Holistic Vets - Arthritis

[morphjk]

I was wondering many people have had experience with Holistic Vets with treating dogs with Arthritis? I have a dog who unfortunately has arthritis and it seems that the Cartrophen injections are not having the same results as they use to so we are going to see a Holistic Vet to see if they can help with his arthritis but I have never been to one before and there is only 1 here in Hobart.

I have used Joint Guard as well but it doesn't seem to have helped.

Edited February 21, 2009 by morphjk

[New Age Outlaw]

I have had good success with accupuncture for dogs with arthritis. This link should give you some options for veterinary accupuncture in Tas...some of these practitioners may also use other alternate therapies. Good luck!

[morphjk]

I have had good success with accupuncture for dogs with arthritis. This link should give you some options for veterinary accupuncture in Tas...some of these practitioners may also use other alternate therapies. Good luck!

Good to know. This dog just has the most loving nature and we want the best we can for him. Poor little guy is only 2 years old.

[CavsRcute]

Definitetly try acupuncture. I have a dog with HD and arthritis and I find it works really well.

Are you in Sydney? I can give some recommendations if you are.

You need to do all the normal things like keep the dog at a good weight(which I'm sure you do).

I have also been told Ester C might help and fish oil.

With the acupuncture you won't see a result straight away.We started having it weekly, then fortnightly and now I take her monthly. I find that her arthritis is worse when the seasons change and is worse in the humid weather...just like my knees :D

She also has trigger point therapy because of the way she sometimes walks and this tightens the muscles in her back.

Good luck

[morphjk]

Definitetly try acupuncture. I have a dog with HD and arthritis and I find it works really well.

Are you in Sydney?

I am in Hobart, Tasmania so there is one main vet who advertises that they do it.

[CavsRcute]

Definitetly try acupuncture. I have a dog with HD and arthritis and I find it works really well.

Are you in Sydney?

I am in Hobart, Tasmania so there is one main vet who advertises that they do it.

I would also ask them if they use a portable TENS machine as this also helps with knotted muscles

[koolietas]

Definitetly try acupuncture. I have a dog with HD and arthritis and I find it works really well.

Are you in Sydney?

I am in Hobart, Tasmania so there is one main vet who advertises that they do it.

Sue Peden at NHVH has treated several of my dogs/cats with acupuncture (for different reasons) over the years. We had great success with my 4 1/2 year old sheltie who developed arthritis by treating with accupuncture and weight loss.

Unfortunately Sue is on long service leave at the moment (I don't think she's back at work until end April) but there is another vet at Sandy Bay (Sandy Bay Holistic Veterinary Centre) that specialises in alternative treatments as well as acupuncture. I cannot personally comment as I have not taken my animals there, but have heard excellent reports.

I have a 15 1/2 yo cat at the moment undergoing treatment for arthritis. We're half way through the cartrophen course, and when Sue returns will be organising acupuncture for her. I tried Joint Guard for 6 weeks, but did not see much benefit...so have started her on Cosequin.

There are lots of alternative treatments for dogs (not so much for cats unfortunately) - so it might be trial and error with supplements for a while to see which one is the most effective for your pooch.

[CavsRcute]

Definitetly try acupuncture. I have a dog with HD and arthritis and I find it works really well.

Are you in Sydney?

I am in Hobart, Tasmania so there is one main vet who advertises that they do it.

Sue Peden at NHVH has treated several of my dogs/cats with acupuncture (for different reasons) over the years. We had great success with my 4 1/2 year old sheltie who developed arthritis by treating with accupuncture and weight loss.

Unfortunately Sue is on long service leave at the moment (I don't think she's back at work until end April) but there is another vet at Sandy Bay (Sandy Bay Holistic Veterinary Centre) that specialises in alternative treatments as well as acupuncture. I cannot personally comment as I have not taken my animals there, but have heard excellent reports.

I have a 15 1/2 yo cat at the moment undergoing treatment for arthritis. We're half way through the cartrophen course, and when Sue returns will be organising acupuncture for her. I tried Joint Guard for 6 weeks, but did not see much benefit...so have started her on Cosequin.

There are lots of alternative treatments for dogs (not so much for cats unfortunately) - so it might be trial and error with supplements for a while to see which one is the most effective for your pooch.

How are you finding the Cosequin for your cat and do you buy it on line?

[koolietas]

How are you finding the Cosequin for your cat and do you buy it on line?

She's only been on the Cosequin for a couple of weeks and is having the Cartophen injections as well - so it's early days yet, but I've definitely seen an improvement in her (whether its the Cartrophen or the Cosequin or combination of both I'm not sure).

I buy the Cosequin at the vet - they are the dog capsules, and my cat gets half a capsule a day. You can buy the cat capsules online overseas (I haven't found any sources that sell the cat capsules in Aus).