Yorkie help

Question
We have a five year old Toy Yorkie who is only 4lbs.  He has never had any issues but now seems to have a constipation problem.  At first we thought it was pain somewhere else prohibiting him from pottying cause he didn't want to climb stairs or anything.  They did xrays and found out that his spine and pelvis never merged right and wanted to put him on pain killer forever.  NOPE.  Anyway we started him on Arnica twice a day for pain but we soon realized that he gets constipated and when he is he won't jump or climb stairs and will spend minutes in the poo position without producing.  I put him on boiled chicken and rice with a little yogurt and oil and if anything it's worse.  WHen he was at the vet before they saw the constipation in the xray and did an enema but there has to be reason..... Any advice.  I'm thinking cod liver and then back to the vet.  

Answer
Hi Laura,

If I'm getting this right, your dog has two problems, constipation and an unnamed condition with his spine/pelvis area.

The rice you fed your dog (with the boiled chicken, yogurt and oil) may have been counter productive. Rice is usually given for diarrhea. Just add a little mineral oil, or a baby carrot or two, or about 1/2 teaspoon of canned pumpkin added to his regular diet will help relieve the constipation.

If your dog eats a dry dog food, you could moisten the food with water, to help prevent constipation. It may also be helpful to feed your dog a small amount of bran. Start with just a little, your dog is so small, it would be easy to over do it. Maybe 1/2 teaspoon of bran mixed into his regular food. The bran has no side effects and may be added indefinitely or as needed.

Arnica though "natural" is not without concerns when used daily and for the long term. It can cause stomach discomfort, including nausea and vomiting. Liver and kidney failure may occur from high doses. There are much safer option for long term pain control. I don't see why you put your foot down at your vet's suggestion for pain relief medication, in lieu of self medicating with something not really meant for chronic pain.

Prescription pain management need not be given daily, it can be used only during the worst episodes of pain. If "forever" pain management is what your dog needs to be comfortable, then I'd want "forever" pain management, if it were my dog.
Do you think your dog is better off on Arnica "forever"?  I don't.

I think that effective pain control will increase your dog's quality of life.

Acupuncture is also very effective at reducing chronic pain, swelling, and inflammation. You can find a veterinary acupuncturist here:

http://www.aava.org/pub/directory_links_public.html
http://www.ivas.org/member_search.cfm

You also might want to consider using a holistic veterinarian. These site have info on finding one:

http://www.theavh.org/referral/index.php
http://www.holisticvetlist.com/
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/vetlist.htm#a

Just as in humans, glucosamine/chondroiton sulfate supplements are effective in dogs for the relief of joint disease and moblity issues. Not all glucosamine supplements are created equal; be sure to use one that has undergone independent testing. Brands to look for are: Cosequin, Arthroflex, Caniflex, and Flexicose. Adequan is an injectable version of these medications which can be more beneficial for some dogs.

Fish oil and Cod liver oil are not the same.
Fish either store fats in their bodies (salmon, mackerel, menhaden, sardines, tuna) or in their livers (cod). Because fish also store Vitamins A & D in their livers, if a supplement contains fish liver oil, it will also contain high concentrations of Vitamins A & D.  Avoid over-supplementing with fish liver oils because excessive amounts of Vitamins A & D are harmful. Instead, supplement with whole body fish oils prevents accidentally overdosing a pet with the fat-soluble Vitamins A & D.

Look for a fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids. They have a number of important anti-inflammatory benefits and has been used with good results for arthritis/joint disease. Brands of omega fatty acids look for are: Nordic Naturals, 3V Capsules, or Derm Caps.

Vitamin E has moderate anti-inflammatory properties, and is best used with an omega fatty acid supplement, as increased levels of oil in the diet can increase the body's need for that vitamin. You should ask your vet for the recommended anti-inflammatory dosage of Vitamin E.

There are a number of other supplements that others have had tremendous luck with, including MSM, SAM-e, and Cetyl Myristoleate. If you try any of these "Nutraceuticals", be sure to use them daily for up to 2-3 months before you can make a fair judgment of their effectiveness. Because these supplements take so long before their effects can be seen, it's best to continue pain relief medication. After about 2 months, you can taper back on the pain meds, to see if your dog is showing signs of improvement.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti