my dog blue

Question
my dog blue is 12 year old lab/rott mix and has joint pain in his hip and his eyes stay matted and crusty during most of the day what can i do for him ? thanks .

Answer
Hi Chris,

It sounds as though your first course of action should be a trip to your vet.

Dog's eyes may discharge for several reasons. Tearing may be from an irritant in the area, such as dust. Allergies, viral diseases, and problems with tear drainage can cause runny eyes. Thick, colored discharge can be from bacteria, or viruses that unable a dog to make enough tears. The bottom line is that you should have your dog's eyes examined by your vet to determine the specific cause and treatment.
Until you can get in to see your vet, gently clean your dog's eyes daily with a clean wash cloth, and warm water.

At 12 years old, it's a reasonable guess that your dog may have a little arthritis, or hip dysplasia causing him pain.

When an older dog like yours is showing the signs of pain associated with arthritis, or hip dysplasia it is often possible to help them dramatically through medication and simple steps like providing a warm bed or warm spot to rest during the day. A firm, orthopedic foam bed will helps many dogs with arthritis and hip dysplasia. Beds with dome-shaped, orthopedic foam distribute weight evenly and reduce pressure on joints. They are also much easier for the dog to get out of. Place the bed in a warm spot away from drafts.

Larger breed dogs like yours can benefit from having their food and water bowls elevated off the floor. Elevated feeders make eating and drinking more comfortable for arthritic pets, particularly if there is stiffness in the neck or back.

Steps should be taken to ensure that your dog is not in pain. Daily moderate exercise can be very helpful, and weight loss can have dramatic effects on the amount of discomfort a dog experiences.

Working with your vet to come to the best solution for your dog and your situation will enable you and your dog to enjoy life to its fullest, despite the presence of hip dysplasia or arthritis. Ask your vet to suggest the kind and amount of exercise that would be best for your dog, the wrong type of exercise can cause harm.

There are new medications, such as Rimadyl and Etogesic that can relieve your dog's pain and restore mobility.
There are also some diet supplements you can use in conjunction with medication.

Using anti-oxidants, such as Vitamin E (up to 2000U/day) and marine fish oils, such as 3V Capsules (a brand to look for) helps some dogs with chronic inflammatory disorders. Glucosamine (500mg/per 25lbs of body weight each day) and
Chondroitin (400mg/per 25lbs body weight each day) are widely used for chronic anti-inflammatory effects and there are now some studies that do support their use. These supplements have to be given daily, for at least a month before you can expect to see any improvement, and are not a substitute for pain control. If you were to stop the supplements the degeneration would begin again.

I hope that helps!

Best of luck,
Patti