Deremaxx arthritis med for dogs

[Sue]

Has anyone ever had a dog on this medicine? Rimadyl wasn't working for Woody, so he's now on this, and it seems to be working, though he's still a bit creaky after he's been lying around for awhile. I am assuming that this will be a long term thing now, but I'm worried about some of the side affects. The vet says he'll have to come in for a blood test in a month, and then yearly thereafter. When we got him from the humane society, they said he was 7, but I'm starting to suspect he's older than that. We love him dearly. Any suggestions? His legs don't work like they used to. He's also on glucosamine, which the vet said will take awhile to work. Here is a photo of the handsome guy, in case some of you haven't seen him. He's a big guy, just under 80 pounds, a husky mix. Also, this med is VERY expensive. Any tips on where I can get it cheaper?

[Buggirl]

Hi Sue! My olden golden was on Deramax for almost 3 years and if he suffered any side affects, we didn't notice them. The Deramax did help where Rimadyl failed- he was much more mobile on the Deremax.

Being a golden retriever, the arthritis meds really improved his quality of life- ball, ball, ball!!! He never admitted to being old, and fetched until the very end.

Good luck- every dog is different, of course, and I do know some people who were NOT happy with Deramax.

btw- we had him on a very low dose- 1/4 pill for a 65lb dog. Increasing the dose didn't seem to help him any more, so we kept it low (this was recommended by the vet as well)

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

Hi Sue! My olden golden was on Deramax for almost 3 years and if he suffered any side affects, we didn't notice them. The Deramax did help where Rimadyl failed- he was much more mobile on the Deremax.

Being a golden retriever, the arthritis meds really improved his quality of life- ball, ball, ball!!! He never admitted to being old, and fetched until the very end.

Good luck- every dog is different, of course, and I do know some people who were NOT happy with Deramax.

btw- we had him on a very low dose- 1/4 pill for a 65lb dog. Increasing the dose didn't seem to help him any more, so we kept it low (this was recommended by the vet as well)

Was your golden (we have a golden as well as Woody) still kind of stiff in the mornings and after having been lying around for awhile? I just want to make sure that the stuff is working as it should. Woody is on 1 1/2 pills of 100 mg once a day. It seems to wear off a little in the evenings.

[Buggirl]

Originally Posted by Sue

Was your golden (we have a golden as well as Woody) still kind of stiff in the mornings and after having been lying around for awhile? I just want to make sure that the stuff is working as it should. Woody is on 1 1/2 pills of 100 mg once a day. It seems to wear off a little in the evenings.

Oh yeah. He was stiff after laying down for awhile- he had to walk it off for a bit- and if he exercised too much, he might be down and out for awhile. But he was 13 when he went on the Deramax and lived until just shy of his 16th birthday. He was very old for a golden (and very arthritic). What it helped him with was being able to run in a limited capacity and go for low-impact walks. Before he was on the meds, his legs would seize up so bad that he would trip and fall just walking. We thought we would have to put him down- so for us the Deramax was like a miracle drug. (and the Rimadyl, to a lesser degree- it worked, but he had a very sensitive stomach and the Rimadyl did not agree with it)

We also found that by putting Nicky's bed right in the middle of everything, he was a happier pup- he could keep track of us without having to get up and down all the time. Of course- that meant his bed was smack in the middle of the highest traffic area of the house, so we had to climb over him alot...


Hope Woody feels better Give him a big hug and lots of lovin' from me.....

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

Oh yeah. He was stiff after laying down for awhile- he had to walk it off for a bit- and if he exercised too much, he might be down and out for awhile. But he was 13 when he went on the Deramax and lived until just shy of his 16th birthday. He was very old for a golden (and very arthritic). What it helped him with was being able to run in a limited capacity and go for low-impact walks. Before he was on the meds, his legs would seize up so bad that he would trip and fall just walking. We thought we would have to put him down- so for us the Deramax was like a miracle drug. (and the Rimadyl, to a lesser degree- it worked, but he had a very sensitive stomach and the Rimadyl did not agree with it)

We also found that by putting Nicky's bed right in the middle of everything, he was a happier pup- he could keep track of us without having to get up and down all the time. Of course- that meant his bed was smack in the middle of the highest traffic area of the house, so we had to climb over him alot...


Hope Woody feels better Give him a big hug and lots of lovin' from me.....

Your post kind of made me sob a little. I love Woody so much and I'm so worried about him and I want to make him as happy and comfortable as possible. Thank you so much for the love that you forwarded. I'm typing this with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

[Buggirl]

Originally Posted by Sue

Your post kind of made me sob a little. I love Woody so much and I'm so worried about him and I want to make him as happy and comfortable as possible. Thank you so much for the love that you forwarded. I'm typing this with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

You're a great doggy-mom, Sue Its so hard when they get old- but its part of the agreement- we know it from the beginning....

Here's my old guy (he was 15 in this pic....)

http://www.playa.info/media/showphot...ser=15407&sl=b

edit- ok why isn't the picture showing?

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

You're a great doggy-mom, Sue Its so hard when they get old- but its part of the agreement- we know it from the beginning....

Here's my old guy (he was 15 in this pic....)

http://www.playa.info/media/showphot...ser=15407&sl=b

He's beautiful. I love him.

I know that we agreed on the whole old age thing. Especially with Woody, whom we took home, at an older age, simply because he had been at the humane society for over two months and other people were looking at him for a "guard dog" when the sign specifically said that he was really just a big lap dog and wanted love. Lola, the golden retriever (she's about 3 now), came from there too, and she had kennel cough and was undernourished and very sick. Now she's fat and happy and super pouty and manipulative. Frankie came from there (she's about 1 1/2), as well, she was super bitey and young and now she's sweet and funny. I keep whispering in their ears, "You have to live forever," even though I know they can't. Plus, I've got six rescued cats. Woody is being really naughty right now and wild and I'm super happy. Who knew that a dog being old and sick would make you happy about him being naughty?!!

[playawannabe]

Sue - how much glucosamine?? For a larger dog, he should be getting at least 1500 mg per day. (my 35lb beagle gets 1000mg) if you can find a formulation that has chondroitin and MSM as well, all the better. Also make sure it is glucosamine hydrochloride - glucosamine sulfate (cheapest and most readily available) is not as effective as it is not absorbed as well as the glucosamine hydrochloride.

God bless you for taking such good care of Woody!

[Sue]

Originally Posted by playawannabe

Sue - how much glucosamine?? For a larger dog, he should be getting at least 1500 mg per day. (my 35lb beagle gets 1000mg) if you can find a formulation that has chondroitin and MSM as well, all the better. Also make sure it is glucosamine hydrochloride - glucosamine sulfate (cheapest and most readily available) is not as effective as it is not absorbed as well as the glucosamine hydrochloride.

God bless you for taking such good care of Woody!

It's glucosamine HCL, MSM version (with chondroitin), 1500 mg tablets, and he gets 2 a day. The human dose is 4 a day, and the vet said he should have 1/2 a human dose. I'm actually taking the other half, as I have a bad knee.

Thank you for saying what you did. As you know, I can't live without any of these guys. Woody is the nicest gentleman on the planet. If you met him, you'd see.

[Buggirl]

Originally Posted by Sue

It's glucosamine HCL, MSM version (with chondroitin), 1500 mg tablets, and he gets 2 a day. The human dose is 4 a day, and the vet said he should have 1/2 a human dose. I'm actually taking the other half, as I have a bad knee.

Thank you for saying what you did. As you know, I can't live without any of these guys. Woody is the nicest gentleman on the planet. If you met him, you'd see.

I bet he is He's a beautiful boy And you're my hero for adopting an older pup- too often you see them in the shelters, and you know their hopes for adoption are slim.....even though they make wonderful friends

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

I bet he is He's a beautiful boy And you're my hero for adopting an older pup- too often you see them in the shelters, and you know their hopes for adoption are slim.....even though they make wonderful friends

You're killing me!

[playawannabe]

Originally Posted by Sue

It's glucosamine HCL, MSM version (with chondroitin), 1500 mg tablets, and he gets 2 a day. The human dose is 4 a day, and the vet said he should have 1/2 a human dose. I'm actually taking the other half, as I have a bad knee.

Thank you for saying what you did. As you know, I can't live without any of these guys. Woody is the nicest gentleman on the planet. If you met him, you'd see.

Sounds awesome! My guys are the "heart of my heart" as well! I have a 7 yo sweetheart who would likely hit it right off with Woody the gentleman! I was just thinking that Woody may also benefit from a heated bed, if you think he would sleep in one. Apparently it helps with the stiffness. My beagle-boy sleeps on the bed but when he lies at my feet in the evening I have been known to tuck the heating pad under whichever shoulder he is lying on and he loves it.

Sheena says "Hi Woody!"

[Buggirl]

Originally Posted by playawannabe

Sounds awesome! My guys are the "heart of my heart" as well! I have a 7 yo sweetheart who would likely hit it right off with Woody the gentleman! I was just thinking that Woody may also benefit from a heated bed, if you think he would sleep in one. Apparently it helps with the stiffness. My beagle-boy sleeps on the bed but when he lies at my feet in the evening I have been known to tuck the heating pad under whichever shoulder he is lying on and he loves it.

Sheena says "Hi Woody!"

Sheena's so regal- what a beautiful dog

[playawannabe]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

Sheena's so regal- what a beautiful dog

Thanks! That's exactly the word we use to describe her! She is so sweet and timid and affectionate and we love her very much. We rescued her when she was 4, and she had not been treated very well! She is now 7 years old and I curse the fact that she is getting older every day!


Here's arthritis boy - Copper - he's 6




And Maggie - she's the baby and a real brat!

[Sue]

Originally Posted by playawannabe

Thanks! That's exactly the word we use to describe her! She is so sweet and timid and affectionate and we love her very much. We rescued her when she was 4, and she had not been treated very well! She is now 7 years old and I curse the fact that she is getting older every day!


Here's arthritis boy - Copper - he's 6




And Maggie - she's the baby and a real brat!

All of your dogs are beautiful. Oh, bless them. So sweet. Isn't it a wonderful love????