Harleys arthritis

[Naya]

Over the past year Harley has become very lame. She has severe arthritis in her front left wrist. It is double the size of her right wrist. We have tried metacam, paracetamol, tramadol, synoquin. She has massage every 4 weeks too. She has recently started walking with her paw turned in and it’s not flat (hard to explain). She still loves to have hoolies every few days, but they are getting shorter each time. She still loves her walks, especially in new places & wooded areas, but she isn’t as enthusiastic as she used to be. I know she’s 10.5 years old now, but I can see a big difference over the past 5-6 months.
On Tuesday she’s going to have her first Librella injection as we have tried so many other things. I am a bit worried as she is getting older and have read some research saying it can be more risky for older dogs. Am I doing the right thing?

 

[Jacqui-S]

I feel for you Naya, and Harley of course.
Lilly is also increasingly struggling with her joints (she's 13.5 now).
I was talking to my vet about options.
Not tried gabapentin yet, but she wasn't great on tramadol.
Vet was suggesting Librela but I mistakenly joined a FB page, was very very anti, bad move.
A couple of others have suggested CBD products, but it's unlicensed and also has some negative press.
It's such a hard decision, I don't know what the right one is.
I feel safer with the Librela, I think, but not committed yet.

 

[Anne123]

Finn has arthritis too. His 2 front paws are very swollen and deformed. So are his feet....He is getting librela injections since one year now and we are satified with the result it gives. Finn can't do long walks, 4 km is the limit, and he enjoys them still very much. When the Finn is due for another dose we see that immediately. He gets his every 4 to 5 weeks...

Here a picture where you can see the deformation

 

[HAH]

Kipper is 6 and has had monthly librela for around 10 months now. It shows moderate benefits for him, alongside regular physio, hydro, laser therapy and massage every 2 weeks and red light therapy using a Photizo machine (which we’ve bought) after most walks or when he seems lame or tender.
The evidence for librela is positive but relatively thin, and adverse events are not known/not clear/under-reported - we had this discussion with our vet the other day, because it’s relatively new, there’s not a huge amount of research out there and anecdote is still only trickling through.
What are the risks you’re worried about? If you have a good vet it’d be worth talking to them about concerns and they can do some digging. Our vet talks to specialists at our regional veterinary college and they keep up to date that way on new treatments like librela.

 

[Naya]

It’s so hard isn’t it @Jacqui-S I sometimes think the internet is a bad thing, then I think of all the support through pages like ours.

@Anne123 Harley’s wrist is exactly the same as Finn and her paws turn in just just like his too. I am pleased to hear that it appears to be helping Finn.

@HAH My concern is the side effect of possible seizures as she has had them previously. I think I’ve been reading too much and putting doubts in my mind. I’ve had 3 conversations with my vet and he has reassured me that this would be the best way to go.

 

[HAH]

I think I’ve been reading too much and putting doubts in my mind.

It’s really tough and I feel your tension - there might be no perfect answer right now but you and your vet are clearly doing your ‘due diligence’. I think the wash out period is around a week if you were thinking of trialing it.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Over the past year Harley has become very lame. She has severe arthritis in her front left wrist. It is double the size of her right wrist. We have tried metacam, paracetamol, tramadol, synoquin. She has massage every 4 weeks too. She has recently started walking with her paw turned in and it’s not flat (hard to explain). She still loves to have hoolies every few days, but they are getting shorter each time. She still loves her walks, especially in new places & wooded areas, but she isn’t as enthusiastic as she used to be. I know she’s 10.5 years old now, but I can see a big difference over the past 5-6 months.
On Tuesday she’s going to have her first Librella injection as we have tried so many other things. I am a bit worried as she is getting older and have read some research saying it can be more risky for older dogs. Am I doing the right thing?

Yes you are doing everything you can. Rorys life was improved by librella. I've never regretted it. With all drugs there are risks, but at this stage in their lives it's quality not quantity

 

[Selina27]

It's a difficult decision for you @Naya, I don't have any experience myself but I would go with quality of life over everything else. So I think you are doing the right thing.

If you try it and it's successful then that's great, if it doesn't suit then it's back to the drawing board. If you have a good relationship with your vet then that is also a positive. I don't know what the side effects would be, but I guess that it can be discussed with the vet.

 

[UncleBob]

Hi Naya.

Sorry to hear that Harley is experiencing arthritis. I haven't updated it for a while but my blog post contains lots of arthritis-related information that I put together when Harv first started to experience it - 5 years ago, now. We're using: fortnightly swimming sessions, massage every couple of months, cartrophen injections (roughly 6-monthly), YuMove tablets, salmon oil on morning kibble, and some lifestyle modifications like a ramp for getting in and out of the car boot and taking shorter walks. And metacam for pain relief if Harv gets a bit carried away some days! I would certainly discuss the Librella with your vet.

 

[Jelinga]

Over the past year Harley has become very lame. She has severe arthritis in her front left wrist. It is double the size of her right wrist. We have tried metacam, paracetamol, tramadol, synoquin. She has massage every 4 weeks too. She has recently started walking with her paw turned in and it’s not flat (hard to explain). She still loves to have hoolies every few days, but they are getting shorter each time. She still loves her walks, especially in new places & wooded areas, but she isn’t as enthusiastic as she used to be. I know she’s 10.5 years old now, but I can see a big difference over the past 5-6 months.
On Tuesday she’s going to have her first Librella injection as we have tried so many other things. I am a bit worried as she is getting older and have read some research saying it can be more risky for older dogs. Am I doing the right thing?

Rourke has very enlarged joints, L. elbow, L Hock and his right paw turned in and is flattened and swollen just as you described for Harley. He is now nearly 12 (January if I can get him to that date) and had had monthly Librela injections for over two years with no side effects so far. He also has Yumove Advance, Gabapentin, paracetamol, salmon oil and fortnightly hydrotherapy on the 'water walker' can't remember the proper name for it! No swimming as that is bad for his particular joints, I find the hydro does help and the Librela. He is very, very lame but very much up for a free run walk, though I try to stop him running!

 

[MellowYellow]

If it helps at all Naya, the only people I know who have used Librella are very happy with the results. I know four people with older dogs who are very pleased, and have not personally heard any negative results, but like you, I'd be very cautious with a dog inclined to seizures, but if your vet thinks the benefits outweigh the possible risks, then maybe you could try it.

 

[Jennifer]

There have been a lot of positive posts on this thread about Librella. I haven’t had any experience of it myself but my neighbour uses it for her 12 year old labradoodle. She’s only had positive things to say about it and even I could see the difference the injections made. I agree with @Selina27 it’s weighing up the risk of side effects against quality of life.

 

[Loraseal]

Sorry about Harley. I remember you mentioning it. Hunter is only 6 and has very bad arthritis in his elbows and now his hips. I tried Librella but initially it only worked for the first 4 injections and after the 5th(higher dosage) we noticed skin problems and severe itching/red patches so we stopped. I don't regret Librella but the facebook site can be horrendous. We do the Yumove, golden paste, Novacam, Gabapentin (for bad days), green mussel with tumeric powder and Flexadin. If he gets worse I will consider the Librella again. I am about to buy a laser for Hunter as suggested by my vet. Librella is a drug and and with any drug there are side effects. I too would be very cautious with a dog inclined to seizures. What has the vet told you about side effects?

 

[M.F.]

Laser therapy at the vet works so well for Snowie. He has it for his back and knees. We didn’t realise his knees hurt, but the holistic vet said he felt stiffness there. Snowie is so happy a day after the laser therapy.

We also give him turmeric paste. Well, when I’m not too lazy to make it. I make up a big batch and freeze it in small portions cos it goes off quickly. It’s meant to be good for inflammation. I mix it with lots of other stuff (cooked veg, ground pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds, olive oil, herbs, kelp, apple cider vinegar—when I remember to add all the various ingredients!).

The vet also gave us a stash of Rimadyl for the holidays cos we’re going away and might not find a vet. I know it’s got serious side effects for the gastrointestinal tract, but wow it is amazing for pain relief. Snowie doesn’t mind having an extra dinner if he needs to take one! We’ve only used it once in the past 2 weeks. But he’ll likely be doing a lot more exercise at our beach holiday and we want him to enjoy himself.

He’ll also be 12 years old in January.

 

[Naya]

What has the vet told you about side effects?

They said they haven’t seen many side effects and those that they have seen a minor such as a bit of swelling around the injection point and vomiting/ diarrhoea.

We use golden paste daily too. We used to do swimming and laser therapy but during lockdown Harley started refusing to go in without me and now she won’t get out of the car when tried to go.

Thank you all for your reassurance. We are going to ahead with it on Tuesday

 

[Naya]

Harley had the Librella injection on Tuesday 19th December. Within 2 days she was asking for an early evening walk which she hasn’t done for months. We started seeing a few promising steps as less limping and a bit more playful at times.

Unfortunately she became poorly early hours Boxing Day. It started with diarrhoea so we gave her prokolin and bland food. We drove to see our daughter and granddaughter on Boxing Day afternoon as thought it was a one off and maybe the treat my step dad gave her wasn’t good. Anyway, in the past 24 hours she has become worse. I have t slept properly since Boxing Day as she’s up every few hours. Now her diarrhoea is pure bright red blood coming out every few hours and she vomitted again early hours this morning. We drove home today and she vomitted in the car which she’s never done before. We called the vets and went straight there are she’s refused food since late afternoon yesterday (even refused a rich tea biscuit!!). She is very lethargic and not interested in anything. She’s had an anti sickness jab and has esomezaprole to line her tummy (not sure how I will get it in her as she’s refusing food!). She’s lost 2.5kg in 4 days too. We’ve had bloods taken and will get the results tomorrow.
I am worried as never seen her this poorly before.

 

[kateincornwall]

I am so terribly sorry to read this @Naya . Poor girl and you too for the awful worry , fingers crossed she improves very soon xxx

 

[edzbird]

Oh heck Naya, sorry Harley is suddenly so poorly. What did the vet say? Hoping it's a nasty bug that she is soon over,

 

[Naya]

Oh heck Naya, sorry Harley is suddenly so poorly. What did the vet say? Hoping it's a nasty bug that she is soon over,

Harley shut down at the vets whilst being examined. She showed no pain or reaction which makes it hard for them to determine where the pain is and how her tummy is. We are hoping bloods might pinpoint something. I boiled some rice earlier and left some of the water in it, put it in front of her, she sniffed it then just turned her head away. I’ve left it down for her to try and tempt her, but I don’t think she’s going to eat it.

 

[HAH]

Oh @Naya , rough times for poor Harley. When Stilton was sick recently we had to try all sorts before we found something he could consider - poached chicken and a bit of boiled egg did it in the end. I hope she’s feeling better very soon and you can get to the bottom of it x