Hello everyone!

[Stefihknee]

Hi, I'm Stephanie, my 200 lb "son" is named Riddick. He is a brindle EM and will be turning ten in a few weeks. I adopted him 4 years ago because my friend's brother had to move to a new city and couldn't take him. No one else in his family were willing to accommodate Riddick due to his slobber and shedding so I took him rather than see him end up at the pound. It's been an interesting adventure for sure, but this dog loves me like nothing I've ever known before. I can't believe how this big goof has stolen my heart. I'm pretty lucky to have him still at his age but he is slowing down and fairly sore and stiff. I promised this guy that I would be there with him till the end. I am wondering if anybody has recommendations for keeping him as tip top as can be until it's time to say goodbye. And if anybody has any experience with canine gout. Thank you

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome aboard to you and Riddick and thank you for taking him into your home and heart.

No experience with canine gout.

Do you give him glucosamine and some type of pain reliever for his stiffness, he probably has arthritis? Do you limit his up and down off of furniture and car? Continue to walk him to keep him from getting stiffer from inactivity.

Titan is 5 years old and he has arthritis in one leg. We walk about 1 to 1 1/2 miles a day, depending on the heat of the day. He takes a combo of 1000mg of Arthramine, 1000mg of glucosamine and 6 baby aspirin. I crush them and add them to his scrambled eggs every morning or sprinkle it on his meat.

Do you have a pic of Riddick?

 

[angelbears]

Welcome and thank you for taking in your giant!

I like phycox as a supplement for aging, sore dogs. It is a little pricey. You can find glucosamine fairly cheap and it is the main ingredient in most of your joint supplements. Below is a link for phycox at Amazon. Take a look at the reviews.

Amazon.com : PhyCox Soft Chews (120 ct) : Pet Bone And Joint Supplements : Pet Supplies

BTW, if you buy glucosamine buy the one branded for humans it is the same thing as those branded for animals but usually much cheaper.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

Welcome to the board! Would love to see pictures of your old guy.

 

[Harrygto]

Rocky is 11 I do the same as Musicdeb
welcome love Pics of your old pup

 

[Stefihknee]

I will post some pics tonight. I have him on probably too low a dose of glucosamine and fish oil. We have a vet appt on Monday with a new vet as We have been battling a reoccurring infection on his face the last year and I am unsatisfied with treatment. I have been prescribed cephalexin 2000 mg twice a day for 10 days 4 times. It goes away after the antibiotics but returns after a couple of months. It seems to me after doing some research that he should be taking them for at least a month. Riddick is the first senior dog I've owned and first large dog. He has never been much for rides and my car is too small to get him in and hasn't ever been big on getting onto furniture which I wouldn't mind since I have 3 small dogs and a foster pit that won't stay off the couches. I've only woken up to him being on the couch a couple times. He was pretty much crate bound or outside at his first home once he grew up. I know part of his problem is overgrown toenails which I am getting taken care of at the vet. He came to me with them extremely overgrown nails and both the groomers we've been two have skipped nails or only cut the tips. I have cut black nails too short and the thickness of his intimidates me plus I'm scared to hurt him. I honestly thought they were an ok length as our vet never said anything about it until I was looking at pics and they should be half what they are. He did was really perky all summer which was unusually long and warm for WA. But last week it got cold and wet fast and I am noticing he is extremely uncomfortable. Panting and wincing after sitting and standing and was up pacing a few nights. I am unsure of dosage with a lot of over the counter stuff and been afraid to give him aspirin due to this. I am willing to bet he needs a different feed too. I have been feeding a midline lamb and rice feed that covers all the dogs but didn't think that now that he's ten and not 6 he probably needs less protein and more fat. I feel like a neglector right now because I have not been on top of as much as I should be and kind of taken for granted how sweet and happy he always is. For walks we usually cruise around my really large yard multiple times a day for half hour or so at a time tending chickens and doing chores or around the neighborhood. The last long walk I took him on he developed a limp after and it took several weeks to get him back to normal. He has pretty much been the same old guy despite the age increase until this last year and especially the last couple weeks. I was actually afraid I was going to have to put him down between the soreness, abcess, dry eye, and a toe injury. But I've gotten him a large heating pad to keep under his bed and added a memory foam pad. His ear was a little stinky so I started giving him kefir and coconut oil which I am noticing he isn't gassy since starting. I need some guidance as I really think he has too much life left in him to give up on.

 

[angelbears]

Definitely get the nails cut as far back as you can. I would go 1500 on the glucosamine per day. It has been my experience and from reading post on this forum that antibiotics rarely cure skin problems and usually causes yeast infection. Try to keep all sugar including carbs out of his food. I would try cleaning the skin with an astringent and keep it dry. You can also try different salves or sprays like corataid, coconut oil, vetricin. If you do a search here for skin problems you will see a lot of different suggestions. It seems to be trial and error.

Use the search function here on this forum for each thing that needs to be addressed there is a ton of information. You just have to weed through it.

Good luck!

 

[musicdeb]

I agree, antibiotics usually do not help with skin problems. Riddick sounds like a very sweet soul. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[Stefihknee]

I've been trying to load a photo from my phone but it won't work. We've made a lot of changes for old Riddick. I took him completely off of kibble and have been feeding him whole raw chicken thighs, beef liver, virgin coconut oill, eggs, plain Keifer, and canned fish in water. He has always eaten a lot of meat so I just added more and pulled the kibble. I am giving him the 6 baby aspirin, and 1,500 mg glucosamine/msm, and continue rinsing his sore with antiseptic and drying it, and put a little coconut oil on it and his scratched up spots, and flushing his eyes with artificial tear. We are going to the vet in the morning for a nail trim and physical.
Well, he is back to himself again, closer to his 6 or 7 year old self actually. His breath and skin smell has dramatically improved, his coat feels softer, skin less waxy, and he seems to be shedding a lot less. He is not pacing and panting or obsessively scratching. The flakiness seems to be improving too. He has always been a huge water drinker. Up to 8 bowls a day so I thought it was normal. Well he is down to 4 bowls. He only gets half way through a bowl and I change it out for him. The thought of drinking all the drool has always grossed me out. I am very pleased to be taking him for a maintenance checkup rather than the final checkup. Thank you so much for providing so much useful information on this forum. I'll get a pic up at some point.

 

[Stefihknee]

One other thing, a big chunk of neck hair came out of the fold in his lower lid and my guess is it's been in there awhile and is what has been making that eye goo up.

 

[Stefihknee]

Is it common to see a improvement this fast? I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[angelbears]

Not unheard of but not the usual. There will still be good days and bad days. Just tweak what your doing here and there. Get the nail clipped and that will help even more.

So happy for you and Riddick.

 

[musicdeb]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things for Mr. Riddick! It's amazing how raw diet will change their coats. Yes, eating kibble with grains can cause a pup to drink a lot of water while eating raw meat reduces the amount of water they drink.

Can't wait to see a pic!