Now to finish up what we started in Monday's entry about everyone's age-related (and sometimes injury-related) joint problems...
We're a little bit concerned about Missy at the moment. She seems to be getting weak in the rear again. Nothing sudden, and nothing as traumatic as not being able to get up at all. But she's having more trouble on the stairs and on slick surfaces. If you have been with us for a while, you might recall that Missy went through a number of tests back in April that ruled out Cushing's Disease but didn't really pinpoint anything else. She's scheduled for a vet visit on Saturday, so we'll update after that. We had considered acupuncture or chiropractic for her back in April, but didn't pursue it at that time. Maybe it's time for that approach now. Missy also takes the same glucosamine/chondroitin supplement that the others take; her joints appear to be in fairly good shape for her age.
Although Jake's hip x-rays passed an OFA evaluation with a rating of Good when he was two years old, he was moderately dysplastic by the time he was six years old, with some arthritis in his left hip. He, too, started taking the glucosamine/chondroitin supplement at that time. Aside from the initial four-week "loading" period, and a few periods during the dead of winter, Jake did well in terms of joint comfort and mobility for the rest of his life on that supplement alone. Only during those few periods did he need the additional relief of NSAIDs . He did not require other medication until almost the very end of his life and the steroidal anti-inflammatories needed for his back problems.
