Pain Relief/anti Inflam

[PeiLuvR]

Any advice welcomed.

I am confused about pain relief and anti infammatories that i can use for my dog.

Millie is almost 6yrs old and recently diagnosed with Shar Pei Fever. It is a Shar Pei specific disease. Which can lead to severe kidney trouble.

One of the symptoms in Shar Pei Fever is hot, swollen hocks. Her back legs are like huge extra saggy pants but lumpy and sore.

Millie is having a medication called Colchicine (COLGOUT). It is a medication used in humans to treat gout. She is having one tablet daily to help prevent fever attacks occuring - which consist of high temperature, heavy breathing/panting, lethargy and swollen hocks.

I don't think the medication is doing anything specifically for the inflamed hocks. She is tip toeing gently around the yard.

I have used Rymadyl for inflammation before but am worried about how any medications will affect her kidneys. I have not used metacam but believe that can affect the kidneys also.

Could one shot of cortisone be enough to help reduce the swelling in her legs ? But will cortisone then create more kidney risks ?

I think i am going to change vets.

Everything i have researched about Shar Pei Fever leads to the Colchicine medication. But her legs have not really altered.

Lets just say she isn't a shar pei and has severe swollen legs - what would you treat with ? And what treatments are bad for kidneys ?

Thanks to anyone willing to read my dilema.

Edited September 16, 2010 by PeiLuvR

[Everythings Shiny]

This is a question for your vet - they would know the best thing to use in her specific case :D

I wouldn't know where to start on this one ;)

Edited September 16, 2010 by Everythings Shiny

[stormie]

I would probably want a referral to a specialist. Hope she is ok :D

[Staranais]

I would probably want a referral to a specialist. Hope she is ok :D

Me too.

[dancinbcs]

I suggest trying Dr Ann Neville at Sth Rd Animal Health in Bentleigh. I know she is the other side of Melbourne, but at least she is still in the same city. I have consulted her from Sydney in the past. She is a vet that uses alternatine treatments, especially Chinese Medicine, as well as conventional medicine. She has had a lot of success with cancer treatment but is also excellent for treating many other complaints that don't respond well to conventional treatment.

Pain and swelling often responds well to acupuncture and there are no side effecs from it. Same applies to Chinese herbs used to treat inflammation.

[aussielover]

Any advice welcomed.

I am confused about pain relief and anti infammatories that i can use for my dog.

Millie is almost 6yrs old and recently diagnosed with Shar Pei Fever. It is a Shar Pei specific disease. Which can lead to severe kidney trouble.

One of the symptoms in Shar Pei Fever is hot, swollen hocks. Her back legs are like huge extra saggy pants but lumpy and sore.

Millie is having a medication called Colchicine (COLGOUT). It is a medication used in humans to treat gout. She is having one tablet daily to help prevent fever attacks occuring - which consist of high temperature, heavy breathing/panting, lethargy and swollen hocks.

I don't think the medication is doing anything specifically for the inflamed hocks. She is tip toeing gently around the yard.

I have used Rymadyl for inflammation before but am worried about how any medications will affect her kidneys. I have not used metacam but believe that can affect the kidneys also.

Could one shot of cortisone be enough to help reduce the swelling in her legs ? But will cortisone then create more kidney risks ?

I think i am going to change vets.

Everything i have researched about Shar Pei Fever leads to the Colchicine medication. But her legs have not really altered.

Lets just say she isn't a shar pei and has severe swollen legs - what would you treat with ? And what treatments are bad for kidneys ?

Thanks to anyone willing to read my dilema.

Did the vet take a blood sample before giving the meds. I think it is quite likely, as part of the investigation of the cause of her clinical signs.

As long as the kidney and liver blood results are within the normal range, there is low risk of problems occuring. I am not sure I would personally use NSAIDs if the dog has a disease that predisposes it to kidney problems, but I would have to read up a bit on Sharpei fever and the mechanism for causing kidney problems first.

Sorry I am confused if she has had both cortisone and rimadyl? They are not generally used together but your vet would be able to tell you more.

I agree about seeing a specialist.

[Nekhbet]

seems like the colchicine primarily stops the amyloidosis - so amyloid tissue being deposited in the kidneys and liver causing hepatic/renal failure. Apparently most sites say aspirin for the fever O.o I'd take that on veterinary advice. Funny though, the physiology for SPF is similar to a form of hot, scaley human psoriasis. Both conditions seem to be brought on by high stress

As for a good NSAID, you will have to speak to a vet who knows peis about that.

For the mean time, have you tried Swell Down (horse) poultice to draw out the heat from her hocks? Does a really good job

[Guest Ams]

As far as I am aware Shar Pei Fever and Swollen Hock Syndrome are two separate issues, although one can lead to the other. I'm not aware of anything you can effectively treat the fever with that will not have some adverse affect on the kidneys, however there may be something holistic that may be safe.

[PeiLuvR]

Dancinbc - thanx for the advice on the bentleigh vet. i'm willing to try natural therapies.

Nekhbet i will look into Swell Down. May be helpful. Thanx.

Aussielover - we have done bloods, This lead my vet to prescribe the colchicine. My vet has also suggested a kidney biopsy which i would rather not do.

There is no actual testing for Shar Pei Fever.

I am trying to find a shar pei specialist.

Thanx for all of the comments.

Millie ate her dinner tonight and will continue colchicine daily.

[aussielover]

I would also suggest you look into canine medicine specialists or small animal medicine specialists as they may have seen a few cases of this before as well.

Maybe contact you breeder or the Shar Pei breed club and see which vets they use?

I hope your doggie feels better soon