From dietary changes to medicines to acupuncture, there’s help for Rogue Valley dogs and cats with arthritis

By Meg Landers
Mail Tribune Oregon

Mark and Julie Hunter of Medford thought they’d have to euthanize their dog, Roxy, after the 125-pound bull mastiff developed debilitating arthritis in her spine and could barely move a year ago.

“She didn’t walk for a month,” said Julie Hunter. The X-rays revealed that their family dog had arthritic spondylosis, a degenerative spinal disorder.

“It’s fusing her spine together,” said Mark Hunter.

But with the help of their veterinarian, they put Roxy on anti-inflammatory drugs and other medication, began including glucosamine supplements in her diet, and began giving her massages.

Now Roxy is dogged by pain no more. Though she still has arthritis, the 5-year-old canine is able to walk to the park with them again.

“She is not on any medications anymore,” said Julie Hunter, although she noted that her husband does have to pick up Roxy to load her into their truck.

Arthritis is common in many dogs and cats, says the Hunter’s veterinarian, Dr. Michael Morrow of Crater Animal Clinic in Central Point.

But there are an increasing number of treatments available for young and old furry companions alike to relieve joint pain and maintain mobility.

Morrow will give a talk on managing arthritis in pets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Medford’s Central Library, 205 S. Central Ave., Medford. The public talk is free and refreshments will be provided. (Sorry, pets aren’t invited.)

Signs that a pet may have arthritis include stiffness after an activity or after lying down, limping and the inability to climb or descend stairs, he said. Arthritis commonly shows up in dogs in hips, knees and elbows.

“In cats we tend to see it more in the elbows and pelvic area,” he said, adding that it’s harder to notice in cats, and likely goes undiagnosed often.

Morrow suggests alleviating pain through dietary changes, keeping a low weight and exercise. There are also joint supplements people can give to their pets, and many pets respond well to acupuncture.

Robyn Stearns of Prospect said she took in Duke, a border collie, several years ago because he had a broken leg and his owner was going to shoot him. A veterinarian helped mend the Duke’s leg, but now the 8-year-old dog seems to have trouble with the leg.

“We’ve noticed in the last couple years he started to limp,” she said.

Medication, food supplements and acupuncture have helped, she said, but it’s not enough.

“He really hurts,” said Stearns. So Duke is beginning stem cell therapy this week, which uses stem cells extracted from the dog’s own fat.

Stearns, who rescues border collies and currently has 18 of them, has another, named Rau (pronounced “roo.”) Stearns said, after noticing a dramatic decline in Rau’s activity level, she learned the 7-year-old male had arthritis. The vet began acupuncture treatments and dietary supplements. They’ve worked.

“He’s running and he’s running sheep,” she said. “He’s even gotten to the point that he’s running cows.”

Morrow said acupuncture is an alternative therapy that seems to alleviate pain in some, but not all, pets.

New York Times
By MICHELLE SLATALLA
Published: March 13, 2008

WHEN my dog Otto was a puppy he behaved like an idiot, even for a Labrador retriever.

We haven’t been invited back to the Hamptons since the time he stole a cheeseburger from the hand of a child. Then he jumped into the pool, climbed out and shook himself off on the guests. That was probably forgivable. What came next — joyfully vomiting pool water, grass and ground beef at the host’s feet — was not.

I would like to say this behavior was atypical. But Otto was a spirited dog. He once toppled an elderly neighbor after he snouted her crotch too enthusiastically.

How I miss those days.

Now Otto is a slow-moving 9: X-rays show that he is arthritic, with swollen elbows. His orthopedist recently said he had a bulging disk. Despite every treatment known to modern veterinary science — from glucosamine tablets to prednisone to monthly injections designed to protect the cartilage in his joints — the only thing Otto throws himself into these days is our other dog’s food bowl.

Nobody is happy about Otto. A few weeks ago, he watched dejectedly as my husband and I set off on a hike without him.

Then, at the very place on the trail where Otto once rolled happily on the carcass of a dead mouse, we suddenly heard a rhino crashing through the bushes.

A crazy-eyed, burr-covered retriever emerged. We would have mistaken the dog for the ghost of Otto’s youth if not for its white, old man’s muzzle.

The dog’s owner appeared on the trail a few seconds later.

“How old is he?” my husband asked, absently picking a burr from behind the dog’s ear.

“Twelve,” the owner said.

“He’s in great shape,” my husband said.

“He used to be barely able to walk,” the owner said.

What helped relieve the dog’s arthritis and joint pain? Acupuncture, the owner said.

We were skeptical. “Otto would pull out the needles with his teeth,” my husband replied.

“No, it doesn’t bother them,” the owner insisted.

We watched his dog grab a 10-foot branch at the side of the trail and wave it dangerously, like a scimitar. Just like Otto used to.

“Any minute now, he’ll put out someone’s eye with that sharp tip,” I said wistfully.

The next morning, I Googled “veterinary acupuncture.” That is how I learned that this version of the ancient Chinese therapy that calls for inserting needles into specific locations on pets is gaining steam, even outside Northern California.
To read the rest of this article click on newyorktimes.com

By Virginia Morell
Photograph by Vincent J. Musi
Minds of their Own
Animals are smarter than you think.

Well we all knew that! To read this amazing article in the March 2008 National Geographic click here

If your dog is elderly or sick you may want to make sure he wears a coat while outside in extreme weather.

Make sure your dog’s bed is away from any drafty areas in the house.

Clean your dog’s feet after a walk to remove salt, ice particles and road chemicals. They are not any easier on your dog’s feet than they would be on yours.

Hypothermia and Frostbite

Hypothermia is the drastic drop in body temperature which can result from prolonged exposure in extremely low temperatures. Leaving your pets out unprotected for several hours in freezing weather can be fatal. Hypothermia may cause heart problems, kidney failure and neurological problems.

Signs of hypothermia are:
• Shivering
• Dilated pupils
• Pale or blue mucous membranes
• Unconsciousness
• Coma
First Aid for hypothermia:
• Immediately remove the animal from the cold.
• Check for shock.
• Administer CPR if needed.
• Wrap animal in blanket.
• Place warm water bottles next to him.
• Go to the nearest veterinary hospital.

Frostbite is caused by the freezing of exposed skin or a body part. Body parts of dogs and cats are most susceptible to the tips of their ears, their tails and the pads of their feet.

Signs of frostbite are:
• Skin discoloration.
• Skin may turn pale or black.
• Lack of sensation or pain at the affected
First Aid for frostbite:
• Get the animal out of the cold.
• Gently apply a warm compress to the area.
• Spray the affected area with warm (not hot) water.
• Go to the nearest veterinary hospital.

By Joan Gralla
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) -

Captain gets it to ease his arthritis and it helps Mishaka’s bad back, but with fangs and claws they are not your typical acupuncture patients — they’re dogs.

The ancient Chinese system of therapy that has helped to soothe the aches, pains and ailments of people for thousands of years is now doing the same for canines.

“She is so happy, she relaxes, her tail wags and she just plops herself down to get her treatment. She likes it,” said New York resident Sissy Stamm, about 12-year-old Mishaka.

The Caucasian Ovcharka, who tips the scales at about 120 pounds and was bred to guard sheep, doesn’t seem to mind having needles inserted into her limbs during her weekly acupuncture sessions in Stamm’s apartment.

The traditional medicine treats a wide range of illnesses, from skin problems to heart conditions, according to Vikki Weber, the executive director of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in Fort Collins, Colorado.

At least 2,000 vets in the United States practice acupuncture, although no official statistics exist on how many animals undergo the procedure. Prices for the average visit for a cat or dog run around $50 to $85, added Weber, whose group runs courses for vets around the world.

The treatment, which vets can study at schools such as Colorado State University and the Chi Institute in Gainesville, Florida, is also very popular in the horse racing industry.

Captain, a high-strung 10-year-old Dalmatian, enthusiastically greeted Dr. Jeffrey Levy, the New York vet who treats him for arthritis.

“He gets all excited, he runs out in the hall and then tries to stick his face in the bag Dr. Levy brings and pull all the treats out,” said his owner, Elizabeth Kumin, a Manhattan professional.

She turned to acupuncture for her pet after two anti-inflammatory drugs and a cortisone shot failed to help. When scheduling problems halted his acupuncture treatment Captain grew worse, she said.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Dogs Treated With Acupuncture For Wobblers Syndrome and Cancer
Dog News

DogExplorer.com News - Dog and horse owners in Birmingham, Alabama, are finding that alternative health care therapies like acupuncture, massage and herbal remedies yield real improvements in their pet’s quality of life.

One owner of a ten-year-old Doberman Pinscher with Wobblers Syndrome says her dog has done well with the services of a licensed Veterinary Acupuncturist. Another 13-year-old dog with cancer has been treated for two years with straight acupuncture and electrical impulses through the needles instead of chemotherapy and radiation (after first having a tumor removed). To read more of this article and to watch a video go to
www.dogexployer.com

Jeanie Marie Kraft, Lic.Ac. is keeping tails wagging on the North Shore of MA with K9 acupuncture house-calls. FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information.

From: The Herald Tribune

ANIMAL ACUPUNCTURE FACTS

Was practiced on animals in China for about 4,000 years.

Can be combined with homeopathy, herbal and traditional medicine, including vitamin B-12 injections.

Can increase blood circulation or decrease lymphatic drainage or inflammation.

Patients can feel effects in as little as 10 seconds or not for more than an hour.

Can also be used to treat musculoskeletal, urinary and respiratory problems.

Is one of the safest therapies available.

Can include needles, electro-acupuncture, aquapuncture (injecting solutions), applying heat or laser acupuncture.

For veterinarians it takes about 130 hours of training for veterinarian certification.

Please note that licensed acupuncturists are required a minimum of 3,500 hours of training, receive a Master Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and take national and often state boards to become licensed.

As a licensed acupuncturist I feel it is impossible to learn acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with only 130 hours of training. Even hairdressers are required at least a minimum of 1,000 hours!

Acupuncture is much more than knowing just where the points are located and how to needle. It involves a complete medical theory, diagnostic procedure and considerable training in needle technique. It is not simply an add-on to another medical practice.

Transitioning a human acupuncture practice to animals is easier than transitioning a western veterinary practice to acupuncture. From the standpoint of oriental medicine, animals have essentially the same organs, channels and diagnostic process as people.

Certainly there are veterinarians who take it upon themselves to study and become proficient in acupuncture and oriental medicine, but these very low state required hours of training are woefully inadequate.

jeanie marie kraft, L.Ac.

Acupuncture can be a significant treatment for ailing pets
SouthCoastToday.com
By Brian J. Lowney
Fur, fins and feathers
November 10, 2007 6:00 AM

Have you noticed that your dog is having difficulty climbing up the stairs?

Maybe you’ve tried conventional medication, but that doesn’t seem to be working and the poor creature is obviously in pain.

Have you ever thought of acupuncture?

Dr. Tim Donovan of Kindred Spirits Mobile Veterinary Hospital in Mattapoisett says that this ancient form of Chinese medicine is often used to help pets suffering from chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia, degenerative arthritis and pinched nerves, as well as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies.

Chinese medical philosophy believes that diseases result from an imbalance of the life force, called “Qi.” Acupuncture works to restore that balance, stimulating the nerves, increasing circulation, aiding in the release of hormones and relieving muscle spasms.

While needles are often used during treatment, other techniques include infrared stimulation, electric current and lasers.

“Acupuncture is very successful for the treatment of chronic conditions that medication frequently doesn’t have a cure for,” Dr. Donovan says.

He adds that acupuncture has been used to treat animals for 4,000 years, and as people learn more about the restorative benefits of this form of healing, it is becoming more popular in the treatment of household pets.
To read more of this article go to
www.southcoasttoday.com

Once upon a time, pets were “put down” when they became incontinent, injured, lame or because they were a burden.

Fortunately there are several therapies for disabled pets such as acupuncture, chiropractic, magnets, laser, physical therapy, herbs and proper nutrition. All have been proven to be very effective in helping disabled pets and their owners deal with the day to day challenges of life.

For more information on canine acupuncture please visit www.FourPawsAcupuncture.com.

For more information on canine physical therapy visit gooddogaquatic.com.

A wonderful website filled with information and products for ailing pets is www.handicappedPets.com.
This site is filled with information and stories about handicapped pets and their owners. They offer a variety of products such as dog ramps, wheelchairs, harnesses, diapers, books and dvds. A simple product like a dog harness can help your elderly dog walk up stairs with ease and save your back. I highly recommend checking out this website for more information.