Tips for a young arthritic dog

[DoubleCarrick]

My boy as just turned four. He's playful and energetic.

He's just been diagnosed with hip displacia which has already caused arthritis in his left hip and some signs in his right hip. His left is particuarly badly displaced and the joint is hardly in the socket.

We've bought extra rugs for the laminate flooring and have been told to keep his walks short and not let him use the stairs. He's currently on anti-inflammatory meds and as a result does seem to be less grumpy at night.

I've read that tumeric paste can be good for arthritis for both animals and humans so will try that.

Is there anything else I can do? Is anyone able to recommend a decent dog bed/mattress? He's only four and I just want to make his life as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.

I'm heartbroken

My dog had arthritis from a young age and did okay until she ruptured her Achilles' tendon when she was about 9. We got a custom-made orthotic from Orthopets Europe which enabled her to keep mobile for another three years after that. If there is already a hip problem then it would be worth contacting them to see whether they can make something to protect the joint.

Our Airedale was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at age 4. He had his first hip replacement at age 5 and second at 6. He had 5 really good years but now at 11 1/2 he's stiff and arthritics again - I would recommend the hip replacement as young as possible - it massively improved our dogs life. We have used metacam on and off for yrs and he's been back on it now for 18 months every day.

"they also say turmeric is also very soothing for the tummy"

My vets (he has more than one) didn't have any evidence either way as to whether it was soothing or a possible irritant...and my dog very nearly died a couple of years ago, so we have to be ultra careful...if he was any other dog I'd try it and see, but if it did irritate him, it would be literally life threatening.

OP, I'd definitely definitely see an ortho specialist about surgery, I'm fairly sure that with surgery it's usually possible to get totally normal quality of life for quite a few years.