Good evening

Don’t best yourself up –  arthritis and the chronic pain that comes with it can be very hard to confidently identify as it will fluctuate daily if not hourly, and it will be prioritised or de-prioritised depending on other things that are happening –  for instance if there is a resource your dog wants, or a social situation that want to be part of, that can transiently override pain. It’s the same with us, that is why a tummy ache feels worse at night- less distractions!

I would head to our website – https://caninearthritis.co.uk/what-is-arthritis/identifying-signs and have a read as this should help you.

You may wish to sign up to our email series that will also help you with identifying and managing the signs  – https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s2j4j1

Certain breeds and individuals can be more difficult to examine, and a vet may rely on the owner’s observations, description of the dog’s history, and what is likely considering the dog’s age and breed etc. Suggestions of pain that appears to be linked to their musculoskeletal system would suggest to a GP vet that a dog of 10 could be suffering arthritis. Radiographs would be an ideal next step to confirm their suspicions.

Prescribing a long course of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like carprofen is normal practice. A strong suggestion of an extended course of 28 days plus is recommended because arthritic creates chronic pain, which is different to acute pain and is known to require longer courses for good effect.

The practitioner would ideally be reassessing the dog after 2 and 4 weeks taking note of the owner’s observations of movement, mood, enthusiasm and willingness to engage.

The side effects that are listed are a legal requirement and commonly look horrendous as they list every possibility ever!

This is from a Veterinary Medicines Directive review – a little old now but still relevant

VMD analysis estimates that emesis, anorexia and lethargy caused by oral administration of NSAIDs would affect 170, 74 and 83 dogs out of 1 million, respectively

Which shows the likelihood of side effects is actually low considering how much we use them.

Gut related signs are the most common, such as diarrhoea or vomiting. If you see these signs you are advised to stop the meds and speak to your vet. Other signs are less common, but if long term prescription is likely then investing in a blood test to check your dog’s underlying health is wise. So you know what they already have going on prior to using the medication, and to use a base line reference having been on the medications for a while.

I have had way more positives from using medications like carprofen than I have has side effects

I hope that helps,
Hannah