Darlin' Marlin! Update Post 12

[Freedom]

Last night I was going around the house preparing for bed, went into the front living room, turned on the light, and saw this:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2009/Feb%205%20Marlin%20Darlin/IMG_2226Small.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/2009/Feb%205%20Marlin%20Darlin/IMG_2227Small.jpg

I had to take Marlin in to the vet today, as he has been lame in his right rear leg for almost a week. Yesterday, he didn't put it down at all that I saw, all day.

Marlin has luxating patellas, or "loose knee caps," which I've known since I brought him home as a foster. Well, they have become much worse and are quite inflamed just now. So he is on Metacam for the next 7 or 8 days (use until bottle is empty) and bed rest for the next few weeks. He may never be able to do the long walks he loves, or get up on the sofa alone, we will have to wait and see. I've been lifting him up onto the sofa, the bed, a chair, where ever he wanted to get to. The vet said both knees are quite bad just now, with the right one noticeably worse.

Poor guy. I have bad knees too, and when I remember the pain I was in 2 years ago, walking with 2 canes when I HAD to walk and staying in bed otherwise, I feel so badly for him. I hope the anti inflammatory meds help him as they have helped me!

[cassiesmom]

Hi, Marlin darlin'! Don't you look nice against the blue upholstery. (And I really like the blanket with the kitties on it! :) )

I am so sorry to read about your ouchy knees. I hope the Metacam helps them tremendously so you can go for walks again.

Big hugs to you -- and to Lacey and Sugar and the kitties,
Elyse

[molucass]

Marlin is just too cute.
Sorry to hear about his knee troubles. I hope he starts feeling better soon.

[Daisy and Delilah]

You're such a handsome boy, Marlin!! Feel better sweetheart!! Auntie Terry knows the knee pain only too well.:(

[Freedom]

Thank you, Elyse, Molucass and Terry! Marlin really knows how to live in the lap of luxury, lol.

[Ginger's Mom]

Aww, poor Marlin. Well, he does look nice and comfy on the couch so at least he has some relief from the pain (of course it looks like he may have found that relief in a bottle with that tongue hanging out ;) ). It's alright, Marlin, Mom is working on making you feel better, and in the meantime enjoy the lifts.

[pomtzu]

Sandie - Have you ever tried Marlin on glucosamine/chrondroitan? It really works wonders.
My Pom Myndi has the same problem and with both knees also. She just turned 13 a couple of weeks ago. The one leg had been bad since she was quite young, and the other went south on her a couple of years ago, and when that happened, I was having to carry her up and down stairs. I put her on the gluco combination, and I saw a big improvement. It takes a couple of months to kick in, but it works. The only thing she can't do that she used to, is jump up on my bed. She rips and races around, and is up and down steps in a flash, and you would never know that she has bad knees. Spazz Muffin is one of her nicknames and I have to make her settle down, because I don't want one or both to go out on her again.
Then last summer my ShihTzu Sparky had one of his go out on him. He'll be 9 this month. My vet suggested the same treatment for him that I have been doing with Myndi since she had such good results, and I had the same good results with him also.
You might want to give it a try. It just might have good results for Marlin too!


Ellie


BTW - I have a friend named Marlin, and I'm always calling him Marlin Darlin

[Freedom]

Nope, no relief from a bottle, lol. But he sure is spoiled, not going in his bed when he could have the entire sofa!

Thanks Ellie, I will check it out! Good job on the nickname for your friend, he hee.

[boomersooner]

Can't get much more comfortable than that!!! You are a cutie, Marlin!!

[Karen]

Aww, he looks so comfy! Eh, ya don't wanna be out doing much walking in this weather anyway, Marlin! White doggies might get lost in the snowbanks!

[Daisy and Delilah]

I heard on the news a while back that the doctors are saying Glucosamine-Chondroitin doesn't work. I say hogwash!! Daisy and Delilah agree with me. They both take it every day and neither of them are limping at all. This is a major breakthrough for both of them. I'm really pleased. Good luck with it, Sandie.

My sons Aussies both take it too and it keeps them in good shape. All four of these dogs(mine and his)have knee problems.

Thanks for bringing that up, Ellie!!:)

[Freedom]

Marlin has continued to move on 3 legs, so this afternoon he went in for xrays. He has severe osteoarthritis, in BOTH knees. It is the vet's opinion that this is too severe for surgery, although she said I can have a consult with an orthopedic surgeon if I want a second opinion.

I have started Marlin on Deramaxx, and a series of 6 injections of Adequan, which is an injectable form of glucosamine. Marlin is also on oral glucosamine and chondroiton. The vet said we can get him more comfortable for the rest of his life.

[lvpets2002]

:( Oh No Poor Wittle Marlin.. He is so Cute in the picture.. I am saddened to read about his knees.. I sure hope the Meds work & for sure the Pain Meds.. Take it easy wittle guy & get better soon.. Huggss & Prayers ,,

[pomtzu]

Just keep up the oral dose of the gluco/chrond therapy. It takes a while, but I'm sure you'll see a difference in a couple of months. Both of Myndi's knees are really bad too, but you'd never know it - and don't tell her that! :)

[Cinder & Smoke]

... doctors are saying Glucosamine-Chondroitin doesn't work.
I say hogwash!! Daisy and Delilah agree with me.

They both take it every day and neither of them are limping at all.

Don't tell our White Coat, Doc Mike, that, either!
HE takes Glucosamine for HIS knees!

SmokeMutt's been on Glucosamine for most of his life - his 'trick knee'
responded in about 6 months - he's a 'daily user' and runs like a deer!

Ole Fluffie Tail Bowser (RB :( ) had 'stiff hips' - a couple months of Glucosamine
and he began moving around like a pup!

And guess what - Dear ole DAD (me) has a Glucosamine capsule in MY
pile of daily pills.

I'd say they work just *phine*!
:D

[cassiesmom]

The vet said we can get him more comfortable for the rest of his life.

That's good to hear. Fingers and paws crosse.d

[K9karen]

I had my doubts that Glu/Cho worked until a few months ago. Mz Logan has been on a high prescribed dose once a day. It's expensive, but obviously worth it. I had neglected to renew the scrip for one week, awaiting my check, and she started limping and having a horrible time getting up. There was a huge difference in her personality.

Needless to say, Mr Visacard came into play and within a few days, she was back to normal. Nothing like severe guilt. Shame on me. I don't hesitate to get meds for myself. I even give her dog biscuits with Glu/Cho.

Hope you feel better sweet Marlin.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Mz Logan has been on a high prescribed dose once a day.

It's expensive, but obviously worth it.

Needless to say, Mr Visa card came into play ...
I even give her dog biscuits with Glu/Cho.

:eek:

WHERE do you buy your Glucosamine / Chondroitin ??

YEARS ago, when our Doc Mike first proposed using Glucosamine to treat
SmokeMutt's 'Luxating Patella', he carefully explained that the "active ingredient"
that helped improve joint function and lubrication was the SUPPLEMENT called Glucosamine.
He stressed it was a Supplement and NOT a "drug" - and therefore did NOT
require an MD or DVM doctor to write a script for. I thought it sounded like a
snake-oil treatment - but did a lot of Internet research ...

After the pain pills helped reduce the joint swelling, SmokeMutt just
*gimped* around and didn't seem to be in pain - but Doc said we should at
least *try* the Glucosamine. That's when he admitted that HE took a daily
Glucosamine - NON-prescription - to help with his painful knees!

Source of Doc's Glucosamine = Wally's World - the generic, store-brand "cheapy-stuff"!

THEN he pulled a bottle of the Vet-sold "Prescription Glucosamine" and explained
what was in it - a LOT of Glucosamine and a LITTLE bit of actual prescription drugs
for pain relief - thereby requiring a DVM-written script - and an OUTRAGEOUS price!
Which did I wanna try?

We headed for Wally's World - and have been steady "cheap stuff" customers for years!

PS: Smokey started out on TWO 1,000 units of Glucosamine (one pill every 12 hours)
for about 6 months - his "maintenance dose" is now ONE 1,000 unit pill per day.

Discuss this with your Vet - ask him if he can prescribe the MEDS she needs as
a seperate script; and let you buy the Glucosamine as an over-the-counter,
NON-prescription, supplement. Ought to be a lot less expensive. :cool:

NOTE: Doc Mike and many other Vets suggest that Glucosamine by itself -
without to often combined Chondroitin - is the desired supplement for canines -
many Vets feel the Chondroitin is not of great benefit to the dog.
Wally sells both straigh Glucosamine AND the combined Glucosamine + Chondroitin.

End of Tail.
;)

[pomtzu]

I also use the otc brands from Wally-World and have for several years. Works the same as the high priced brands and you don't have to mortgage your house to pay for it! :) You might also try a chewable Vitamin C table with the gluco/chron since it enhances the effectiveness. I did this as a "jump start" for a while when I first had Myndi and Sparky on it, but don't anymore.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I agree!!! Head to Wally World for the glucosamine.

That prescription stuff runs about $60 a bottle. Depending on the size of the dog, it could take another mortgage on the house to pay for it.:eek: :eek: :eek:

I also see glucosamine in chicken strips. I don't know how that works though. Meaning, if you give the dog one chicken strip a day, does that help at all? I really don't know if it's a good idea to give the dogs the strips with glucosamine anyway.