Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject: Blaze is back in having X-rays today.
Blaze is in the Vets today having X-rays on his elbows to see if he needs further surgery for his OCD.
He had surgery earlier this year on one leg and it really helped, but it looks as though the other leg may need an op now. The poor little man is only 18 months old, it's so unfair!!
I know he's in good hands, but I just hate having to leave him there, my stomach has been in knots all day.
Awww poor Blaze, fingers crossed he wont need surgery on his other leg... its something I often wonder about with Sadie, she was 7 months when she had her OCD op on her left front leg... the right leg at that time and still now isnt as bad as her left...
xxxx
Sorry for the late update. Blaze doesn't need any further surgery for his OCD. But he has definately got displacia in both his elbows and hips and has arthritis in his elbows.
The vet has given me a few options...,
1, Hills prescription food for Joint Care,
2, Regular injections,
3, Daily glucausamine (prob not spelt right!) tablets.
I am a little concerned about starting tablets at such a young age because of any long term side effects. Has anyone else had any experience of these??
I already feed both my labs on Royal Canin Lab Retreiver 30 and this has additional supplements for joint care in it, so I don't think I need to change his food over. Again if anyone else has info on this I would really appreciate it. It is so hard to know what to do for the best.
We've been giving Sadie green lipped mussel tablet and a glucosamine tablet every day since she was 7 months old (right after the op) and she's been fine on them... we didnt change her food either, we kept her on Burns...
so sorry to hear about poor Blaze, you must be feeling really low right now.... The good news is that no surgery is required but non interventionist management which is very good news...
You mentioned that you feed Royal Canin, from my experience (although I don;t feed Royal Canin) they have an excellent team of nutritionists and I would suggest that you call their helpline with regard to the food issue. You may find that they do a joint care food which may be better as I know they do a large range of prescription type foods (and I have to say that although Neo is fed Hills my preference is Royal Canin over Hills any time - I just need to have vet support for Neo's problems and don;t want to upset them..) so that is what I would do for the change of food suggested - talk to those who make the food you feed now and then if a change is recommended he will already be used to the formulation so hopefully the change over should be easier.
Don't know anything about injections or what they are for so I would question your vet on this subject - and I would query why they are not recommending doses of metacam which is a pain killer often used for conditions such as Blazes.
Finally the glucosamine - I think this would be excellent, but again raise it with Royal Canin. I would also recommend you talk to vet vits (division of Healthspan) phone number available I think on the web - its at home and I don;t have it here, so if you have any probs pm me and I will get it for you.
The glucosamine that they manufacture is hugely cheaper than the vets (unless of course he is insured...) and I believe just as good. I have this from two sources - the first was a lady who came to home check me for resucing a lab (we ended up with Neo) and on hearing about Sams problems she recommended it because that is what she gives her dogs who are not insured. she was told to get it by her vet as being cheaper and just as good as what the vets prescribe and she got the phone no from her vet....
Secondly from someone I meet walking Neo who tests out drugs and health supplements and does reports for the FDA NICE etc so that they get approval from the relevant authorities - again someone who should know what they are talking about - he has done work for healthspan knows the ingredients used the care given and the formulation - he said it was excellent and one of the best available.
I gave it to Sam and can say that it made a huge difference to him...
Hope this is of some help. Let us know what you decide and keep us updated. Hope he gets better and improves soon. I know what a worry this is for you...
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