I am pretty sure my dog has a problem with both knees. I took to a
vet in may, and the vet did not x-ray him, but said that the problem
was his knee. She gave him an injection of rimadyl and a one-week
prescription for same, and sent him home.

We stilll could not get him up the stairs, and had to buy a huge
plastic cage to put him in, to carry him up the stairs of the
apartment bldg. so he could go out to go to the bathroom.

The vet never told me that the other good knee was likely to
develop problems too. I think that is what is going on, because
now he favors the opposite knee, and can't even go up the outside
stairs now, and has to sit down and rest frequently while outside.

What I am wondering now is, should I just take him straight to a
specialist? I want to find out about getting him shots of adequan,
besides getting him actually x-rayed.

thanks,

tracy

What I am wondering now is, should I just take him straight to a
specialist? I want to find out about getting him shots of adequan,
besides getting him actually x-rayed.

To be fair, not all knee injuries are diagnosed by x-ray. Many are diagnosed
by manual manipulation. That said, most times dogs are not sedate enough to
manipulate as needed to make that diagnosis. An x-ray is one of the tools
needed to rule out other issues as well as give tell-tale signs of certain
problems. While the dog is sedated for an x-ray, the vet gets his/her best
chance at manipulation. So really, x-ray in combination with exam would have
been best. Don't know why it wasn't done on initial exam. Perhaps it was an
option given but not taken? In any event if you're not comfortable, a second
opinion from a specialist, teaching hospital or even another well respected
vet in your community would be in order.

-Sharon (not a vet, but asked husband vet about this)

Sharon wrote:
What I am wondering now is, should I just take him straight to a
specialist? I want to find out about getting him shots of adequan,
besides getting him actually x-rayed.

To be fair, not all knee injuries are diagnosed by x-ray. Many are
diagnosed by manual manipulation. That said, most times dogs are not
sedate enough to manipulate as needed to make that diagnosis. An
x-ray is one of the tools needed to rule out other issues as well as
give tell-tale signs of certain problems. While the dog is sedated
for an x-ray, the vet gets his/her best chance at manipulation. So
really, x-ray in combination with exam would have been best. Don't
know why it wasn't done on initial exam. Perhaps it was an option
given but not taken? In any event if you're not comfortable, a second
opinion from a specialist, teaching hospital or even another well
respected vet in your community would be in order.
-Sharon (not a vet, but asked husband vet about this)

I have no expertise or opinion on the knee issues, but I did have a
moderately dysplastic GSD who had two courses of adequon (sp?) injections,
starting when he was about 2 years old. Both of them rendered him pain-free
(as far as we could tell) for long periods. Before the first course, he
found it difficult to go up stairs. That first course probably worked for
well over a year, and he regained his stair-climbing ability almost
immediately and kept it. The second was more of a booster thing, and also
worked beautifully for many months. The first was in about 1990-91, when it
was early for usage in dogs and the optimum dosage was really unknown. My
recollection of the length of time he benefited is now uncertain, but it was
dramatic and did last for a significantly long time.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 21:02:37 -0400, "Sharon"
wrote:

What I am wondering now is, should I just take him straight to a
specialist? I want to find out about getting him shots of adequan,
besides getting him actually x-rayed.

To be fair, not all knee injuries are diagnosed by x-ray. Many are diagnosed
by manual manipulation. That said, most times dogs are not sedate enough to
manipulate as needed to make that diagnosis. An x-ray is one of the tools
needed to rule out other issues as well as give tell-tale signs of certain
problems. While the dog is sedated for an x-ray, the vet gets his/her best
chance at manipulation. So really, x-ray in combination with exam would have
been best. Don't know why it wasn't done on initial exam. Perhaps it was an
option given but not taken? In any event if you're not comfortable, a second
opinion from a specialist, teaching hospital or even another well respected
vet in your community would be in order.

-Sharon (not a vet, but asked husband vet about this)


HI Sharon,

Thanks for asking your husband about it. The vet just decided
not to x-ray. I'll call a specialist today to find out prices,
yikes.

On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 03:35:35 GMT, "Janet Puistonen"
wrote:



I have no expertise or opinion on the knee issues, but I did have a
moderately dysplastic GSD who had two courses of adequon (sp?) injections,
starting when he was about 2 years old. Both of them rendered him pain-free
(as far as we could tell) for long periods. Before the first course, he
found it difficult to go up stairs. That first course probably worked for
well over a year, and he regained his stair-climbing ability almost
immediately and kept it. The second was more of a booster thing, and also
worked beautifully for many months. The first was in about 1990-91, when it
was early for usage in dogs and the optimum dosage was really unknown. My
recollection of the length of time he benefited is now uncertain, but it was
dramatic and did last for a significantly long time.


Thanks for the input Janet . I hope it might help my dog.
Did he have a ligament rupture or tear?

tracy

wrote:
On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 03:35:35 GMT, "Janet Puistonen"
wrote:



I have no expertise or opinion on the knee issues, but I did have a
moderately dysplastic GSD who had two courses of adequon (sp?)
injections, starting when he was about 2 years old. Both of them
rendered him pain-free (as far as we could tell) for long periods.
Before the first course, he found it difficult to go up stairs. That
first course probably worked for well over a year, and he regained
his stair-climbing ability almost immediately and kept it. The
second was more of a booster thing, and also worked beautifully for
many months. The first was in about 1990-91, when it was early for
usage in dogs and the optimum dosage was really unknown. My
recollection of the length of time he benefited is now uncertain,
but it was dramatic and did last for a significantly long time.


Thanks for the input Janet . I hope it might help my dog.
Did he have a ligament rupture or tear?

tracy

No, he had hip dysplasia.

"Janet Puistonen" wrote in message
news:5u1Pe.1629$rA2.11@trndny02...
wrote:
On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 03:35:35 GMT, "Janet Puistonen"
wrote:
Thanks for the input Janet . I hope it might help my dog.
Did he have a ligament rupture or tear?

No, he had hip dysplasia.

........which is why I doubt Adequan will work in this case. Adequan works
like glucosamine - helps lubricate the joints. Might help a bit with
inflammation around a torn ligament, but doubtful.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

.......which is why I doubt Adequan will work in this case. Adequan works
like glucosamine - helps lubricate the joints. Might help a bit with
inflammation around a torn ligament, but doubtful.


I don;t know that his ligaments are torn; he has not been x-rayed yet.

Also:

Q: How does Adequan® Canine (POLYSULFATED GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN) work?

A: Adequan® Canine (POLYSULFATED GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN) stimulates
cartilage repair processes, binds to damaged cartilage and suppresses
the enzymes that eat away at joints. It helps keep joints lubricated,
making movement easier and increases your dog's comfort by reducing
inflammation and relieving pain.

http://www.luitpold.com/animal_healt...ne/faq/faq.htm

Adequan Canine I.M. 2x5ml THIS ITEM REQUIRES A VETERINARY
PRESCRIPTION! FAST ACCESS TO THE JOINTS: Beneficial levels of Adequan
are already at work in all major joints within two hours after
intramuscular injection, with even greater uptake (up to 73% higher)
in joint tissues that are inflamed or diseased. LONG-TERM EFFECTS:
Adequan relieves the pain and disability of joint damage, and the
relief has been shown to last up to 6 months or longer. BREAKS THE
DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE: Adequan binds to damaged cartilage and boosts
cartilage metabolism, facilitating repair processes. At the same time,
it blocks the action of destructive enzymes that promote joint
inflammation, break down the synovial fluid, and attack the cartilage.
RENEWS THE JOINT FLUID: Adequan stimulates the synovial membrane to
manufacture new synovial fluid to replace the thin, degraded fluid of
joint disease. By doing so, Adequan helps lubricate, nourish, and
clean the cartilage.

http://www.agri-med.com/site/255063/...QK9-2x5/Equine

Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is a second potent
anti-arthritic drug. Adequan does not directly replace joint fluid,
but does have the effect of reducing joint inflammation and
stimulating the production of new joint fluid. Additionally Adequan
stimulates the production of cartilage building blocks which helps to
arrest cartilage damage and may even result in some cartilage repair.
This is an important advantage over any other form of therapy.

http://www.napanet.net/~xredbear/nvv..._in_horses.htm