Experience with Cartrophen

Discussion in 'Labrador Health' started by JulieT, Apr 3, 2016.

  1. Stacia

    Stacia Registered Users

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    I am sure Synoquin has helped :)
     
  2. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    He is on it! And Salmon oil....don't know if it will help, but not taking the chance it will and I didn't give it! :)
     
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  3. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    I think x-rays are a difficult thing to rely on, certainly in humans, as far as knees go at least.
    They reckon if you x-ray 50 painful knees and 50 painfree knees, probably half of the painfree ones will have similar arthritic changes to the painful ones, and half of the painful ones will be normal.
    X-rays show just the bones, and give no (or very little) indication of what is happening in the soft tissues. MRI might be a bit more helpful, but still not everything.
    Pain can also be mechanical, stressing particular areas or muscles or ligaments, purely because a joint works in a way that is not ideal.

    Anyway, I guess that doesn't help anybody, but thought I would just chip in.
     
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  4. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    Yes, that all makes sense, Jac. X-rays are not all that informative in lots of cases.
     
  5. Jen

    Jen Registered Users

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    You've probably heard of this supplement. Gro- Well Joint Aid. My vet recommended it to my friend whose Rottie has had arthritis in her hocks since she was two, she's now 7, to her mum who has a nine year old German Shephard and my cousins dog Ralph who I walk daily. Ralph injured his front leg when he was young he is now 11. He's had a permanent slight limp which would become pronounced after exercise for a number of years thought to be arthritis. A month on Joint Aid and he no longer has a permanent limp. He will limp occasionally but for the last two weeks I've been walking him around our fields with no sign of limping. The Rottie can now lie down and get up with ease whereas before the joint aid she used to lie down gingerly. This is apparently the only supplement my vet says she recommends for joints. It's also reasonably priced. I've seen it work on three dogs now and it's had a much better effect than cartrophen or nutraquin had on my old lab. I'll certainly use it on S&S.

    http://www.vetuk.co.uk/joint-supple...4_2004_799/gro-well-joint-aid-for-dogs-p-4916
     
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  6. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    Thanks, Jen - I possibly might try a different supplement at some stage, although it would have to be different than what Charlie gets now. I will look into it though, it's always worth reviewing what's available etc. I'll take a look at that.

    Cartrophen isn't a nutraceutical though, if I wanted to give Gro-Well joint aid, or nutraquin etc. it would be instead of Synoquin, not Cartrophen and would be given in addition to Cartrophen. Cartrophen is a drug, and substitute for anti-inflammatories like Metacam (which Charlie doesn't tolerate).

    Charlie is doing brilliantly this weekend, his gait is very, very fluid and he is looking great. Which does make me wonder whether I've been underestimating the degree of stiffness (and so discomfort) he has been in lately. I think it's too soon to attribute this to the last Cartrophen injection, although it's very tempting to do so, that's probably an error and it's something else, a change in his exercise routine etc.
     
  7. Jen

    Jen Registered Users

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    @JulieT yes you would want to use it alongside cartrophen. I'm cautious of recommending supplements as I think they can be a bit subjective you know "I think it's helped" etc but having seen the results of this supplement for myself on three different dogs with differing joint problems, if you saw the rotties hocks you'd be horrified, I'm surprised at how well joint aid works and how quickly. They have a guarantee on the packet if you don't see a difference in your dog after your first packet they will give you your money back.
     
  8. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    I'll take a look, thanks. I'm also wary of supplements, I view them a bit like expensive facecream - might not work, but who isn't going to use it just in case!
     
  9. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    By the way, Charlie isn't hobbling around the place - just in case I've made it sound like he is!

    He is exercising well - he is doing his normal 2 hours or more of exercise a day and he has no trouble or stiffness in the house, but high impact exercise has been removed from his routine again after I noticed the stiffness returning. So no retrieving etc. We'll see how he goes over time with that, in the meantime, he is concentrating on his new career as catnip sniffer dog extraordinaire. :D
     
  10. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    So Charlie is halfway through his second course of Cartrophen and has returned to having a near perfect gait. I'm now pretty convinced this drug is very effective for Charlie, and so long as the vet doesn't think that there are downsides to keeping him on it, he'll keep having it.
     
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  11. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

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    Glad Charlie is doing well. I think of Cartropen as a drug which "tidies" up the cartilage and soft tissue around joints on a cellular level as opposed to having an anti-inflammatory action. It does seem to be doing the trick certainly. I agree there is not much really to see on an Xray. Has Charlie had any MRIs to look at comparisons?
     
  12. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Great news! Really glad it has helped him.
     
  13. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    Yes, I'm pretty thrilled. :)

    Charlie had one CT scan last year - which is the reason we know that there are some small changes in his elbows. They are very small, and no prospect of surgery improving matters. I haven't repeated the scan, because it would be another procedure for Charlie, and the vets don't think that it will tell them anything that would change the treatment plan. No vet thinks Charlie is a candidate for surgery, so regardless the treatment is keep him slim, modify exercise if necessary (including hydro if helpful), and Cartrophen/anti-inflammatories as required.
     
  14. Joanne LeBlanc

    Joanne LeBlanc Registered Users

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    I am new to this post, I have a Labrador who is now 7 years old. I have been giving her Cartrophen shots since she was a little over a year off and on. She has cartrophen shots every 5 weeks, I have only recently extended the length of time between her shots, as I thought that it was getting too costly to have it done more often, and my vet thought that if she isn't in pain, that we could try every 5 weeks. If it wasn't for cartrophen shots she would have never had the quality of life that she has now. She is also on natural products that help her with her mobility. We got her as a puppy and one day I realized that she was walking with a funny limp, she was barely 1 years old. My veterinarian told me that she had hip problems and arthritis. He suggested that we try her on cartrophen shots. I was a bit hesitant, but looking back, I am happy that I made that decision. She is able to play with my children, and take long walks with me. The only thing that concerns me, is will this shorten her life.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2017
  15. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Hi Joanne and welcome to the forum. There is no reason (that I know of) why the use of cartrophen/Pentosan would shorten your dog's life. Most animals on this drug are on it for life so there is a long history of long term use in dogs (and horses). No problems that I've ever heard of or had mentioned by a vet - it's very safe.
     
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