As
many as 60,000 Dogs have reportedly been killed by taking NSAIDS. Yet many
other Dogs have no complications from NSAIDS. We experienced serious
complications giving Previcox [an NSAID] to our Golden Pasha 18 months ago. Had
we not become aware right away that she had stopped eating and drinking after
taking the drug, thus suspending the administration of the drug immediately,
Pasha may not still be here today. Our former vet never mentioned the dangers
of giving NSAIDS to our Dog, and even argued with us about the risks of
Rimadyl, of which we were aware. This vet assured us that Previcox was SAFE (I
add: “as long as you don’t take it out of the bottle”). At Posh Dog
Knee Brace, we want to presont the risks that exist in Dogs taking NSAIDS.
NSAIDS are commonly prescribed for Dogs suffering from CCL injuries. At Posh
Dog Knee Brace, we make high quality Dog knee braces for Dogs with knee
injuries, but we also feel compelled to provide information that will protect
Dog from other harms.
As a public service, we are re-publishing this excellent and informative
article from this site: Dogs Naturally Magazine This is a site and publication
we strongly advise Dog parents to read regularly.
ARTICLE:
You’re almost certainly familiar with the names of Non Steroidal
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like Rimadyl, Metacam, Deramaxx and Previcox.
These drugs are frequently prescribed by veterinarians to manage inflammation
and pain, not only for long term disease like arthritis, but also for injuries
and other acute conditions. At some point during your dog’s life, your vet may
recommend NSAIDs. But the vet may not tell you about the risks associated with
these drugs – information you need to make an educated decision about your
dog’s care.
How NSAIDs work NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of
prostaglandins.1
Prostaglandins are made from fatty acids in every cell of the body. There are
many different types of prostaglandins in the body and their main job is to
mediate inflammation. When tissue damage occurs, an enzyme system converts
arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. This conversion is called cyclooxygenase
and there are two types: cox 1 and cox 2.2 NSAIDs are designed to inhibit cox
1, cox 2 or both.
Cox 1 functions of prostaglandins are to:
Cox 2 functions include:
Manufacturers
try to produce NSAIDs that inhibit cox 2 more than cox 1. Carprofen (the active
ingredient in Rimadyl) has been shown to do this in vitro (i.e., not in a live
animal). 1 Aspirin inhibits both. This is why aspirin is said to thin the blood
and can cause stomach ulcers.
This might be okay if you’re trying to prevent blood clots and stroke. This
isn’t so good if your dog is taking aspirin for arthritis and then goes to the
vet for a dental extraction, during which the bleeding can’t be stopped.
What the experts say Dr Colin Burrows, an internal medicine
specialist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, states:
“Aspirin and other NSAIDs frequently cause gastritis or peptic ulcers and
should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. NSAIDs designated for human use,
such as ibuprofen…, should never be used in dogs or cats. These drugs cause
severe, frequently fatal gastric and intestinal ulceration.”
The manufacturers of Metacam explain, “As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory
NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal (gut), renal (kidney), hepatic
(liver) toxicity…Dogs that have experienced adverse reactions from one NSAID
may experience adverse reactions from another NSAID. Serious adverse reactions
associated with this drug class can occur without warning and in rare
situations result in death.”
Kidney specialist Dr Gregory F Grauer warns that “dogs of advanced age, those
with subclinical kidney disease, or on concurrent medications such as
furosemide”(a diuretic) are at an increased risk for kidney damage when an
NSAID is added to their treatment protocol.
Idiosyncratic reactions (meaning the cause is unknown) can occur with any NSAID
use. Some dogs may be more prone to reaction due to genetic predisposition.
The reported incidence of liver disease from carprofen use is only 0.05 percent
of dogs treated. Interestingly, carprofen is primarily metabolized in the
liver. But not all reactions are reported, so that number might be understated.
Regardless of the percentages, a reaction doesn’t feel so rare when it affects
your pet! I’ve seen a distraught pet owner who learns her dog has irreversible
dry eye due to a course of the NSAID etodolac (Etogesic) and the anger of
another whose pet suffers from kidney disease caused by deracoxib (Deramaxx).
And even worse, in most cases, dog owners are not forewarned of these dire
side effects.
What to watch for If your dog is taking NSAIDs, you should monitor
your dog for vomiting, blood in the vomit, black stool, blood in the stool,
loss of appetite, grinding of the teeth, lethargy and, if blood work is
performed, anemia or low protein in the blood due to blood loss through the
gastrointestinal tract.
Benefits versus risks Dr Wesley Roach and Dr Spencer Johnson from
the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia concur that
NSAIDs should be used for the management of osteoarthritis. In addition they
recommend chondroprotective agents such as injectable polysulfated
glycosaminoglycans, oral glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, hyaluron,
opioids-such as butorphanol or Tramadol, and even acupuncture. They emphasize
nutrition and low impact exercise (such as swimming) for weight control.
Disease will progress despite these therapies, they say.
The reason all these therapies are still recommended for maintenance, even with
NSAID use, is because NSAIDs are not effective in improving joint health and,
not surprisingly, they even damage joint health.
Two placebo-controlled masked studies on Metacam using 277 dogs demonstrated
statistically significant improvement in all measured parameters in the first
study and only in two parameters in the second study. All parameters were based
on subjective evaluation of improvement only.
Making arthritis worse? According to Dr Ross Hauser, “one of the most serious
adverse reactions to NSAIDs, that is little appreciated, is that as a class of
compounds they cause the breakdown of articular cartilage, thereby accelerating
osteoarthritis, the very disease for which they are most commonly prescribed!
The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is accelerated by NSAIDs.”
Even the authors of the esteemed Small Animal Surgery textbook assert, “Most
NSAIDs interfere with chondrocyte (cartilage cells) glycosaminoglycan synthesis
and therefore should be used continuously only for a short time.” They suggest
chondroprotective food additives, which may decrease joint inflammation. The
same authors suggest gastroprotective medications alongside NSAIDs.
It’s hard not to conclude that the risks outweigh the benefits of NSAIDs,
especially when there are natural options that can be just as effective.
The body’s ability to heal Sometimes we forget how good the body is
at doing what it’s meant to do. The best approach to medicine is often not to
interfere with the body’s natural processes. The concept of hormesis embraces
this fact and teaches us that a little stress is something that helps the body
to repair and strengthen. Dog licking paws and lick granuloma solutions
at http://www.doglickingpaws.com.
Inflammation is a natural, protective, physiologic mechanism that’s necessary
to stimulate the body’s healing processes. Inflammation is aptly derived from
the Latin word meaning fire. Anyone who has experienced significant
inflammation understands how the redness, swelling and pain of the inflammatory
process feels like the burn of a flame on the skin.
It’s the acute (short lived) pain of inflammation that forces us to stop the
insult to the tissue, which then allows the healing process to begin. If you
touch a hot stove, the burn will only begin to heal once you remove your hand
from the stove. If you touched the stove and didn’t feel any pain, your hand
would suffer considerable burning and damage. But the sensation of pain is a
deeply ingrained trigger within the body to quickly protect it from harm.
The longer term pain of chronic inflammation is more difficult to manage than
just removing your hand from the hot stove. Inflammation becomes chronic
because the cause of the body’s inflammatory response is persistently present.
For example, a sliver or an intestinal foreign body will stimulate inflammatory
cells to attempt to expel the invader until it’s removed.
So pain and inflammation would seem like a good thing for the body. Yet
conventional medicine says we should suppress inflammation – I guess, because
it hurts. Fortunately, there are other options.
Alternatives
to NSAIDs
There are several natural treatment alternatives that have been shown to
relieve discomfort in dogs without the deleterious side effects of NSAIDs.
Zeel* A small double blinded study of dogs with moderate to severe
osteoarthritis showed that dogs receiving the homeopathic blend Zeel® (made by
Heel) for eight weeks had significantly less pain than their placebo peers,
although carprofen was more effective. Homeopathy as a treatment is often seen
as elusive and controversial, but considerably safer than an NSAID. This study
warrants respect and further investigation.
In addition, two homeopathic remedies were found to inhibit leucocyte elastase
activity in an in vitro study. Leucocyte elastase is an enzyme that’s released
during an inflammatory response and damages articular cartilage. Arnica montana
inhibited this enzyme activity by up to 70 percent. Similarly, Rhus
toxicodendron inhibited the leucocyte elastase up to 77 percent. Less cartilage
damage means less pain for your dog. Both of these remedies are contained in
the Zeel complex.
These findings help scientists understand and accept the validity of
homeopathic medicines. The more mainstream our natural treatments become, the
more our animals will benefit.
Traumeel* From the same parent company Heel, comes Traumeel®. Made
popular among humans who find it to be effective, many holistic veterinary
practitioners and rehab specialists use this blend for dogs and cats. Zeel is
most often recommended for osteoarthritic conditions while Traumeel is for soft
tissue injuries. Each comes in tablet or injectable form.
*Note: Heel has exited the US and Canadian markets and Heel Inc. has been
sold to MediNatura Inc. Effective January 1st, 2015, Zeel and Traumeel will be
replaced by MediNatura products T-Relief Arthritis and T-Relief, respectively.
These products will be available in the same dosage forms and sizes as Traumeel
and Zeel.
Corydalis This Chinese herb is a natural anti-inflammatory can
replace or avoid many NSAID prescriptions. It’s especially interesting to note
that corydalis is an analgesic that actually protects the GI tract. In a large
sample of patients with stomach and intestinal ulcers or chronic inflammation
of the stomach lining, corydalis improved healing and symptoms in 76percent of
the patients. A constituent of the herb called THP (tetrahydropalmatine)
reduced nerve pain in 78percent of human patients tested in a 1990 study.
Sedation and anticonvulsant effects are other indications for this herb. The
species used is Corydalis yanhusuo, a native to the northern Chinese province
of Zhejiang.
California Poppy When mild sedation is desirable in addition to
pain management, California poppy comes to the rescue! Clients who prefer to
avoid NSAIDs for post-operative pain have been happy with their pet’s pain
management when California poppy is prescribed. It contains small amounts of
morphine and has analgesic effects that have been demonstrated in studies.
Boswellia is also an effective anti-inflammatory and is often used
by migraine sufferers to manage their pain. Pet owners report their animals
need less or no NSAIDs when they use Standard Process Boswellia Complex twice
daily for their large breed dogs with osteoarthritis.
In a clinical trial with Boswellia serrata (BSB108, product of Bogar AG)
71percent of dogs with degenerative conditions showed improvement. A potential
mechanism for this efficacy is due to the presence of boswellic acids in the
herb, which have been shown to reduce inflammatory cell infiltrates.
Quality and therefore efficacy can vary substantially among herbs and other
natural supplements. This is why I recommend Standard Process Boswellia.
Arnica My experience with Arnica is with the herbal liniment from Buck Mountain
Botanicals. This provided amazing relief for a Labrador Retriever with severe
neurologic pain. When NSAIDs, Tramadol, and gabapentin did nothing, this old
fashioned topical massaged on to the affected area brought immediate and long
lasting relief. While homeopathic preparations of Arnica are extremely safe,
Arnica the herb when taken orally is extremely toxic, so licking must be
prevented! Some active constituents in Arnica are the sesquiterpene lactones.
Sesquiterpenes are a chemical class of constituents present in many herbals and
essential oils.
Copaiba/Wintergreen/Peppermint Don’t underestimate the hot/cold relief you can
give your dog with the essential oils, copaiba, wintergreen and peppermint.
Massage these oils onto the affected area but save one drop of peppermint for
last; peppermint is a potent oil that drives the others in deeper.
Copaiba is extremely high in beta-caryophyllene, a potent anti-inflammatory.
Copaiba is a resin tapped directly from a Brazilian tree and not distilled. It
is generally regarded as safe and may be taken orally or topically for
arthritis. Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate, which is anti-inflammatory
and analgesic when used for conditions such as arthritis, muscle and nerve
pain.10
I use all three of these oils topically for almost all of my canine patients
who have spondylosis, disc disease or osteoarthritis.
You may recognize salicylate or salicylic acid as the chemical constituent in
aspirin. The chemical balance present in herbs and most essential oils is what
helps prevent the side effects that commonly occur in the drug counterpart.
Natural products in the form that nature intended are usually the safest and
most effective approach to controlling chronic inflammatory disorders, just as
they have been historically. In fact, most medical discoveries began with a
study of historical uses of plants as traditional remedies.
The plants begin to get more dangerous when their chemicals are isolated. Noted
herbalist Greg Tilford once told me, “Don’t ever forget, the whole herb is
always greater than the sum of its parts.” Surely this is especially true when
we’re discussing safety. Natural remedies tend to facilitate the body’s innate
ability to change or balance itself, while drugs tend to force the body into
change.
Many natural approaches can be used simultaneously. They can also be used in
conjunction with laser therapy, massage or acupuncture. Most work
synergistically while some would be best alternated, especially the energy
medicines.
All these natural options to pain and inflammation merit further investigation.
Both double blind studies and massive amounts of anecdotal evidence are making
a case for natural solutions. Pet owners have the right to be informed and to
make educated decisions regarding how to best manage their best friend’s care.
References
Posted for anyone who is investigating using a dog knee brace, or dog stifle
brace, as an alternative to TPLO, TTA or other CCL knee surgeries for Dogs.
We
are the only Dog knee brace site who offers advice and tips on
holistic and homeopathic supplements. We believe in natural healing. We use
and recommend the following products. We do not get paid from any of
these companies, who do not even know we recommend their products. We are not
part of any affiliate program. We have included links for your convenience, but
feel free to look into other companies who sell the same products. As with all
the content of this website, it is not to be construed as medical advice in any
form. If you seek medical advice, consult with a veterinarian.
In addition to wearing a Dog Knee Brace for a K9 torn knee ligament, Pasha is
given a daily “cocktail” of high quality supplements
whichsupport healing, accelerate tissue repair, and help alleviate pain and
inflammation in her injured knee. We use a mix of supplements,
including Nupro Silver for Dogs with CCL or ACL Injuries. Nupro Silver is a fabulous, high quality nutritional
complex supplement which contains glucosamine, kelp, shark cartilage, MSM and other
ingredients which can help your Dog recover from a ligament injury along with a
Dog stifle brace, exercise, and conservative management.
You can get Nupro Silver online.
Ever since Pasha suffered a complete rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)
in her left hind leg in 2013, part of her recovery has included a special, yet
simple, daily “bone juice” which we give our 72 lb. Golden. She gets
this once every AM and then the rest of her food throughout the day. (She fully
recovered from her complete rupture over 14 months ago and no longer wears her
Posh Dog Knee Brace).
Wearing a Dog knee brace for a canine CCL injury is just one part of the
holistic approach and solution for a Dog ACL knee injury. Here is our recipe
which we feed our 62 lb. girl daily:
We
buy the Nupro Silver from www.USBones.com. It comes in various
sizes. This outstanding nutritional supplement for joint and connective tissue
health contains glucosamine, sea kelp, shark cartilage and other beneficial
ingredients!
When combining Nupro Silver with Glyco-Flex 3, be sure not to exceed the
ingredients, as there is ingredient redundancy in these products.
The Alaskan wild salmon oil offers a high concentration of Omega-3 essential
fatty acids and in more effective concentrations and higher quality than
traditional fish oil.
Shop around for the spirulina, green lipped mussel, and tumeric to get the best
pricing.
Some credible websites recommend UP TO 500 MG of glucosamine per 25 pounds of
body weight. It may be a good idea to gradually build up to the appropriate
dosage over a few weeks. Please read the entire article, particularly the
section about contraindications. BTW this site has lots of truthful and
outstanding articles about Dog Health – a must read!
We give our Golden baby 4 oz of DECAF green tea in her bone juice, since it is
so beneficial for preventing cancer and overall health, BUT it MUST be
decaf – caffeine can be very dangerous for Dogs! BTW check back soon
for tips on avoiding and treating cancer in Dogs.
Remember that helping a Dog recover from a partial or complete rupture of the
ACL involves more than just a well-built custom Dog knee brace or Dog stifle
brace for a canine knee injury from Posh Dog Knee Brace, it also involves
nutritional supplements and conservative management! Look for our upcoming blog
about this.
Wishing your Dog a long, healthy and fulfilled life! Give your beautiful Dog a
BIG hug from all of us at PoshDogKneeBrace.com!
Update # 1: In addition to giving Pasha DECAF [caffeine
will harm Dogs!] green tea each day as an anti-cancer measure, we’ve also added
a daily capsule of medicinal mushrooms: Reishe, Maitake and
Shiitake mushrooms. Even though Pasha does not have cancer, given her age, we
are introducing herbs and other confirmed, safe, anti-cancer agents to her
daily routine.
We learned about this amazing mushroom mixture, used by Eastern (real) doctors
for many centuries, at AnimalWellnessMagazine.com, a fabulous magazine
that promotes REAL heath, and NOT big-pharma, 100% profit-based
“health” in Dogs! We use this brand of medicinal mushrooms: http://tinyurl.com/mfn7loa
Update # 2: Although she presents with no symptoms of cancer
or malignancies, and as apreventative measure, and after spending
>> hundreds << of hours researching confirmed alternative and
authentic treatments for cancer (many say cures), each day we give Pasha 6
crushed, raw, unpasteurized apricot kernels which we buy from ApricotPower.com These MUST be
unpasteurized seeds, since pasteurization removes most nutrients from any food.
Just search LongLivingPets.com to learn more, or search
“laetrile cures cancer”. Apricot seeds have a very high density of
naturally occurring laetrile.
Update #3: Now That Pasha is 13, she is no longer fond
of mixing a lot of the foregoing supplements in decaf green tea. We now give
her supplements wrapped (hidden) in fresh ground turkey “eggs,” i.e.
Packed into about 2 tsp. of ground turkey. For the supplements in powder form,
like the ground apricot seeds and Nupro Silver, we fill large gelatin
capsules and wrap those with ground turkey. You can buy 500 large gelcaps on
amazon for almost nothing.
(C) Copyright 2015
