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Toby and his arthritis issues/Hemangiosarcoma

90K views 915 replies 62 participants last post by  Buddy's mom forever 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well, Toby's arthritis is acting up again as well as soreness in his FHO hip.
He was doing so great for the past several months, since diagnosed with arthritis in every limb. He did not need much in pain meds and he built back his muscle mass greatly with the help of a magnetic collar. I know it is controversial, but it helped him greatly.
Almost three weeks ago, Toby started limping in both hind legs, more so in his FHO hip. A couple of vet visits and x-rays later, I was given three options:

Laser therapy

Platelet Rich Plasma Injection Therapy

Stem cell therapy

The vet I am consulting at this time, suggested starting with laser therapy first, and that we would be able to tell after about the fourth session if he is responding well to it. Next step would be the platelet rich plasma injections or stem cell therapy. They have had a lot of good outcomes with any of the procedures above.

Today was Toby's first laser therapy treatment. He will have three more sessions next week, starting on Monday. I was not able to get the three sessions in this week.

Anyway, so it continues. I will report on any progress he makes.
I just figured it would be interesting for anybody out there with dogs especially seniors with arthritis issues to see what is available out there and what can be done to keep our seniors going and pain free.

Please wish Toby good luck, I had so hoped after his surgeries (TPLO in right knee, FHO in left hip),that he would lead a pain free rest of his life. Thank you for reading :)
 
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#3 ·
Thank you for sharing this, it's nice to know about these options and I'll be watching for updates. Remmie will be 11 in a couple of months and he has started having issues with arthritis. Right now he is responding really well to supplements, but I suspect they won't help long term. Definitely don't want to see him in pain! I was just reading about the stem cell therapy for human joints just a few weeks ago, interesting stuff!
 
#4 ·
Good luck Toby, I hope you start to feel better and the treatments work for you soon.
 
#6 ·
I'm having super good results with acupuncture. I wouldn't use it to replace anything that you are already using, but maybe adding acupuncture as a way to handle the pain and give more mobility. I think a combined approach works best.
 
#7 ·
Yesterday was a rough day for Toby. Per instructions by the vet, I am suppose to increase his dose of Tramadol (50mg tablets) from 1-2 tablets twice a day to 3 tablets 2-3 times a day. Yeah, this did not go so well. Toby was worse yesterday, he was a barely walking, whiney mess. It was just killing me to see him like that. I was trying to get a hold of the vet and left a message but did not get a call back yet.
Last night, I decided to just give him his usual Rimadyl and just one Tramadol tablet before going to bed. This morning, he is walking better and feeling better. I think the Tramadol dose was just way too high for him. Some dogs are just more sensitive to a drug than others.
Anyway, I will see how it goes today with cutting back on the Tramadol.
 
#10 ·
Yesterday was a rough day for Toby. Per instructions by the vet, I am suppose to increase his dose of Tramadol (50mg tablets) from 1-2 tablets twice a day to 3 tablets 2-3 times a day. Yeah, this did not go so well. Toby was worse yesterday, he was a barely walking, whiney mess. It was just killing me to see him like that. I was trying to get a hold of the vet and left a message but did not get a call back yet.
Last night, I decided to just give him his usual Rimadyl and just one Tramadol tablet before going to bed. This morning, he is walking better and feeling better. I think the Tramadol dose was just way too high for him. Some dogs are just more sensitive to a drug than others.
Anyway, I will see how it goes today with cutting back on the Tramadol.
I'm sorry he's having such a bad time. Tesia had struggles with Tramadol, too. It made her a little hazy and she didn't eat well while on it.

Is an NSAID an option for Toby? There are many different ones, and as long as you do an NSAID blood panel every six months, you can make sure it is not affecting organ function. Tesia had really good luck with Deramaxx, but her arthritis was in her ankles. Does Toby get a supplement for his joints and stiffness?

I hope he's doing better today.
 
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#8 ·
Just came from Toby's second laser treatment. The vet said that he was agitated today and did not want to hold still. I requested to be in the room with him next time to see if he will lay still.
I had a long talk with the vet again about possibilities of treatment. We are also doing some new x-rays of his hips next time, since his FHO hip is bothering him so much. He still has a lot of arthritis on what is left of his hip joint and still some remodeling going on. I had asked the vet, why his FHO hip would bother him so much and she said, because of the arthritis in the joint, even if the femoral head is not there.
I am so frustrated. I had really thought that Toby would not have anymore problems with that hip after surgery.
I found out that the Platelet Rich Plasma injections are suppose to last 90 days, stem cell therapy is suppose to last about one year according to the latest ortho specialists.
Stem cell therapy is a bit more invasive with anesthesia, cutting out a piece of fat from the abdomen and sending that in to extract the stem cells. Then the stem cells are being re-injected into the joints again under sedation.
Platelet rich plasma injections are drawing blood and extracting plasma and platelets to re-inject into the joints under sedation.
All I know right now, Toby is in pain and it breaks my heart :(
 
#9 ·
So sorry to hear Toby is in pain. Sending an enormous hug across to him. Really hope he starts to feel better soon.
 
#12 ·
Thank you all :)

Yes, Toby is also on Rimadyl, before that he was on Meloxicam. He has been on NSAIDS, Cosequin DS plus MSM, Fish oil and Adequan injections for several years. He was diagnosed with HD at almost 6 years of age, he is 10 now. He also has ED in his elbows, diagnosed last September.

Thanks for your support, that means a lot.
 
#14 ·
Yesterday, Toby had some more x-rays done under sedation. All looks the same, except his FHO hip shows a lot of arthritis on the leftover joint and there are some calcification issues between the joint and the leftover femur where the fake joint developed. The vets are not sure if that is was is causing his lameness. One option would be to go in and clean out the calcification deposits, but there is no guarantee that this is what is causing all this and that it would actually make a big difference. I am not jumping into surgery. The treating vet agreed with me.
Toby also had his third laser treatment while sedated. I was told he does not want to lay on his side during treatments and keeps wanting to get up. I requested being present for the next treatments to keep him calm and laying down. I hope it works.
No change in him so far.
I also mentioned to the this vet about Toby having tested positive for Ehrlichia last year and if that could be an issue. She said, could be and we are putting him back on some Doxycycline just in case and see if it makes a difference. I will also switch him back to Metacam after weaning him off Rimadyl to see if that works better along with the Tramadol.
I am currently going to an affiliated clinic for all this, since my regular vet does not have a laser.
 
#17 ·
Toby was not doing well over the weekend at all. He was barely putting weight on his right hind leg, not the FHO leg.
Today, he had his fourth laser treatment. I was present and he was a lot calmer and was holding still.
I talked to the vet for a few minutes and she is seriously trying to push me into the stem cell therapy. I pretty much told her that I want to wait out the laser sessions and if there could be other reasons for his sudden lameness that is getting worse. She seems to think not. I have to admit, I have only seen that particular vet for the past 2 weeks and I don't know what to make of her yet. Trust is not something I give easily, especially since I have worked in vet clinics.
I am in contact with the surgeon that did Toby's surgeries. He is out of town but will be back next week. He said he would be glad to take a look at Toby's x-rays and take a look at Toby himself.
 
#24 ·
I'm so sorry that Toby is enduring all of this and glad that you are fighting for him.

Would hydrotherapy be an option for him? I'm thinking of underwater treadmills, as well as canine swimming facilities that put floatation devices on dogs and play gentle water games to keep them swimming. The goal is to build muscle mass and help the joints to be more limber.

Does Adequan help with Toby? It has worked wonders for Joker. And Deramaxx (which is back on the market now) helped Charlie a lot with arthritis pain.

Hugs and prayers,
Lucy
 
#25 ·
Thank you all!
Toby is on Rimadyl, Tramadol, Doxycycline, Cosequin DS plus MSM, fish oil and Adequan injections. The Adequan injection was last done on Friday and did not do a thing.
Today, he is especially moaning and croaning, would not eat his dinner or treats. I am really worried. I will take him to my regular vet in the morning.
I also think all the meds are getting to him, making him feel worse. I won't give him the Doxy tonight.
Please keep my Toby in your thoughts, thank you!
 
#27 ·
Toby is definitely in my thoughts today. I hope you get some help from your vet today. Poor guy. It is so frustrating and heartbreaking not to be able to help them feel better. You are probably right that the meds are making him lose his appetite. Hopefully your vet can change them up a bit and maybe give him some anti-nausea meds and help him to eat again. Fingers crossed for you and Toby.
 
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