[wooflife]

One of the big reasons I took the dogs to see Dr. Becker was because I was worried about Izzy's luxating patellas. Izzy was hopping and skipping when she walked and I was worried about pain and possible surgery down the road.

Dr Becker prescribed daily walks for 20 minutes, a visit to a chiropracter and a daily dose of Glucosamine Sulfate and MSM. We got some excersizes from the chiropracter/sports injury vet that we've been trying to do as well.

After two weeks of adhering to Dr. Beckers plan Izzy did not hop or skip once tonight on our daily walk. I was so excited I just had to share.
:chili::chili::chili::chili:
Hopefully with our new plan we can make sure that Izzy's knees stay strong and she's never in pain or needs surgery.

 

[yeagerbum]

that's such good news!! thanks for sharing with us
I'm glad Izzy is feeling better
Hope she will stay well and healthy!

 

[mysugarbears]

That's wonderful. I took Noelle and Riley to the vets today for their rabies vaccine and the vet had mentioned that Noelle has a grade 1 luxating patellas in both knees (which i had already known and started the Cosequin) and Riley has always had a problem with his knees since the day i rescued him, but not to the point of needing surgery. I give them Cosequin daily and we haven't had any skipping or hopping. What's the difference between Cosequin and the Glucosamine Sulfate and MSM? Maybe i should be giving them that instead of the Cosequin. I wish we had Dr. Becker in our area.

 

[wooflife]

That's wonderful. I took Noelle and Riley to the vets today for their rabies vaccine and the vet had mentioned that Noelle has a grade 1 luxating patellas in both knees (which i had already known and started the Cosequin) and Riley has always had a problem with his knees since the day i rescued him, but not to the point of needing surgery. I give them Cosequin daily and we haven't had any skipping or hopping. What's the difference between Cosequin and the Glucosamine Sulfate and MSM? Maybe i should be giving them that instead of the Cosequin. I wish we had Dr. Becker in our area.

Cosequin is not the best value when it comes to a glucosamine supplement. I got mine from the local vitamin shop for about $16 and it's enough to last me for about 4 months. Izzy only weighs 4.4 lbs.

 

[Snowbody]

Cosequin is not the best value when it comes to a glucosamine supplement. I got mine from the local vitamin shop for about $16 and it's enough to last me for about 4 months. Izzy only weighs 4.4 lbs.

Leslie - is it people Glucosamine? And how do you give it? How much do you give Izzy? Thought they were pills not capsules or is it powder?

 

[Miss_Annie]

Wohoo! Keep improving Izzy!

 

[The A Team]

Ok, tell me more.....what excercises?? I need to start Archie on this regimen. And when we run out of Cosequin, I need to get what you're buying. he's not limping at the moment, but he's got 4 bad legs.

Horray for Izzi!!! :chili::chili:

 

[wooflife]

I only know what was prescribed for Izzy at 4.4 lbs with her specific issues. So this may not be appropriate for every situation but this is her protocol. If your dog is having problems he or she should be evaluted by a qualified vet.

Glucosamine Sulfate MSM 250 mg per day. I bought the people kind at the vitamin store.

Weight management is critical - Izzy just finished up a diet where she lost a whole pound (that's a lot for her). Now she is at a healthy weight.

Izzy walks or swims for a minimum twenty minutes straight every day (no stopping just walking) Per Dr. B. In the winter we will use a treadmill and swim in the big tub. Dr. B said we couldn't stop doing this in the winter we have to do it consistently or the damage will start again. There are other excersise she will graduate to as she gets stronger and older but I don't know what they are yet.

The chiropracter/sports injury doctor's (Dr. Dan) goal was to strengthen her haunch muscles (quadriceps?), so he suggested having her walk/wade in a baby pool with 2 inches of water.
Also to lay down 1/2 inch dowel rods like a ladder and have her walk it to make her lift her legs higher but not jump. I found I could use a garden hose for this without spending any money. Also I found that walking through lawns with grass that's longer and ready to be cut makes her pick up her legs more - she has really short legs.

Izzy was not to the point where bone was rubbing bone which is what causes the pain. she just needs to strengthen the muscles around the joints to keep the stress off of them and to support cartilage growth as much as possible so that she can maintain it. I was told her protocol will change as she gets older but that with good care she should never be in pain or need surgery. Our process will be two steps forward and two steps back all the way through life but we will ultimately stay in the same place which is no worse than she is right now (and isn't that bad).

I was also told that cartilage does grow - BUT it grows VERY slowly so support is really important.

 

[Snowbody]

I only know what was prescribed for Izzy at 4.4 lbs with her specific issues. So this may not be appropriate for every situation but this is her protocol. If your dog is having problems he or she should be evaluted by a qualified vet.

Glucosamine Sulfate MSM 250 mg per day. I bought the people kind at the vitamin store.

Weight management is critical - Izzy just finished up a diet where she lost a whole pound (that's a lot for her). Now she is at a healthy weight.

Izzy walks or swims for a minimum twenty minutes straight every day (no stopping just walking) Per Dr. B. In the winter we will use a treadmill and swim in the big tub. Dr. B said we couldn't stop doing this in the winter we have to do it consistently or the damage will start again. There are other excersise she will graduate to as she gets stronger and older but I don't know what they are yet.

The chiropracter/sports injury doctor's (Dr. Dan) goal was to strengthen her haunch muscles (quadriceps?), so he suggested having her walk/wade in a baby pool with 2 inches of water.
Also to lay down 1/2 inch dowel rods like a ladder and have her walk it to make her lift her legs higher but not jump. I found I could use a garden hose for this without spending any money. Also I found that walking through lawns with grass that's longer and ready to be cut makes her pick up her legs more - she has really short legs.

Izzy was not to the point where bone was rubbing bone which is what causes the pain. she just needs to strengthen the muscles around the joints to keep the stress off of them and to support cartilage growth as much as possible so that she can maintain it. I was told her protocol will change as she gets older but that with good care she should never be in pain or need surgery. Our process will be two steps forward and two steps back all the way through life but we will ultimately stay in the same place which is no worse than she is right now (and isn't that bad).

I was also told that cartilage does grow - BUT it grows VERY slowly so support is really important.

Thanks Leslie. Great info!! Tyler has been diagnosed now by 2 vets so he definitely has LP but they said if he's asymptomatic not to worry much or give any thought to surgery. But no one mentioned the physical therapy. It makes so much sense because that's what I need(ed) to do when I had all my ligament damage from skiing to both my knees. I had to build up strength and muscle to stabilize and protect the knee and make up for damage done. I would run all this by my vet but it really helps to hear what Dr. Becker recommended.
Back to buying it in stores. I always have seen glucosomine in huge pills of 1500mg. What exactly do you buy?

 

[uniquelovdolce]

thats great that hes doing better!!!

 

[almitra]

I am so happy to hear the good news!

 

[wooflife]

Here is a link to one online - but I bought the vitamin shoppe brand. I've been giving Izzy 1/2 a capsule a day.

Glucosamine Sulfate & MSM Cartilage Regeneration*

 

[Snowbody]

Here is a link to one online - but I bought the vitamin shoppe brand. I've been giving Izzy 1/2 a capsule a day.

Glucosamine Sulfate & MSM Cartilage Regeneration*

I have a Vitamin Shoppe right up the corner from me. The ones in the link are 1000mg so half would be 500mg and you said you give 250 a day. Is the VS a smaller dose?

 

[Nikki's Mom]

The swimming is a great idea. I never thought of that. I'll have to see if my apartment mgr will freak out if I put a huge tub on my deck.

 

[wooflife]

I have a Vitamin Shoppe right up the corner from me. The ones in the link are 1000mg so half would be 500mg and you said you give 250 a day. Is the VS a smaller dose?

Nope it's the same stuff

 

[momtoboo]

Would this be the same as what you are giving Izzy? I want to start Boo on the Cosequin DS, and trying to figure out the dosage in the human brand is confusing. He weighs 12 lbs. I'd love to save a little extra money, but I don't want to overdose or underdose him. He's really needing all the help he can get since his double knee surgery. Cosequin for Dogs: Cosequin DS (Double Strength) Chewables at PETCO

 

[CrystalAndZoe]

WooHoo Miss Izzy!! You've got yourself a very good mommy! That is a lot of work to do on a daily basis. I'm so proud of you Leslie and thrilled you are seeing such great results so quickly. And brilliant idea on the garden hose. How many steps in between the hose should she take?

 

[wooflife]

Would this be the same as what you are giving Izzy? I want to start Boo on the Cosequin DS, and trying to figure out the dosage in the human brand is confusing. He weighs 12 lbs. I'd love to save a little extra money, but I don't want to overdose or underdose him. He's really needing all the help he can get since his double knee surgery. Cosequin for Dogs: Cosequin DS (Double Strength) Chewables at PETCO

My understanding is that they poop out whatever they don't absorb. It would be pretty difficult to over dose. Save yourself the money. I don't know how to compare other than the give the same milligrams.

EDIT:
Cosequin DS : Glucosamine Hydrochloride 500mg, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate 400mg, Asorbic Acid 33mg, Maganese 5mg, other ingredients.

What I'm using is Glucosamine Sulfate 500mg, Chondroiton Sulfate 400mg, MSM 400mg.

 

[wooflife]

WooHoo Miss Izzy!! You've got yourself a very good mommy! That is a lot of work to do on a daily basis. I'm so proud of you Leslie and thrilled you are seeing such great results so quickly. And brilliant idea on the garden hose. How many steps in between the hose should she take?

I just zig zag the garden hose so that it's about 4-6 inches apart for as far as i have hose then walk her up and down it for about 5 minutes or so. I usually manage to get her in longer grass for about 5 minutes on each walk to.

If you have a taller dog you can use a ladder laying on the ground. You don't want them to jump just lift their legs higher as they walk through it.