Supplement ideas for arthritis, Emma ran upstairs!

So now I'm scared to start up the Nutramax Cosequin which has glucosamine in it. My old vet confirmed the arthritis back in July with and xray. And she does move a little stiffly and I did see improvement with her litter box "aim" when she was on it. Could you please share what you are giving your cats for arthritis? I would really appreciate it. When I google for info or search the forums I can't seem to get any clear experience. I also see that glucosamine has sugar so I'm super afraid of it now.

Thanks for everyone's help!
Sue

 

Not sure about the Cosequin having sugar in it, but several of us use Adequan! It's an injectable like insulin, there is a loading dose of 8 doses over 4 weeks and then once a month (or more often if needed, up to every three days for most severe cases). I use it for my tom. I tried Cosequin on him (he's not diabetic) but didn't see any improvement so I asked for Adequan.

 

Thank you Elizabeth. I'm guessing that's something the vet prescribes? I was hoping I could find something to sprinkle on her food. Someone else mentioned Dosequin capsules. Anyone else have any ideas?

Thank you so much. Her numbers are great and I'm just worried about upsetting the apple cart.
Sue

 

My diet-controlled diabetic cat Emily has arthritis/chronic knee injury. She gets Dasequin in her canned food and Adequan injections every other week. The Adequan injections made the biggest difference, though she still limps a little.

 

From what I've read here (and experienced myself) the tablets/powders etc do little for arthritis. Yes, it is prescription, though it is usually cheaper buying from an online pharmacy. Chewy has them but they only sell in 2-packs. You would want the canine Adequan. It will last until the expiration date which is 1-2 years, depending on how often it's administered. Price ranges from $60-80. I just bought my second vial from Walmart's online pharmacy.

 

Thank you so much for all the great info!!

 

Microlactin, sold in capsules for feline use under the brand name of Duralactin, is a milk-based (hyper-immune milk factor) anti-inflammatory that has been shown to be effective against arthritic pain, without the potential side-effects of NSAIDs or corticosteroids. Available without a prescription. Sprinkles over food. Takes a week or so to start showing results.

Adequan is the gold standard treatment since it not only provides relief but may also promote repair of damaged cartilage.

 

Thank you Tom, I had not heard of this one. Emma is not really bad off with her arthritis. She has very tiny feet and the only arthritis the vet found was in 1 elbow. So I would like to stick with something I can sprinkle on her food. Oh yes! And she has lost some weight on the FF wet food, which is a really good thing. That has already helped her quite a bit. I'm off to google Duralactin.

 

Okay. Please don't mad with me. I am so grateful to everyone for all the suggestions and great information. Hubby and I looked up all the tips that you give us and decided to let Emma try the Cosequin tonight. Today's numbers have been great and we felt more comfortable using something that we have experience with and know how she reacts to it. If we tried something new and Emma acted differently then we would be a little lost.
I hope that's okay with everyone. I don't want you to think that I just disregarded all your replies. We still have your alternatives on a list on the refrigerator in case the Cosequin doesn't work out.

Thank you everyone and I really mean that!
Sue

 

OMG! Emma just ran upstairs. I mean she ran! She hasn't done that in years! I gave her a Cosequin last night and 1 this morning.(and don't forget that she's lost some weight) And her BG numbers are looking great! No increases and her BG number was actually done a touch, which is okay.

We are so happy here! Thanks again for everyone's help. I'm still keeping the "back up" list.

 

Yaaaaay how thrilling!
Maybe I should get some of that stuff for ME! lol

 

She might be playing you LOL. Cosequin takes a while to see effect, 4-6 weeks usually but wherever that spurt came from is much welcomed!

 

I think our version is a Long Island Iced Tea! My grandpa has a lot of mobility issues but we've never seen him move so fast after drinking one.

 

Cosequin, Dasuquin and the like help some cats but not others. Weight loss definitely helps. Also worth consideration is a high-quality fish oil to add Omega-3 fatty acids to the diet. Good for general health and proven to help with damaged joints. Just squirt a bit on top of her food.

Emma again dashing up the stairs, delighting everyone, is just great. Always such a joy to see a turnaround like that, whatever the cause.

 

That's a good idea about the fish oil. Would that be the supplement that I see in the vitamin aisle at Publix? Like the human grade type? And how often would I do that? I'm hoping that might add some calories to her food.

 

I used Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet, saw it recommended here once. I got it off Ebay, just because I'm a big Ebay-fan. Not sure all the places you can get it.

 

Thank you! Am I right that it's actual a liquid and you can pull the capsule apart and pour it on the food? Is that once a day?

 

The Nordic Naturals is actually a liquid with an eye dropper. Off the top of my head I think it's like, depending on weight how much you give. I thiiink my boy got one dropper full on his food once a day. It's been about a year since I used it (I switched completely to Adequan) so my memory may be rusty. It has instructions on the box.

 

The bottle of "Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats" that I use has a pump, like with hand lotion or liquid soap. I don't know whether or not this is the best brand, I didn't do a lot of research before buying it.

 

I used the Duralactin for Neko, and it made a difference. It an anti-inflammatory. You can't use it if a cat's calcium numbers are high or they have a milk allergy. Another thing I tried is hyaluronic acid (brand Hyaflex, get the medium dog version to be cost effective). It's a type of joint lubricant, sort of like Cosequin but Cosequin didn't work well with Neko. My brother was using hyaluronic acid for his arthritic knees. Hyaflex is a liquid you can just add to food.

 

I recently got this, as I also saw it recommended here. Tina likes it so I'm quite happy.

I bought a huge bottle, very happy with all I read about it, but the primary cat, Tina, that I bought it for, absolutely did not like the taste. My dog and one other cat liked it. So I quit using any fish oil for Tina. I'm upset at myself for giving up so soon, because I waited for months before getting the Nordic Naturals that I can put in her food with no disagreement from her at all.

I started giving cosequin soft chews a couple months ago, and she thinks they are a delicious treat. I think she is even better.

Are Adequan injections painful? Muscular? My vet wasn't really on board with that idea, but she will most definitely work with me if that's a better idea than what I'm doing now to make Tina comfortable and able to even run at times! Maybe a better picture would be to scamper really fast! She jumps, climbs, and is doing quite well.

I have a dirty little secret . . . there is only one thing that has helped Tina get around well, and that is Metacam, yes a dirty NSAID. I give .3ml daily (always with food) and it makes her feel and move about so much better. Every time I have stopped, she gets all hunched and painful after a couple days. I've tried CBD, and never noticed any help. In defense of the NSAID Metacam - it was first started on animals with far too high of a dose; hence black box warnings and all that. I would still prefer to get her off it if I can. She has been on it for about 2 years. Some literature actually says it may protect the kidneys during certain stages of CKD. I personally took high doses for too long of NSAIDS, and they did a lot of damage to my stomach.

 

Not painful at all! You inject it subQ like you would insulin. I think you can do it intramuscular, supposedly it works quicker (as in a few hours quicker) if I was reading right but it made more sense to me to just do it subQ. My tom couldn't care less. It is off-label use in cats, I don't think my vet ever used it in cats either but I guess she found it easier to not argue with me or something, idk.

Blasphemy! Is it used for arthritis? I didn't know that.

 

Yes, at my vet's practice anyway! When Tina's creatinine had increased to over 4, my new vet (same practice) said to stop the Metacam. At the same time I began subQs regularly, her creatinine started going down, but the arthritis looked a lot worse. She also takes Gabapentin, 50 mg twice daily, but it does not do enough on its own. As her creatinine went down, we went back to using Metacam again, and she got much better, and her CKD has remained stable.
BTW, you have been in my heart ever since your gorgeous Panic crossed. You are awesome Your story hurt deeply; Panic is your angel.

i will talk to our vet about Adequan again

 

Interesting! Yeah it'd be really nice if you could kick the Metacam without causing any issues! They say the sooner you start on Adequan the better ... can't remember who has a pair of older cats on it, started them in early teens and they're nearing their 20s now with little mobility issue. I considered gabapentin briefly but after the overdose with Panic it's not going to be a drug in my house ever again. I know there's nothing wrong with it when used properly but I just can't. Just reading the name on members' signatures gives me anxiety sometimes. That and assist-feeding. And fluids. And pancreatitis. Lots of hot buttons I'm working through.

Thank you. I miss my sugar baby so much.

Fingers crossed on the Adequan convo with your vet!

 

Tears and lots of hugs. I almost didn't want to say that G word. I'm so sorry. You are a tough woman, staying here helping so much, Elizabeth.
A huge thank you dear one.

 

Not to scare you but...Metacam... I use to feed a feral here, One for MANY years. I could never get close to him (you'd think after 8 years he'd warm up to the one person that fed him but no.
He disappeared for 4 years and suddenly showed up on my patio. I was thrilled thinking he was long dead. BUT he couldnt eat. He would go up to the bowl take a bite then spit it out. It was then that I saw his body condition. I managed to get him into a carrier and off to the vet we went. After sedation the vet called it.. stomotitis (sp?)
Tux kitty couldnt eat. The vet said the only thing he had was metacam. After the first dose that cat was HOOKED. He waited at my back door every morning. Practically climbed my legs for his next dose. Knocked the dropper out of my hand and tried to run away with it. He was hooked.
I continued to give it to him because he NEEDED to eat. A few weeks later he had deteriorated so much, I knew it was his time and took him in to release him from his pain.
THAT metacam was his saving grace and his devil at the same time. PLEASE administer carefully and if you decide to remove it, do it SLOWLY. I cant imagine what it would be like for an animal to be weened off the stuff. It cant be easy for them because we cant make them understand why its being taken away.
Best wishes Tina Im not trying to scare you but that was my experience with metacam

 

Wow Jeanne. Just wow! Thank you many times over. Tina is on a small dose (.3 ml) BUT I needed to hear this. Do you remember the dose you were giving Tux kitty? I've been worried about the stomach, yes. I wish I could get her to like tumeric. It does wonders for me. I need to try to outsmart that girl.
Starting today, I will give .2ml and -

Definitely calling vet today about Adequan. Thank you very much!

 

I am sorry I dont remember the dose the vet prescribed. BUT I knew from this site it was an iffy choice. I started out with literally drops (thats all it took!) then realized he wasnt going to make it anyway. He was a feral and HAD to be AT LEAST 10yo. Thats just by going with the amount of years I fed him. So I upped the dose and he started eating again. BUT not before he literally tore the dropper out of my hand while waiting. When I got to a FULL dropper and he still was degrading (before my eyes. He took to sleeping on the patio waiting for his next dose!) I decided the kindest thing I could do for him was release him. It was VERY hard. He became a part of our lives I cried like a baby .

 

You can find yards of discussion on the board about the use of NSAIDs -- meloxicam/metacam and, less commonly, robenacoxib/onisor. Here is what I have found in my reading...

An NSAID will break arthritic pain quickly and effectively. There are 2010 ISFM/AAFP guidelines for long-term use in cats, which include counter-indications and suggested monitoring. Feline use of meloxicam in the US is off-label because cats were originally being dosed as if they were miniature dogs, but they require half the dose by weight as for canine use.

Optimally, you introduce other pain relievers and disease-modifying agents, and then taper down or even discontinue the NSAID, reserving further use for flare-ups. But you do want to keep the cat as free of pain as possible.

Meloxicam was like a wonder drug for my Thomas. In just days he went from needing a step stool to climb up on the bed to scampering up trees again. I had added Duralactin to his breakfast and was about to start Adequan when I lost him to cancer.

 

So thankful for your input which is great, but very sorry about the pain of losing your Thomas

Very good news for us - My vet was extremely receptive to my concerns and is ordering Adequan for us (apologized for not having it in stock), and putting our plan together. Everything he said was completely in line with what I have learned from here, and in my own reading too. I am very pleased and thankful. It sure does help to have some background knowledge about a topic before talking with the doctor. He treated me like an equal in our mission to help Tina and get her off Metacam if we can.

 

KEEPER VET ALERT!!!

 

Well how wonderful is that! Quick, easy, AND painless? Imagine that.

That's really interesting. My vet gave my tom Onisor when I brought him in for what seemed like a lot of aching ... poor guy was barely moving, stopped eating too - which I found out was because he was hurting too much to get up/bend down to eat. She said she couldn't find anything wrong, it was probably just arthritis (no idea if that was true for that particular incident, but I DEFINITELY can believe he'd have it) and gave him Onsior, it didn't even seem to touch the pain he was in though, took him a couple days to get moving again. Unless that's how long it takes for them to feel better. I didn't find it helpful. Also really didn't want to keep him on pills indefinitely anyway.

 

Hmm, I don't think meloxicam helped my guy overnight, but certainly within two or three days.

(Elizabeth, how you lost Panic was so horrible that I could not read all the way through the thread and, uncharacteristically, I could not think of anything to say. My heart goes out to you.)

 

Thank you!!
He is the third vet (and rumored to have the best bedside manner) I have seen at the same practice (love the techs and receptionists and office manager). Recently he helped Tina when our second vet was unavailable, and I was impressed with his manner and how he wanted to facetime/meet me also, as we talked. He also reviewed and read her file. He cared about the whole cat, not just our current issue (constipation).
So when I called today, vet 2 wouldn't be back until Monday, I said Oh! DR 3 has helped us before. I am no longer worried about hurting feelings of Vet 2; I'm sticking to the keeper for all my pets!! Funny thing - he also has a black and white Springer Spaniel, like mine

 

You are so nice

The only time I have used Onsior was after dentals - they would give 3 pills. I never really knew if it helped, because the cats never acted like they were in pain before or after getting it.

Random thought - I wish both people and animal doctors would stop practicing medicine, and just learn it, haha

 

That's good to know ... I was wondering if it even helped, but maybe it just took a while then. He was only on it 3 days. Poor fella. It was pretty confusing because while he was very obviously uncomfortable, he was still in good spirits, not withdrawn or anything. And the poor baby kitten at the time kept trying to tackle him and he'd try to hastily get up and move away, never growled or snapped. Few days later he was just fine. Took him a while to feel up to wrestling with the baby again though.

(Thanks Tom, I understand completely. Words are hard to find. I still struggle with it. I can never seem to think of the perfect thing to say so sometimes I don't say anything at all.)

Wow! Where can I get me one of those!!

That's the experience I had too! The vet gave me Onsior after I brought him in for antibiotics after he got beat up. Never noticed a difference then either.