Joint Health and Pain Management

Joint Health and Pain Managment

For our older patients, patients with chronic joint pain, and patients who will most likely have joint issues in the future due to breed and/or size, we offer a variety of supplements, medications, and treatments that can help with conditions that are accompanied with chronic pain.

Dasuquin: This joint supplement contains ingredients such as glucosamine, condroitin, and avocado/soybean which together were shown in cell studies to slow the breakdown of cartilage. Dasuquin can be used in older dogs and cats that already have joint pain, as well as in younger breeds of dogs that are known to have joint issues in the future to support the joints. For dogs, these supplements come in chewable forms which are given a 100% palatability guarantee. This means if your dogs doesn’t like them and won’t eat them, you can return them for your money back.

Adequan: Adequan is an injectable medication that slows the disease of arthritis. For maximum benefits, it is given as a series of injections, 2 injections a week for 4 weeks (8 injections). Around the 4 week period is when you will generally see a difference in your dogs activity level and playfulness. After the 4 week period, it is usually recommended as a monthly treatment.

Diet: There are a few prescription diets such as Hill’s J/D and Iams Veterinary Formula Joint Plus which promotes joint health with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Omega 3 fatty acid, and EPA to nourish cartilage, controlled calorie content and L-Carnitine to maintain a healthy weight to avoid extra stress on joints, and antioxidants which are nutrients to help stabilize cells. For more information, click here.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Fatty acid supplements can help with joint pain due to it's anti-inflammatory effects. We carry Snip-Tips for our patients.

Curcumin: Derived from curry, if given intraveneously is shown in numerous studies to decrease pain and inflammation. It is not absorbed well orally. Curcumin is a supplement and not a drug; It is also called Tumeric.

Laser Therapy: Laser Therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses light to encourage cell regeneration and increases blood circulation to promote healing. For more information, click here.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDS): We do offer medications that help with conditions that cause pain such as arthritis. Depending on the case and condition of the pet, Dr. Buczek might recommend a trial period of NSAIDS to see if it helps, then we can fill it monthly with some blood work; some cases are required to have blood work before any NSAIDS use though. As with any NSAID, in some cases there can be damage to the liver with prolonged use or if the liver is getting older and unable to properly metabolize the drug, there can be problems with tolerance of the drug, so we will check blood work every 6 months to monitor for these conditions and adjust the dosages accordingly.

Alternatives to NSAIDS: If your pet does not tolerate NSAIDS well, or has liver damage already, there are alternatives to NSAIDS such as tramadol, which also requires blood work for monitoring purposes.

Gabapentin: This medication can be beneficial with nerve pain and can be used with NSAIDS.

Stem Cell: Stem cells promote regeneration of the damaged areas in the bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. This therapy has multiple benefits. It can improve the quality of your pet’s life with little or no use of long term drugs, and it is . Stem Cell Therapy can be used to help treat multiple conditions such as Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Joint Pain, Cartilage Damage, Ligament Damage, and Damaged Tendons. Stem cell can be used in addition to NSAIDS. For more information, click here.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP is the only available product that contains elevated levels of all the animal’s natural occurring growth factors and in precisely the same ratio as they are found in the body. PRP is 100% biocompatible and safe and poses no infection risk as it is generated from the animal's own plasma and can be the single solution to minimize infection, swelling, pain, bruising and scarring while hastening wound closure. Your pet’s blood is drawn and processed into PRP. This can also help with joint pain in the same manner as stem cell therapy, but results do not last as long (6 weeks). This is much less expensive than stem cell therapy, but can be used as a precursor to stem cell therapy to see if stem cell is likely to be a benefit. It make also be used in an elderly animal with a limited lifespan that we are trying to just keep comfortable. This can also be used with NSAIDS.