arthritis in pets – YA Chit Chat

Today I thought I’d switch from writing about writing to writing about dogs, primarily dogs with arthritis.

I have an elderly Australian Shepherd mix named Charlie. He’s pushing 12 years old and the old man is suffering from some bad arthritis in his hips. I feel so bad for him, watching him struggle to get up and down. I spoke with my vet that I’ve had for years and he recommended putting Charlie on Rimadyl. We did for about 2 weeks and it helped a lot, but after reading up on the side-effects (loss of appetite; blood in the urine; black, tarry stools; blood in vomit; jaundice from liver damage; lethargy, the list goes on and on), I thought I’d investigate and find some homeopathic remedies that will be kind on his aging system.

I recently spoke with a holistic vet and she recommended a few things that I’m going to try.

Yucca powder: This herb contains natural steroids that help to relieve pain and discomfort. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties, which should help to reduce swelling in the joints. Many pet stores (both online and brick and mortar) carry the powder. Whatever you do, DO NOT let your dog, cat or horse eat this plant in its raw form. It is highly toxic. ONLY use powder form produced for use with animals.

Comfrey/parsley and rosemary: a combination of these three ingredients are supposed to have an amazing effect on reducing the pain and inflammation in a dog suffering with arthritis. Again, use products specifically formulated for dogs or contact your vet for specific dosages for your dog.

Adding broccoli, carrots, cabbage and asparagus is also believed to offer relief to your arthritic dog.

You might also want to add some chondroitin and glucosamine. Both help to cushion the joints and create more flexibility. Probiotics also help.

I like the idea of using homeopathic remedies because they’re natural and the side-effects are few. I already have my Charlie on the glucosamine and chondroitin. I have ordered Yucca powder from Healthy Pets and can’t wait to try it to see if it has any positive effects.

Have you used homeopathic remedies to help your pet’s conditions? I would love to hear of your experiences.