they progress over time. Except when infectious agents are present, the causes of most inflamatory arthritis types is unknown.

Knee Stifle in pets means they have one or more torn ligaments around the "knee" of the pet. This destabilizes the joint. In extreme cases, this may result in dislocation. As the knee joint is constantly subjected to a great deal of continual strain and pain in this area is generally incredibly debilitating.

Kneecap Dislocation in pets is usually caused by misshapen or malformed leg bones results in a "loose" kneecap that can move or dislocate out of its natural position. Knee stifle can also contribute to this condition.

Osteoarthritis in pets is a slowly progressing disease that occurs due to the breakdown and destruction of your pet's cartilage. As it gets worse, the bones (now with far less cartilage to provide shock absorption) begin to grind against one another causing pain, reduced flexibility, inflammation, and a reduction in mobility. This is one of the most common types of arthritis in pets and the type that glucosamine is most suited for.

Osteochondrosis in pets is when the cartilage deteriorates and causes an osteoarthritic like condition. Joint tissue becomes both painful and inflamed. It is speculated that there is a genetic component to this disease but it nutrition may also be a contributing factor.

Shoulder Degeneration in pets is a disease that has multiple causes. Because the shoulder is more of a sliding joint rather than a ball and socket, it is less prone to injury but it may still wear down over time. Infection or injury to the joint may be contributing factors. This type of arthritis generally affects the gait of the animal and slows them down.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in pets is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in humans. This type of arthritis results when the body attacks itself or an infectious agent and becomes confused and attacks one or more joints in your pet's body. The cause of this type of arthritis is generally unknown.

Traumatic Arthritis in pets is a catch all term for arthritis that has manifested as a result of trauma to the joints. This kind of arthritis is generally acute and is a direct result of some form of trauma. Osteoarthritis in the effected joints commonly develops over time as a result of this condition.

[Corky/Max]

Dogs: dog joint health pills, anti inflammatory drugs, weekend athlete although I think 2000 IU of Vitamin E sounds a bit much--I would check that out!

[AuntieDale]

Wow, you've all given me lots to think about! I'm presently working on getting Kramer to lose 10 pounds - first very important step...he's lost 2 pounds in just over 3 weeks, so we're off to a good start. When we reach the 10 pound goal, we'll see if Adequan is needed - I'm curious to see what my vet says about it. It sounds like an amazing alternative to NSAIDs and if it actually fixes the problem rather than mask the symptoms, I'm ALL for it!

Thanks for all the info!!

[Corky/Max]

Originally Posted by AuntieDale

Wow, you've all given me lots to think about! I'm presently working on getting Kramer to lose 10 pounds - first very important step...he's lost 2 pounds in just over 3 weeks, so we're off to a good start. When we reach the 10 pound goal, we'll see if Adequan is needed - I'm curious to see what my vet says about it. It sounds like an amazing alternative to NSAIDs and if it actually fixes the problem rather than mask the symptoms, I'm ALL for it!

Thanks for all the info!!

Just found this great site:

The Senior Dogs Project

After you have checked out this address (above)--about arthritis in senior dogs--mentions Adequan and tells a story about one person's experience with her senior golden retriever and how you can tell the symptoms and how she treated the arthritis, etc-----Check out the whole site: The Senior Dogs Project ---Sure you will like it!

Came back in to tell you to click on the 1st address in blue for the arthritis page and even though the bottom address in blue is the same ---believe it or not, it will bring you to the home page! (The 1st address is just for the arthritis page and you can't get to the home page from there)

[Corky/Max]

words of Dr. A. Jones:

Avoiding serious medication side effects by naturally Treating Allergies and Arthritis




The BIG MYTH Is: This medication (antibiotic, anti-inflammatory) has few side effects, your pet will be fine.

Often WRONG.

I have seen many dogs develop ulcers and liver disease from anti-inflammatories.

I have seen cases of diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea for the "safe" steroid used to stop the itching in allergies.

I have seen too many cats develop kidney failure from supposed "safe" pain relievers.

I have seen numerous vaccine reactions, including vaccine-induced cancers.

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Allergies are one of the most common reasons that I see pets. There are a huge number of allergens. The 3 main classes are, Food, Fleas and Environmental. The most common signs are excessive scratching, paw and anal licking, hair shedding and excess dandruff.

If you suspect that your pet has an allergy, then the first 2 things that I suggest are to eliminated external parasites as a cause, and to feed a hypo-allergenic diet for 4-6 weeks (there are many available).

Some very helpful at home remedies that I often use are:

TO THE BATH. An oatmeal shampoo with cool water will ease the itchiest skin. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes then rinse well. With the most severe allergies, bathe your pet twice weekly.

SOOTHE IT TOPICALLY. Calendula ointment is a herbal medication that has been successfully used to relieve the itch. Apply a thin coat twice daily to affected areas.

THE SUPPLEMENT CONNECTION. Fatty Acid supplements are very helpful in decreasing the level of inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids are most important. A great, inexpensive source is ground Flax Seeds; I give 1 tsp per cup of dog food. Cats are unable to metabolize Flax, so I only recommend the liquid supplement for them. Other sources include fish oil, primrose oil and specific veterinary supplements.


Arthritis is defined as inflammation of the joints, the primary sign is lameness. This may be seen as difficulty rising after laying down, or reluctant to bear full weight on one leg. Some pets have arthritis of their backs, and this is displayed with a hunched abdomen and reluctance to move. In certain pets you can move the affected joint and hear noise called crepitus; this is the new arthritic bone grinding against bone.

HERBAL. A variety of herbs are used at different times for arthritis. The ones I have seen to be most effective include: DEVIL'S CLAW, used in traditional African medicine and has scientific studies to back its effectiveness.

ACUPRESSURE. GB 41, located on the bottom of the foot, in the depression of the two outside toes, and is especially good for arthritic pain in the hips.

METHYLSULFONYMETHANE. MSM is a supplement, found in some plants such as Horsetail. It works by reducing inflammation in the joints by acting as an antioxidant.

IT'S IN THE CARTILAGE. GLUCOSAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE is the most important supplement to add to your pet's diet. The dose is 1/4 of a 500mg tablet once daily per 10 lbs of body weight. It helps to rebuild the cartilage and delay further cartilage breakdown.

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