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Arthritis and Spondylosis

I have grouped arthritis and spondylosis together for this discussion, as although they are two separate problems, spondylosis is a form of arthritis that targets a specific area (the spine). Both of them are commonly seen in greyhounds (and indeed in many large-boned and long-backed breeds) and the treatment for both is similar.

Arthritis comes in several forms, the most common in dogs being:

Osteoarthritisis a progressive condition that is caused by the breakdown and destruction of cartilage, and changes in the surrounding bone structure. Over time the bony structures of the joints beginning to rub against one another and bone spurs and excessive bone growth may also occur. This will cause pain and discomfort, leading to symptoms such as lameness and reduced mobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the dog's immune system produces antibodies against his own body's proteins. This can result in severe inflammation that damages the cartilage and surrounding tissues.

Spondylosis is actually osteoarthritis arthritis of the spine (just as hip dysplasia is osteoarthritis of the hips). It is a degenerative disorder that may cause loss of normal spinal structure and function as a result of excessive bone growth (spurs) between the vertebra which over time lead to fusion of the spinal column. Ageing is considered to be the primary cause, although the location and rate of degeneration varies from dog to dog. The most common area affected is the lower part of the spine (the lumbar region) although the disease may eventually progress the full length of the spine.

Below I have listed a variety of conventional and alternative remedies, along with some practical changes you can use to make life easier for you and your arthritic dog.

Homeopathic remedies

There are myriads of homeopathic remedies that are listed as being beneficial to dogs with arthritis. The secret of success with homeopathic remedies is choosing the one that most closely matches the symptoms that your dog is showing. Remedies tend to be very specific, and a treatment that has worked for one dog with a particular condition may be inappropriate for another.

The best way to decide which remedies will be useful is to consult with a qualified homeopath. If this is not possible then investing in a book on the subject will help guide you towards the appropriate treatment for your dog. I have reviewed several excellent books on this subject here.

Below I have listed a few basic remedies that tend to be fairly generalised in their application, and also easy to obtain at most health food shops. If you have problems getting hold of any of the remedies listed then I suggest you contact Helios.

Aceta rac—specifically for arthritis in the hip and lower back areas that lead to muscle wastage.

Arnica—good for bruising and muscle strain. Particularly valuable after hard exercise.

Bryonia—for stiff joints that crack after periods of inactivity, but loosen up with gentle movement.

Caulophyllum—targets areas of arthritis in the hock and knee.

Hypericum—an excellent source of pain relief in cases of spondylosis, as it acts directly on injured nerves.

Ruta—good remedy to offer immediately after a diagnosis of spondylosis. Can help reduce inflammation in the early stages of this disease.

Rhus tox—this is probably the most commonly used homeopathic remedy for arthritis. It is good for dogs that are stiff after rest and often restless and unable to get comfortable. Symptoms worsen in cold, wet weather, and improve during the summer months.

Herbs

I like using herbs to treat my dogs. There are so many which can be used for a variety of conditions, including promoting general good health. If you are interested in using herbs then I recommend purchasing either a ready prepared mixture developed especially for dogs, or finding the necessary information in a book on the subject. The best one I have found on the subject is All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets, by Tilford & Tilford. Click here to find out more about this book.

Hilton Herbs make a good dry mix for dogs with mobility problems, and all of my dogs have this mixed into their food on a daily basis. I also buy individual herbs to treat specific symptoms, and always keep a bottle of their natural pain relief tonic on hand. It is worth looking at the equine mixes that Hilton has available, as these often contain the same ingredients as the canine mixes but are available in larger quantities and represent better value for money if you have a few large dogs to treat!

Over the counter dietary supplements

All of the suggestions for dietary supplements are best introduced one at a time, so you have the chance to observe which is most effective. If one appears to offer some relief then it is worth continuing with that supplement, and introducing another. Sometimes a combination will be highly effective. Most natural products require longer to take effect due to their more gentle way of working with your dog's system. This means they are well suited for long term use without negative side effects, but patience is required initially to determine what best suits your dog. You need to view supplementing as a long-term project, rather than a quick fix solution.

The list below is in the order of supplements that I have found to work best (i.e. the ones I would try first) to the ones that I felt resulted in the least improvement (i.e. the ones I would try last). This however is only based on my own dogs, and the experiences of other owners I have talked with about this. Your own dog may be totally different, so please do not dismiss something before giving it a fair trial period.

I have also listed my favourite suppliers of the supplements that I use on a regular basis. In choosing a supplier I tend to look for a site which offers advice on using the supplement in dogs, as well as a reasonably priced product, preferably in powder form making it easy to mix into food. There is no point spending a fortune on supplements if your dog won't take them! Any search on the Internet will reveal a host of other suppliers for most of the things listed below.

Glucosamine. The benefits of glucosamine in humans are well know, and its use is becoming more common in pets. It is a naturally-occurring amino sugar derived from shellfish and is one of the basic building blocks of cartilage. Due to the effects of ageing and hard exercise, the cartilage cushioning your dog's joints begins to deteriorate, and supplementing his diet with glucosamine can slow this process down. Glucosamine also aids in lubrication of joints so can result in increased mobility and reduced pain in dogs already suffering with arthritis.

There are pages of information on glucosamine on the Internet. All my dogs start on glucosamine on the day they arrive here, and will continue taking it for the rest of their lives. This is regardless of their age and whether they are showing any signs of arthritis. It is my opinion that ALL greyhounds should take this supplement.

The best place I have found to buy glucosamine is The Greyhound Gang.

MSM (methylsulphonylmethane). A good site for getting more information on MSM, and particularly its use in dogs is MSM New Horizons UK. I have had some good results using MSM combined with glucosamine, and these would probably be the first two supplements I tried for an arthritic dog. Oddly enough Jack really benefits from the combination, whereas when I stopped giving George MSM but continued with just the glucosamine I didn't notice any change.

Cod liver oil is a natural lubricant for joints and is relatively cheap to buy. It is synthesised by the body into a natural anti-inflammatory that targets the joints in particular. A combination of cod liver oil and evening primrose oil seems to work well for some dogs. It can be given either as capsules available from all health food shops, or in liquid form found at any horse feed merchant or tack shop.

Green Lipped Sea Mussel. Strangely enough, my non-greyhound friends who have tried this report limited success, while all those who own greyhounds seem to find it very effective. It is not an expensive supplement but I do know of someone who keeps the cost down by only giving it during the worst months of winter. The dosage would probably depend on how severe your dogs problem is.

Cetyl myristoleate (CM), a medium chain fatty acid. This natural product has been used extensively in humans but only recently used in dogs. The results of the trials are amazing. To learn more it is worth reading articles for a general overview of the product and for specific details on its use in veterinary medicine.

What makes this product particularly unique is that it is only used for a very short time (3–6 weeks) and in that time it either works or it doesn't.

I heard about CM just after Jack (then aged eight) had been diagnosed with spondylosis. He also suffered with arthritis, and a combination of these two degenerative diseases had caused a once happy, active dog to have difficulty moving and to be in almost constant pain. After discussion with the vet it was decided that putting him long term pain medication was necessary to make him more comfortable. I agreed to this, but only after we first tried a one-month course of CM. Although I had read about this product, neither my vet nor I knew of anyone who had used it.

Quite frankly the results were astounding. I saw signs of improvement in Jack's movement and pain level within two weeks. After four weeks he was more active and mobile than he had been when I adopted him as a five-year-old! The vet couldn't believe the change in Jack, and the initial course of CM gave him another 12 months without having to use conventional pain medication.

The cost of this course of treatment was less than £150.

Since then both George (at age nine) and Jerry (at age eleven) have had course of CM and both showed real signs of improvement. People who hadn't seen them for a while commented on how well they seemed to be moving. I must also add that another friend of mine who tried this on her greyhound (who suffers from arthritis in the wrist and shoulder) didn't really feel she saw much improvement, so it doesn't seem to work as well on all dogs.

Despite this I would still encourage anyone with a dog that is suffering joint problems to consider trying this product. I source mine form the U.S., as although it is available in the UK, the quality is not as good. Hopefully as this becomes a more popular and well-known supplement it will be more readily available.

The company I bought from initially was EHP Products Inc, and the product is called Miristin. The company were happy to advise on dosage recommendations for dogs, and will also send a letter to your vet. It is worth discussing this medication with your vet, as I was able to claim the cost of treatment on my insurance.

The Greyhound Gang have also started selling this product in powdered form (EHP supply theirs in rather large capsules) and initially I was a little sceptical about how effective this would be. I have since used it on Buttons (aged 9 at the time) and given Jack another 'top up' course. Both dogs responded very well, and it seems to be as effective as the considerably more expensive product from EHP. The Greyhound Gang sell the CM either on its own, or as a 30 day package complete with additional supplements recommended to achieve maximum effect, both of which represent amazing value for money.

Deer Velvet. This is a fairly new supplement in the UK, although it has been used in Australia and New Zealand for years. It is claimed to be useful for a variety of conditions but in particular arthritis and associated mobility problems. It is worth reading more information at Velvet Energy as they discuss the use of deer velvet in pets. I did try this with Jack, but didn't really see much of an improvement. Still, as with all the supplements listed here not everything will work for every dog, so it is still worth trying with your own pet.

Veterinary prescribed medication

Many owners are initially shocked when their dog is diagnosed with arthritis or spondylosis and they are told he will need to remain on pain medication for the rest of his life. They are understandably concerned about the side effects of such treatments, particularly in the case of steroids, which have received an enormous amount of negative publicity. Without a doubt it would be better for your dog not to have to take any medication on a daily basis, but equally many dogs exist happily for years on such treatments, which offer them a pain-free quality of life which would otherwise have been impossible.

At the time of writing (January 2005) I have had three dogs over the years on long term medication (and by long term I mean for a period of greater than 12 months). I have seen first hand the relief that these drugs offer my dogs, and the decision to use them was not taken lightly. I accept that their life span may be reduced slightly as a result of their medication, but I can also ensure that the time they have left is spent happy and comfortable. I would prefer them to have 2-3 happy years rather then 3-4 miserable ones.

It is also worth remembering that there is more to treating these conditions than simply giving pain relief. You can often reduce the dose required by combining traditional prescription medication with a variety of alternative treatments and over the counter remedies. Below I have listed some of the most commonly used medications, although please bear in mind that brand and product names may differ from country to country.

Rimadyl is a powerful pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drug, which is commonly used for short-term pain relief and after major injuries or surgery. Rimadyl can have some serious side effects, and is generally acknowledged not to be the best alternative for long term use in dogs.

Metacam is the most common medication currently used in the UK for long term pain control. It is generally well tolerated by most dogs, and long term side effects are less common that with many other medications. It comes in liquid form so is easy to give to pets who may be expert at removing pills from their food. Both George and Buttons took Metacam for arthritic pain (George for nearly 2 years and Buttons for 12 months) and annual blood panels did not reveal any side effects for either dog.

Zubrin is a fairly new drug on the market that is supposed to offer very effective pain relief with minimal side effects. I did try this drug with Jack, and although the pain relief properties were phenomenal, sadly Jack suffered severe bleeding while taking it. Severe bleeding and stomach upsets are a reported side effect in 10% of dogs.

Steroids are usually considered a last resort in dogs with osteoarthritic conditions. They are however often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, as they suppress the immune system and can slow down the progress of the disease. Many people panic about using steroids as everyone has heard horror stories about the possible side effects. My own experience shows that not only do they offer excellent pain relief when all else fails, but there are also some positive side effects. Steroids tend to increase appetite, and have worked wonders on one of my senior greyhounds who was becoming increasingly picky and unmotivated about food. He was loosing weight and I was spending more and more time trying to tempt him to eat—steroids sorted that problem out within a week, and he is now happily eating again.

At the time of writing (January 2005) Jack has been on steroids for two years and is my only dog to have taken them long-term. There have been some negative side effects, the main one being some decrease in liver function. He has also suffered with ulcers (due to thinning of the skin and his constant love of laying on hard surfaces) and a more coarse and patchy coat. The effects have been kept to a minimum by supportive therapies (e.g. supplementing his diet with Milk Thistle to support the liver) and switching steroids (from Medrol to Prednisilone). Jack has regular blood tests and check ups with our vet to keep an eye on things. I would also like to add that if I forget to give Jack one dose of his medication he quickly deteriorates from a happy dog to one who is incapacitated with pain. He suffers from multiple and aggressive skeletal problems, and steroids are the only thing that keep him truly mobile. Put quite simply, without them he wouldn't be here, so on balance I think some side effects are a small price to pay.

Cartrophen consists of a course of injections given once a week over a four week period. They are usually given once a year (at the start of winter is advisable) and repeated annually. Several of my dogs tried Cartrophen and we experienced varying degrees of success. Although expensive they are certainly worth trying, as in all cases I observed some improvement.

Phenylbutazone (more commonly known as Bute) is a drug we didn't come across (being used in dogs anyway) until we moved to Switzerland. At the time Jack was starting to show some side effects from being on a reasonably high dose of steroids for over a year, and I went to our vet looking for ways to minimise this while maintaining Jack's quality of life. He suggested trying a new medication sold under the name of Arthri-Dog, which does contain low levels of Prednisilone but relies on Bute as the main pain killer and anti-inflammatory ingredient. Jack has been on this drug for over a year now, and not only has it given his liver a break from the high dose steroids, it is working well to keep him pain free and mobile. His blood work is better than it has been in years. The tables are manufactured by a company called Vetoquinol in France, so I am not sure of its availability outside of Europe, however I personally am a great fan of this product.

Physical treatments

Many arthritic greyhounds benefit from wearing a magnetic collar (Bio Flow collars are available from the RGT). There are various schools of thought on the use of magnetic collars on dogs but many people recommend that the dog only wear the collar for up to 8 hours in a 24-hour period. I tend to put magnetic collars on mine overnight, and have found this to be as effective as leaving them on all the time. The other advantage of this method is that if you have more than 1 dog you can rotate the collar between them over the course of a day, and this saves you having to buy multiple collars!

Regular massage can help to ease stiff joints, and most dogs enjoy the close physical contact. There are a variety of things you can apply during a massage including Rosemary Oil, or just regular massage oil available from any health food shop. George suffers particularly badly with arthritis in his toes, so I massage this area with Rescue Remedy cream, or Calendula cream if the skin is broken. It is important if you are using any essential oils to check a small area of skin first to ensure your dog is not allergic to them. I would also not use fragranced oils if your dog likes to lick the area once you have finished (mine never do as they are usually asleep by the time I am done!)

Chiropractic adjustment is another invaluable aid in maintaining skeletal health. All my dogs have regular visits (2—3 times a year) to a wonderful McTimoney practitioner who treats humans, dogs and horses. When I first took Jack I was amazed at the change in his gait and posture after the treatment. Most greyhounds are likely to be carrying some sort of misalignment after their racing career, and the occasional re-adjustment will make an enormous difference. Even if you think your dog isn't showing any signs of a back problem, it is worth going along just once to see what an expert says. Just remember that every moving part of your greyhound is connected to his spine so it makes sense to take good care of it. You will require a referral from your vet before seeing a registered chiropractor, and most insurance companies will pay for treatment. I pay £30 for a session, but depending on what needs doing (and how much we sit around talking) one treatment may last an hour! Contact the McTimoney Chiropractic Association to find details of a practitioner near you who is specifically qualified to treat animals.

Acupuncture can treat both the arthritis and the associated pain. This is another treatment I have had excellent results with, and one that you can usually claim on insurance if referred by your vet.

Be aware of the weather. Your dog is likely to experience greater discomfort in wet, damp, conditions. Try to keep the environment where he spends most of his time warm and draft-free, and when you go out make sure he wears a coat. Even when it isn't particularly cold, I always put a coat on Jack as soon as he stops exercising to help keep him warm and lessen the after effects of exercise. It is worth investing in a supply of basic fleece coats, and keeping then in the car and house. After a bath or a walk in the rain, dry your dog immediately and cover him with a fleece or towelling coat until he is completely dry. Try to avoid giving him baths in the winter or when it is particularly cold and wet.

Think about the amount and type of exercise your dog is getting. Lots of hard running and playing is not ideal, so try and arrange ways for your dog to exercise without suffering later. Walking and running on sand and soft surfaces is easier on the joints than hard ground.

Swimming is a great form of exercise that does not place any excessive strain on damaged joints but does maintain muscle tone and joint mobility. This is another therapy that is often covered by insurance and most vets will be able to refer you to a canine hydrotherapy centre. If there isn't a facility in your area it is worth contacting any local equine establishments as they often have pools used for physical therapy for horses, and might be happy to allow you to use this for your dog.

As your dog's condition progresses over time, you will need to ensure he has a firm and supportive bed to enable him to rest comfortably. I personally have had good results with beanbags (especially designed for dogs) and have also heard that a baby's cot mattress or 'egg carton' foam work well.

Keep a very close eye on your dog's weight. The heavier he is the more strain he is placing on his joints. For the average greyhound 1—3 kilos over their racing weight is ideal.

When we are out and about Jack usually wears a harness. Our all time favourite is the Ruff Wear Web Master™ Harness which fits beautifully, is well made, and brilliantly padded, ensuring it does not rub him even when wet or worn for extended periods of time. This harness has a strong handle on the back which allows me to assist him in and out of the car (when we don't have our ramp with us), and help him in situations which he would otherwise struggle with (like when he jumps into the river to swim and then can't get back up the steep bank!).

Look at your dog's environment, and the things he does on a day to day basis. Try to minimise the number of stairs he has to climb. Build a ramp to help him getting in and out of the car. This may not seem like such an issue when you dog is first diagnosed, but it is best to try and plan ahead. Jack was diagnosed over two years ago with both spondylosis and arthritis. At the time he was occasionally lame. Today he has a good quality of life and is not in pain, but he can no longer walk up more than a couple of wide stairs, and struggles to get into the car without assistance. By being aware that this would happen I was able to acclimatise him to sleeping downstairs and using a ramp long before it became essential. This makes everyone's day-to-day existence less stressful.

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