mix breed suffering w/pain in leg

Question
hello and thank you for being available to those of us who are suffering WiTH our beloved pets and need answers;)
we have a mixed breed-1/2 lab, 1/4 golden retriever, 1/4 chow- female, 10 yrs. old who is suffering from what I believe to be arthritis on her left side. At this time it is her front leg that seems to be the problem as she will not bear any weight on it and is doing very little walking around the house. HOWEVER...when the clock strikes 10pm and time for her walk she becomes a 6 mo. old puppy again for the next 20 minutes.  Here's the catchy part: She is on the NZYMES program and has been for a year now for a yeast infection which manifests itself thru her left ear.  I am uncertain of what to give her as I don't want it to interfere with the yeast problem. She REALLY needs something for pain as well as a supplement to strengthen the bone and tissue in these areas. I emailed Biopet (the makers of NZYMES) but couldn't get anything from them except to keep her on the program and be sure to bathe her 2x a week (???) - which is impossible considering that she is in pain and I cannot comfortably get her into the tub as she is a 70 lb. dog. (they suggested I put a muzzle on her etc but she is NOT an agressive dog! I just don't want to subject her to any MORE pain and I can't see how 2 baths a wk is going to help her pain etc!)
Do you have ANY suggestions for a supplement program? I have researched the web and came across SYN-FLEX and felt that it might be what I'm looking for.
Your help is so appreciated. I am legally blind and this precious little lady is my 24/7 companion and she has been my world for 10 yrs. now;)
Thank you,
Dimple Johnson and Genji

Answer
Hi there,

I agree, I don't see how bathing your dog, as the people from Nzymes suggested, would help your dog's arthritis problem. Perhaps they misunderstood your question.

The problem with using neuroceuticals and diet supplements to help your dog's arthritis, is that these substances don't work for every dog, and they have to be given daily for at least a month before effects (if any) will be seen.

Synflex, Glycoflex, Drs. Foster and Smith's Joint Care, Cosequin (amongst others) are all Glucosamine Chondroitin supplements.
Not all glucosamine and chondroitin products are created equal. The difference in various products lies in the dosing, carriers, vitamins, minerals, and purity of the ingredients. Products that contain human grade glucosamine and chondroitin are much more likely to be of high quality and in a purer form. In addition to ingredients, the concentration of actual glucosamine and chondroitin vary from product to product. Products designed for dogs often have ascorbic acid or manganese to help aid in the uptake of glucosamine in the dog. Canine products may be flavored or fortified with other minerals. The most expensive product is not always the best. Compare the ingredients between products to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Get the correct dose recommendation from your vet.
Glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) and glucosamine sulfate both work equally well in dogs.

Other supplements such as multivitamins and Omega fatty acids are often given to animals on glucosamine supplements without any problems. It is always best to check with your veterinarian before putting your pet on any medication or supplement. This information should be a part of your pet's medical record.

You should also know that these supplements can slow the progression of the disease, not stop it. Depending on how badly your dog is already effected, can determine how helpful supplements can be. They're best started before symptoms get bad.

If however your dog has hip or elbow dysplasia, and not arthritis you should know that there is no indication that these products slow the progression of the disease, and it does not prevent the development of hip dysplasia. If your dog hasn't yet been diagnosed by your vet, you should have your dog examined, so you'll know exactly what you're dealing with.

Adequan is something else you may want to consider. It's an injectable form of glucosamine, used for the treatment of arthritis in dogs that has been used very successfully.

Acupuncture is another treatment that offers a lot of relief to arthritic dogs. You can locate a veterinary acupuncturist here:

http://www.aava.org/php/aava_blog/aava-directory/
http://www.ivas.org/member_search.cfm

Considering your dog's age, maintaining mobility and quality of life is very important. Your dog would get relief from pain and inflammation if she would receive buffered aspirin, or a prescription medication such Rimadyl, as none of the supplements you are considering relieve pain. Because of the supplements however, after that first month when the Glucosamine has reached it's therapeutic levels, your dog might not need as much pain medication. You might only need pain medication at that point on an "as needed basis", not daily. There's no reason for your dog to have to live in pain. Pain medication should not impact on your dog's recurring ear infection. (By the way, clipping the hair around that ear will let air get in there, and help prevent yeast infections.)

You should talk to your vet regarding the proper dose of buffered aspirin, or get a prescription for another pain medication.

Best of luck,
Patti