Current Thoughts On Treating Chronic Pain and Osteoarthritis

(This is a list of possible treatments. No pet ever recieves them all.)

1. Weight Loss - a MOST important consideration. Your foundation! If calorie restriction for 30 days does not help we will prescribe a dog-specific appetite suppressant.

2. Mild to moderate exercise. Underwater treadmill is also available locally.

3. Glucosamine and Chondroitin for the remainder of your pet's life. We use GLC-1000. This is the purest and most cost-effective product we have found. A number of products tested have been found to be fake or have very little active ingredient. Another good product is Cosequin from Nutramax. Use either GLC-1000 ($) or Cosequin ($$).

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil). See us for new dosing recommendations.

5. NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Do not use aspirin anymore, as well as Aleve, Ibuprofen, Motrin, etc. Get a veterinary approved product. The vet products are designed to protect the dog's GI tract from bleeding. We recommend Meloxicam ($) or Rimadyl ($$). Mostly we dispense meloxicam generic.

6. Adequan Injections. The only chondro-protective on the market. Protects cartilage from further destruction. Twice weekly injections for 4 weeks then twice monthly the second month then monthly as needed. We have our clients do the injections at home to save everyone time and the clients money. Dr. Gaynor recommends starting Adequan early in the course of the disease.

7. Tramadol (Ultram). Very inexpensive. Can be given with NSAIDS and other modalities.

8. Amantadine. An NMDA antagonist. Pulse therapy often recommended (one week on on week off, one week on, etc). Treats "windup"

9. Gabgapentin. Helps prevent allodynia and hyperalgesia.

10. Acupuncture. Good relief from pain. Temporary results ($$$).

11. Low level laser light therapy (LLLLT). Our newest treatment. Low cost. Early results are very encouraging! Our technicians do the treatments which take about 20 minutes twice weekly for 3 weeks then one treatment weekly for two weeks, then as needed. We expect pain relief to last for some months before another treatment is needed. Laser treatments increase endorphins, have local antiinflammatory effects, result in better tissue oxygen utilization and repair, better cell to cell communication and blocks C-afferent (pain) nerve conduction.

12. Stem cell therapy. Future "gold standard" treatment. Available locally ($$$$).

13. TLC and a warm soft bed.