I have a year old Airedale who began limping sometime ago and was seen by an orthopedic specialist who has diagnosed him with a foot problem. His one toe is splayed out from horsing around and causing the injury. He has him on Rimadyl which helps but doesn’t completely do the job and frankly I don’t like giving him Rimadyl because of it’s possible side effects. I do give him Cosequin and Omega Caps but I was wondering if there is any other type of anti-inflammatory product you might recommend trying? I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. Rimadyl is one of the earlier non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in veterinary medicine. At the very least I would recommend Metacam or Deramax as I have found they are more effective and seem to have less kidney issues.
The two supplements you are offering both are anti-inflammatory and should help slowing concurrent arthritis in the foot from previous injury. Glycoflex III and Arthrisoothe Gold are both comparable to Cosequin and should be more cost effective.
This is a case where acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments may help as the foot can cause secondary issues in the upper joints and back. Prolotherapy may also be an ideal treatment especially in the foot as it stabilizes small ligaments and joints.
Speaking with a holistic/acupuncture veterinarian can give you insight on these other treatments and hopefully answer any questions about those specific modalities. Best of luck.
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA, CVCP
Note: The best directory for a list of licensed veterinarians who practice holistic or integrative medicine can be found on the website of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association ( ). Look for the “Find a Holistic Vet” tab on the left. You can search by state or zip code. www.ahvma.org