Alternatives to NSAID's Read what a European group thinks about Cox-2 Inhibitors There are many alternatives to NSAIDS available, so scroll down to see all of the choices you can make for a healthier dog! Turmeric (Curcumin or Kurkuma) should not be confused with “turmeric root,” a colloquial name for the plant commonly known as Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), which is in the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family and is a popular herbal remedy in its own right. Goldenseal can be toxic if overused, whereas few adverse effects have been recorded regarding the frequent consumption of turmeric. 10 12 Good Reasons to Use Turmeric
Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in capsule form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules. Our dog Kohle, sprained his back leg two months ago (April 09) and we cannot keep him immobile enough to allow it to heal since he is always chasing our other three dogs about the yard. The vet said it was not broken or dislocated but will take time to heal. Without the turmeric, Kohle hops along on three legs while chasing the other dogs and his sprained leg does not touch the ground. Given the turmeric, he puts his foot down and runs. He is not fast but nonetheless, he is using that leg. We have been giving him the turmeric instead of aspirin and have noted no negative side effects. We used to hide the powder in hamburger meat and he had no problem eating it. It was just messy trying to get it onto a teaspoon to measure. I bought some turmeric in capsule form made by Spring Valley at our local Walmart. It is 500mg and costs about 7.00 per bottle of 90 capsules at Walmart. Also, whatever brand you buy, you may want to check to make sure it does not contain any Dicalcium Phosphate and/or Maltodextrin. Spring Valley does not have this in their turmeric. http://www.superglisodin.com/dcp.html Since our Previcox experience, we determined not to give our dogs anything medicinally that we ourselves would not take. I have taken turmeric and forget that I am not hearing the usual popping noises or feeling the uncomfortable stiffness I normally feel in my joints. Here is really good news, turmeric does not have the effects of Previcox or any of the other NSAID's which require a prescription. Plus, it is found in many grocery stores and is inexpensive. Update on Kohle (Dec 09): After using turmeric for eight months now, Kohle does not limp anymore and he runs as well as before. I never really expected that, I only thought it would lessen his pain but it has really worked well for him, better than my expectations. All dogs are different though but I hope it works for yours too! ~Mel Other Benefits of Turmeric Tumeric has long been used as
natural antibiotic agent. Studies from around the world
have confirmed that components of this multitalented spice can inhibit
the growth of bacteria, yeast and viruses. In Avurvedic medicine (a
system of traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other
parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine),
tumeric is an important cleansing and
detoxifying agent. As with anything, natural or otherwise, it may or may not help your dog but you will never know until you have tried it. ~Mel Turmeric Experiences
Sep 22, 2009 Mel, Thank you so
very much for that wonderful posting. Maidyn is doing excellent with
the tumeric!
I give about a 1/4 teaspoon and she's 60-65 pounds. It does cause
her to drink lots of water. Of course I couldn't care less how much
water she's drinking, it's positively helping her.
I'm glad I
investigate everything and found your article-You are a blessing to
dog lovers.
Best Regards,
Vee
Aug 10, 2009 Hello, I have a Labrador that is 11 years old
and started limping several weeks ago he could hardly walk. My vet
sent me to a specialist to check for a tumor or spinal cerical
problems. They put him on
Previcox for 2
weeks. I asked about side effects and the vet said they were rare,
he gives it to his own dogs. We have noticed that since on the
Previcox he does drink a lot and he seems to be stumbling a bit I
ask about that and they said no. If he starts to limp badly again I
am concerned about the Previcox but what else can you give your dog
when they are in pain and limping? Update:
September 3, 2005 Over a 4 year period, I tried Rimadyl, Glucosamine and all that other expensive junk with little effect. Finally, I read in the newspaper that the Indian spice "Tumeric" had anti inflammation qualities. Not reallly believing it, I thought for 3.00 for a 3 oz bottle I would give it a shot. Holy Molly, after a week Zeke walked and climbed stairs without painful whinning and while he could trot but not run, he never carried his leg anymore.That was 6 years ago, and since then I give him a teaspoon of the yellow spice "Tumeric" in his food and he walks just fine. I doubled the dose and took Zeke to Nebraska pheasant hunting and got 1 hour in the AM and 1 hour in the PM of hunting out of him for 8 days without pain. He doesn't run faster that a trot but he is pain free. One time I had a hard time getting more tumeric and ran out of it and after about 4 days without tumeric added to the food he was back to whinning and crying when he climbed stairs and after he swam he carried that left rear leg for 3-4 days. I now buy tumeric 6 -3.oz bottles at a time for 3.59 per bottle and each bottle last about 6 weeks. Laugh all you want, but I have owned more pointers, setters, Brittanys, and Tennesee Walking horses than 1000 people on this site and have accumulated over 100 field trial placements all over the country.
I know what works and I know what doesn't.
Tumeric works for anti-inflmatation better than
any drug I know of. If you don't beleieve
it as I didn't, try a bottle for 3.59 for a displastic dog and see what
happens. It will only cost you 3.59.
http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-38210.html
From the article Canine ArthritisWhen your dog shows signs of arthritis, there are a number of natural anti-inflammatory supplements that you can try before resorting to medications. Fish
oil is first
and foremost. The omega-3 fatty acids
EPA and DHA, reduce inflammation and provide other benefits to
the body. Be sure to use fish body oil, such as salmon oil or EPA
oil, not liver oil, which is high in vitamins A and D and lower in
omega-3 fatty acids. (Also, liver oil would be dangerous at the high
doses needed to fight inflammation).
Most fish oil gelcaps contain 300 mg combined EPA and DHA, and you
can give your dog as much as 1 of these gelcaps per 10 lbs of body
weight daily. If using a more concentrated product, containing 500
mg EPA/DHA, give 1 gelcap per 15-20 lbs of body weight daily. If
using liquid fish oil, adjust the dosage so that you are giving
up
to 300 mg combined EPA/DHA per 10 lbs of body weight. Be sure to
keep the product refrigerated so that it doesn't become rancid.
You must supplement with vitamin E as well whenever you are giving
oils, as otherwise the body will be depleted of this vitamin. Give
around 100 IU to a small dog, 200 IU to a medium-sized dog, or 400
IU to a large dog daily or every other day. Vitamin E in high doses
also has some anti-inflammatory effect.
Bromelain,
an enzyme found in pineapples, has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
It works best if given separately from meals (at least one hour before
or two hours after). Its effectiveness may be increased when it is
combined with quercetin, a flavonoid. There are many combination
products available, or you can give each separately.
Resinall-E (Bromelain-
reduces pain, swelling and inflammation associated with injuries) can be
purchased online and does not need a prescription.
Certain herbs I usually rotate between various herbs and herbal blends. I've had
the best results using liquid tinctures or glycerites when
available, such as Animal's Apawthecary's Alfalfa/Yucca blend and
Azmira's Yucca Intensive.
Other folks have had success
using
DGP (Dog Gone Pain,
see "Safe Pain Relief," WDJ May 2006). Note that willow bark is another
herb often used for arthritis. It is a relative of aspirin that may be
easier on the stomach, but as a NSAID, it should still not be combined
with other NSAIDs.
SAM-e
(s-adenosylmethionine), a supplement that is used to support the
liver, can also reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation caused by
arthritis. It works best when given apart from food, and when
combined with a B-complex vitamin.
Supplements that have worked for other people who have dogs with
arthritis include
MSM
(methylsulfonylmethane)-MSM
is sold as a
dietary supplement that is marketed with a variety of claims and is
commonly used (often in combination with glucosamine
and/or chondroitin)
for helping to treat or prevent osteoarthritis.
Duralactin
There are also some newer herbal blends being marketed as
replacements for NSAIDs, including
Kaprex from Metagenics and
Zyflamend from New Chapter, but I have not heard much feedback on
them.
Why not look into
natural options
or other alternatives such as
Cosequin,Chondroitin
Sulfate, Glycoflex, Cartiflex, Arthri-Nu and many others.
Be aware though that dogs
with
diabetes
should not take glucosamine, which is in Cosequin and the other
remedies mentioned.
Devil's Claw for Arthritis This article
deals with the
human equivalent but
holistic vets use this herb for canine arthritis.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/devils-claw-000237.htm
Osteoarthritis
Studies have found that taking
devil's claw for several months substantially
reduces pain and improves physical
functioning in people with osteoarthritis. A 4-month study, including
122 people with knee and hip osteoarthritis, examined the effects of
devil's claw root powder on pain.
The devil's claw supplement reduced pain and improved functional
ability as effectively as standard doses of a leading European
medication for osteoarthritis. In addition, those who received devil's
claw experienced fewer side effects and required fewer pain-reducing
medications throughout the study.
Another study found that devil's claw supplementation was effective in
patients with rheumatic diseases (arthrosis and low back pain).
Seventy-five patients with hip or knee arthritis were given devil's
claw, 2,400 mg daily, corresponding to 50 mg of harpagosides, for 12
weeks. The dosage provided a significant reduction of pain and symptoms
associated with osteoarthritis. Only two cases of possible adverse drug
reactions were reported (complaints of indigestion and a sensation of
fullness).
Back and Neck Pain
Although study results have been somewhat
conflicting,
evidence suggests that devil's claw may help
relieve low back and neck pain. In a small
study of 63 people with mild-to-moderate back, neck, or shoulder pain, 4
weeks of treatment with a standardized extract of devil's claw root
provided moderate relief from muscle pain. In a larger study of 197 men
and women with chronic low back pain, those who received daily doses of
a commercialized devil's claw extract every day for a month reported
experiencing less pain and needing fewer painkilling medications than
those who received placebo.
Another study followed 73 patients. Thirty-eight
patients took a standardized devil's claw supplement, while 35 taking
the COX-2 inhibitor medicine rofecoxib, also known as Celebrex, for up
to 54 weeks. Results inidicated that
devil's claw was as effective in relieving pain as the rofecoxib.
Other Uses
In addition to the treatment of these and other painful disorders, many
professional herbalists consider devil's claw to be
useful for upset
stomach, loss of appetite, headaches, allergies, and fever. Topical
preparations of devil's claw are also applied to the surface of the skin
to heal sores, ulcers, boils, and skin lesions.
What's It Made Of? How to Take It
Adult
Devil's claw is nontoxic and safe, with virtually no side effects if taken at the recommended therapeutic dose for short periods of time. However, high doses can cause mild gastrointestinal problems in some individuals, and it is not clear whether devil's claw becomes toxic if taken for long periods of time. Individuals with stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, or gallstones should not take devil's claw unless recommended by a health care provider.
Possible Interactions Other Natural Therapies Dogs with arthritis often respond to acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. Massage therapy can also be very beneficial, and is something you can learn to do yourself at home. Hydrotherapy using warm pools or underwater treadmills is becoming increasingly popular and can be very helpful, particularly for dogs recovering from surgery or injury. If acupuncture helps your dog, you may want to consider gold bead implants, which are a form of permanent acupuncture. Many dogs respond to chiropractic treatments, which can be
especially beneficial if your dog tends to become "misaligned" due
to favoring one limb.
Warmth can help reduce arthritis pain. Thick, orthopedic beds that
insulate your dog from the cold floor or ground as well as
cushioning the joints provide a lot of comfort. There are also
heated dog beds available, but be sure that the cords cannot be
chewed. A product called "DogLeggs" can be custom-made to keep
elbows, hocks, or wrists (carpus) warm.
Some people have reported success using the homeopathic treatments Traumeel and Zeel by Heel Biotherapeutics. DLPA Eventually, no matter what you do, your dog may require treatment for chronic pain. There is one more nutraceutical that can help with this: dl-phenylalanine (DLPA), an amino acid that is used to treat both depression and chronic pain. The most common dosage range for dogs is 1 to 5 mg/lb (3 to 10 mg/kg) of body weight, but I have seen dosage recommendations as high as 5 to 10 mg per pound (2 to 5 mg/kg), two or three times a day. In humans, very high doses may cause numbness, tingling, and other signs of nerve damage, so be on the watch for any signs that your dog may be experiencing these if using such high doses. It takes time for DLPA to begin to work, so it must be used continuously rather than just as needed. Often, however, you needn't continue to give DLPA daily once it has taken effect; sometimes it can be given as little as one week per month to retain results. It is safe to combine DLPA with all other arthritis drugs, but Do NOT combine DLPA with MAOI drugs such as Anipryl (selegiline, l-deprenyl), used in the treatment of Cushing's Disease and canine cognitive dysfunction, or Amitraz (found in tick collars). MAOI's (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). MAOI's are very effectivebut have potentially life-threatening drug and food interactions. I (Kay Jennings) use Thorne Veterinary's Arthroplex, which includes DLPA, because it makes it easy to give the proper dosage for a small- or medium-sized dog, but you can use human DLPA supplements for larger dogs. They are available in 375 mg and 500 mg capsules. Kay Jennings, who lives with three dogs in Bristol, England, has a young German Shepherd Dog who began limping as a puppy, and was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia. "I've kept my Lad active and pain-free using just DLPA plus Syn-Flex, and my arthritic Border Collie too," she says. "It's so effective that they can both take it just every other week and its residual effect keeps them covered for the other week." Jennings also has a working sheepdog who required higher doses initially. "My Polly had to start at 1,000 mg a day (she weighs 45 lbs). I was about to write it off with her at 500 mg a day, assuming she was one of those for whom it doesn't work. I found a starting dose of any less than 1,000 mg made no difference to her even after a couple of weeks. Once we hit the right dose it worked within three days, and after a few weeks I could reduce to a lower level (500 mg a day) that still provided relief. After several months at this level, I was able to reduce her further, to 250 mg/day, and even put her on the week-on-week-off schedule that has worked for my other dogs. "I have to say, I've found DLPA to be remarkably effective: Polly is now 14, and doing better than she has for some time. Kiri, my Border Collie, has recently (at the age of 11) started doing a bit of obedience again, and Ziggy, the GSD, is still totally sound and very active, when his vet was convinced he'd need NSAIDs for his entire life just to be able to get about."Homeopathy for Arthritis - Arnica 200 and Hypericum 200 Using 2 or 3 pellets (try not to handle them with your bare hands as this can lessen the effect of the remedy), crush between 2 spoons and toss the powder onto your dog's tongue. Dosage amount does not vary, regardless of the size or weight of your dog. Do not give food or water at least a half hour before or after giving the remedy. Arnica is available in the 200, all others will be in the 30 strength. When using the 30, administer one dose, then wait an hour and dose again. This seems to deep seat the remedy. Arnica helps with pain, can lessen bleeding and bruising under the skin and is great for sprains and muscle injuries. Arnica is available in two forms, the herbal and the homeopathic. Here, we are discussing the homeopathic form, which is to be used internally. The herbal form is to be used topically only as serious complications could arise if taking the herbal form internally. Hypericum 200 works for five to seven days without repeating and can be used with Arnica without either one canceling each other out.
Hypericum,
also called St. John's Wort, is the gold standard
for the homeopathic treatment of shooting
nerve pain, particularly resulting from injury or surgery.
It has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine and today is
used around the world for mental, emotional, and physical problems.
Homeopathic Hypericum is safe and effective for all ages, for
animals, and is FDA regulated in the United States and recommended
by the World Health
Organization. |
