Anyone give CBD for arthritis?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

DDog has just turned 18 and is a bit creaky of late since the weather turned. He’s been on a seaweed supplement for the last 5-6 years which made a good difference but needs something more now. It’s all but impossible to get a vet appointment at the moment to ask him, can anyone share any good or bad experiences in the meantime please?

Sorry I don’t know anything about CBD oil but just wanted to say that’s amazing your pup has reached 18 years!!

Having only had giant/large breeds I’m used to a relatively short lifespan in comparison. Can I be cheeky and ask what breed it is?

Ah thank you mintbiscuit. He’s a bitser and looks like a a GSDxLab. He often gets taken for a blonde GSD from the front.

Not used cbd but metacam (dog-safe NSAID) from vets is very effective

Thanks @AwkwardPaws27 it makes him sick, and the other one (name evades me) gives him the runs.

There was a clinical trial that showed it was effective but

1. The sample size was small
2. The therapeutic dose was at a level that would be way, way out of my affordability range given what's available in the UK.
3. I'm dubious about the levels of CBD in legally obtainable products in the UK.
4. The low-dose stuff I got to try for Big Dog tasted really bitter. I can't imagine being able to get a therapeutic dose into her, even disguised in Aldi's Low Fat Brussels Pate.

Low doses didn't work for Big Dog, but some people rate it. Placebo effect is powerful so I'm dubious. Metacam worked, with amantadine as the pain got worse. We tried her on gabapentin and it made her very uncoordinated.

I would keep trying your vet. There’s lots of combinations of different products that can be used - much is trial and error for individual dogs.. Also look at general management - have you got rugs on sloppy floors, is it weight ok? Any Veterinary acupuncturists near you?

@SockFluffInTheBath

Thanks *@AwkwardPaws27* it makes him sick, and the other one (name evades me) gives him the runs.

Oh no, poor lad! Hydrotherapy might be worth looking in to?

@Anotherhill thank you, I’ll push again for an appointment. He’s slightly underweight (normal old age slight skinniness apparently, vet not concerned, fed twice a day on wet food, kibble always out, and a few treats each day). Carpet in most room downstairs with a big rug in the kitchen for him to stand on to eat (so his back legs don’t slip under him) and walk to the door. Not tried acupuncture as he’s a big baby but will look now for a local one.

@AwkwardPaws27 there’s only one within an hour of us and we’re on a waiting list, been on it a while and they periodically ask if we want to stay on it.

@ThatLibraryMiss thank you, it’s really useful to hear other people’s experiences. Food for thought.

There are so many different licensed products that are now available that it really is worth seeing your vet. Be honest tell reception he is struggling yes practices are busy, but they should be able to fit in an elderly dog who is almost certainly in pain.
There are a few small scale studies that show that CBD oil may be helpful, but there are also studies that found the dogs went into liver failure so I would be very cautious.

@Lonecatwithkitten thank you, the Vet’s struggling with staff absence and I think he needs to grow another head to get seen! DDog’s sometimes uncomfortable rather than in pain iyswim, I’d be kicking down their door in that instance. I’d read online about the liver failure concerns, that worried me too.

We have our two rotties on turmeric golden paste, which seems to have worked wonders on their arthritis.

Chronic pain is much more subtle and easy to become used to seeing effects like stiffness, moving slower, panting more, licking, resting longer, reluctance to do some things they found easy in past like climbing stairs or jumping to car/sofa

I'd not bother with CBD nor supplements and go for medication that is well proven to work quickly. Then if have spare funds go for complimentary therapy like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and laser as its also good to reduce inflammation/pain (have tried on myself) usual physios offer but some vet practices too.

At such advanced age a life quality approach than worrying too much if may effect organ function in longer term, just get regular bloods to keep an eye on things.

My oldie is on galliprant, she also combined with gabapentin & paracetamol prior to stem cell treatment. It's advised the gabapentin is started at a lower dose then gradually increased to desired level to alleviate risk of wobbliness, but not all vets are aware of that (mine just prescribed full dose and thankfully she had no side effects). Librella is more targeted and less risk to organ function & gut but there's supply shortage so not likely to be option soon. Are lots different medications & treatments available though.

caninearthritis.co.uk/

The Facebook group Canine Arthritis Management is a good place to get information and is run by a vet

This will probably not be useful particularly, lol.

I tried it with my last dog, but... he was only on it for about 6 days before I had him PTS.

He couldn’t have NSAIDs, was by then on pardale, tramadol and gabapentin -so figured it was worth trying, at the time (not sure what the current situation is as it was about 3 years ago) it wasn’t legal to buy off prescription for animals and vets weren’t allowed to prescribe it... so basically it was illegal.

My vet did discuss it with me, very much on a - I can’t advise you on dosage or help you get it, but here’s my non professional opinion.

So I had to do loads of research on where to get actual clinical strength stuff and dosage myself then order it...

It didn’t make any difference in 6 days anyway, lol, I wasn’t expecting it to to be fair, he got worse while I was researching and waiting for it to get delivered and then he got to the point where I decided enough was enough and it wasn’t fair anymore, so I had him PTS.

So... I’d try it again if needed, but probably only when I’d run out of conventional treatments.

@Scattyhattie that’s my concern. He’s still happy, plays (more slowly and careful not to make him too excited so he slips) and wants to go walkies (not very far but tail up and waggy for the lead). I’m going to pester for an appointment in the new year.

@Undisclosedlocation thank you!

@tabulahrasa thank you, I’m sorry about your boy.