Hip
dysplasia, Joint and Ligament Problems
I truly believe that these problems can be prevented in the first place by
breeders feeding a natural diet and supplementing with large doses of Ester-C
but many breeders don’t know this and even if they do most don’t bother.
It is heart breaking to find out that your dog has HD (hip dysplasia) and to see
them in any pain. Unfortunately it can never be reversed (unless you let your
dog go through a total hip replacement) but it can be eased and if you catch it
early enough then you can prevent any arthritis setting in, therefore giving the
dog a more normal pain free life.
Remedies for HD:
Firstly limit the exercise, some people recommend weight pulling but in my
personal opinion this would be very bad for a dog with ligament and HD problems,
it puts too much strain on them.
Swimming is excellent for dogs that have just had surgery on the legs or for
dogs that have HD.
Make sure they have a good place to sleep/lie to cushion the bones and in the
winter don’t leave them outside for long periods. If they are kennelled then try
to get heated kennels. Basically keep them warm.
Magnetic collars seem to have rave reviews so I purchased one for Bubba but I
personally didn’t see any difference in him but when I used a magnet on my sore
arm it worked. Different things work for different dogs, you just have to find
the right one.
Diet - Dogs with HD sometimes improve when their diet is switched to
raw food.
Ester-C – This is a buffered form of vitamin C which dogs produce
themselves anyway but some dogs do not produce enough. Ester-C has a very low
acid content and the dogs can never overdose on it, they ‘pee’ out what the body
doesn’t absorb. It builds collagen around the ligaments and joints and must be
given in high doses (contact me with the weight of your dog and I will work out
the dose for you.) The cheapest place I have found so far for the Ester-C is
www.zipvit.co.uk we just crush them with a pestle and mortar and add it to
their food. The recommended maintenance dose for Ester-C is 2000mg (2 - 500mg
tablets twice a day.)
Vitamin E – To help the body absorb the Ester-C better. Dose: One a day 200ui – 400ui.
MSM -
Shortened for Methylsulfonylmethane. In my opinion is a life saver for people
and pets with arthritis. You read all about it at
www.a1msm.co.uk you can also email or call the owner
of the site - Mike, whom is VERY helpful.
Glucosamine – I have been doing a little bit of research recently
as regards to the pill form of Glucosamine. It seems that the liquid form is
much better. Therefore I now recommend Synflex
www.synflexforpets.co.uk Synflex
contains Glucosamine and many other ingredients that help with joints like: Boswellin, Yucca, Manganese, Bromelain, White Willow Bark, Omega 3 & 6, Vitamins
A, C & E etc, etc.
If you decide to give the Synflex instead of the tablet form of
Glucosamine then cut out the vitamin E capsule but carry on with the Ester-C.
Hyaluronic Acid –
This is another substance that the body makes itself but once again sometimes
the body doesn’t produce enough. They have already been using it the hospitals
for years, mainly for people with osteoarthritis in their knees and in vets for
pets with HD but what they do is inject it straight into the affected area which
is expensive and painful. Hyaluronic Acid could never be taken orally as the
stomach acid destroyed most of it but now scientists have found a way to
administer it orally (which is great!).
You can read all about it and buy the human form from:
www.easysource.com
it takes about a week to arrive as it’s from the states.
The Hyaluronic Acid for pets is cheaper and is called Hyaflex, you can read
about it and but it from:
www.hyaflex.com
One bottle lasts a month and you are meant to see visible results within a
maximum of four weeks.
Here is a little info about it, copied from the Hyaflex website:
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, (HA) exists naturally in all living organisms in the body, it
is found in greatest concentrations in the synovial fluid of joints for
lubrication, the vitreous humor (fluid) of the eye, and most abundantly in the
skin.
HA plays an important role in tissue hydration, lubrication and cellular
function, and is able to hold more water than any other natural substance. Its
unmatched hydrating properties result in increased smoothness, softening and
decreased wrinkles.
HA is a special mucopolysacharide that is the normal lubricant in small animals'
joints. When present in a joint, even a joint with minimal or no cartilage, it
can provide a cushion effect. As your pet’s body ages, it produces less and less
HA. The joints may become stiff; the skin dry and wrinkled.
Hyaluronic acid replacement, referred to as viscosupplementation, is done by
injecting HA directly into the affected joints. Although successful, it is very
expensive, and yet only effective in the areas injected. Now, the high molecular
weight HA found in HyaFlex™, a convenient oral solution, presents an easier and
far more affordable way to replace the HA that your pet has lost. It also
provides benefits to their entire body! Read our testimonials to see for
yourself. Pets are experiencing results noticeable in a short period of time,
plus a variety of beneficial effects --- from softer coat, to clearer and
healthy eyes, even anti-aging properties.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) was first used commercially in 1942 when Endre Balazs
applied for a patent to use it as a substitute for egg white in bakery products.
He went on to become the leading expert on HA, and made the majority of
discoveries concerning HA during the next 50 years.
So basically if your dog has any joint/movement problems then I would first try them
on:
1. A natural diet.
2. High doses of Ester-C (contact me for the dose)
3. MSM
for the first 6
weeks to see if the dogs improves, if not then I would add the Synflex too, then
the Hyaflex last of all. I'm almost certain though that the dog would greatly
benefit from just a natural diet, Ester C and MSM without the other two
products.
Please note that these are the products/food that I have found to benefit MY dogs and should no way deter you from doing your own research or going to your vets.
Emma Siggers
www.ripley-wrinkles.com
American Bulldog / American Bulldogs
British / English Bulldog
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