GLUCOSAMINE-FOLLOW UP Q.

Question
 ------------------------ Charlotte B.,
Thank you so much for all the helpful information, I truly appreciate it.  
  I was wondering though, when you mentioned that in your area there is a fund for low income people, etc, where participating Vets, help animals at a reduced fee, Is that fund part of the Humane Society in your area?
   And lastly Charlotte, I thank you for the many wonderful ideas & suggestions that you've provided me, but most importantly; I am persuaded by your email, to do the right thing; and somehow find a way  to get Snowball to a Vet for a Professional exam.

PS   Your dog deserves the best, And I bet she really does know; just how lucky her life has been and is, because of you.





Followup To
Question -
TJANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTION, I REALLY APPRECIAT IT.
 MY DOG IS AN 11 YR OLD, BASICALLY HEALTHY, HAPPY MIX OF POODLE & BICHON FRISE (he's pretty tall), ANYWAY BECAUSE OF HIS TEMPERMENT & PERSONALITY CHANGES (LIKE BITING PEOPLE & GROWLING ALOT), I THINK HE MAY HAVE ARTHRITIS & I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THE BEST PRODUCTS/VITAMINS, GLUCOSAMINE, ETC. THAT WOULD HELP ASSURE ME THAT HE IS NOT IN PAIN & CANNOT JUST TELL ME.
 UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY AT THIS TIME THAT I CAN TAKE HIM TO THE VET, SO ANY OPINIONS OR ADVISE ABOUT NUTRITION & VITAMINS, WILL BE EXTREMELY APPRECIATED.  THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOD BLESS.
         LAVAY
Answer -
Of course it would be much better if you could take him to a vet for a thorough exam, and treatment.
More breeds are having trouble with hip Displasia now. It used to be restricted to larger breeds, but smaller breeds are showing signs of it now.
I have an 11 year old English Setter. she is very stiff, and has more trouble when it is rainy.
she has been on several types of treatment for a few years now, for arthritis and Hip Displasia.
Her doctor is trying her on a new series of meds, and advised us to also give her Glucosamine.
That medication does help a little, and can be safely taken with her other Arthritis meds.
I give her massages. You must learn how to do this, as a dog's bones and muscles are different than humans, and the method of massage is quite different.
I can get her quite a bit of relief with massage, but as she is going downhill further and further, if she doesn't get good results with these mew meds, her doctor is going to start giving her Accupuncture.
Talk to your vet and see if you can work out a payment schedule to take care of her needs.Some vets do this.
In some cases, vets will allow you to work at their clinic, if they need additional help, feeding, walking dogs etc, to help pay for your pet's treatments.
Also, you might trying contacting the Humane Society in your area for help.
In my area, we keep a fund for helping people who are on a limited income,or are in a temporary financial bind, when their pet needs medical help, and the veterinarians who work with us, perform this service at a reduced rate.
Go to this web address, and read about the method of animal massage.You can find out there how to order the tapes. I recommend them highly, and when you can better afford to buy them, they will help you a lot.

www.lindatellington-jones.com

I wish you the best of luck. It is sad to watch out four legged friends suffer. I hope you can aford to take him to a doctor soon.


Answer
Sorry this has taken so long. I have tried to answer this, write my answer, and for some reason, can't get it to send.
My computer is a dinosaur, that may be the problem.LOL
I am glad I could help.
Yes, the Humane sociaty funds this program. We set aside a certain percentage of the funds we raise, and what we get in donations, for this. We realize there are some people who cannot afford the regular veterinary fees, especially after they retire, and have to adjust to a smaller income.
You might also check into insurance. You can get insurance policies for your pets now. the veterinarians can give you the information on the companies.
You probably would not be able to do it for your dog, at his age, but if you get another dog, you might look into that. It can save a lot of money, when they age, and the health problems start coming up.
I know you don't want to think about losing this friend you have had for so long, but unfortunately, we outlive our pets.
It is hard to lose them, and it is a legitimate grief. don't let anyone tell you"It is just a dog"
Losing a lifelong friend, especially one as devoted to us as our dogs are, is hard.
Go to this website and read the things in there.
Especially read "The Rainbow Bridge"
This gives me comfort.
Bookmark that site, because there is a lot of wonderful reading in there.
www.petloss.com
I think this practice that is gaining in popularity, cloning your pet, is rediculous!
You can't clone the personal relationship you had. You can only clone the physical likeness. You can get another just like it, if the physical likeness is the most important factor. There are so many neglected and abandoned animals that need a loving home.
I think the best way I can show appreciation for the love my pet gave me, is to provide a good home for one of it's kind.
If you don't feel like taking a new pet, soon after you lose the one you have, think of fostering. I also work with several rescue groups as well as the Humane Society, and we are always needing foster homes for strays we take in. Foster homes keep the animals, watch them to learn their habits, and/or traits that would restrict the kind of home we place them in.
I suggested this to a lady, when I was answering on Askme.com.
She had lost her second of two German shepherds she had had all their lives, and was not ready to replace her beloved pets.
She did that, fostered a few dogs, and before long, she had taken in two that she has kept, and is working with the rescue group she got them from, on a full time basis. She is in her 70s, and said it has opened up a whole new life for her. We keep in touch by email, and have become good friends.
She is in charge of the adoptions.
She had lost her husband and the first dog, the year before, then lost the second dog, and she was just lost.
I am so happy for the way things have worked out for her.
Please keep in touch, and let me know how things work out for you.
I hope you don't have to face losing your pet for several years yet, but you know, we have to prepare ourselves for this.
Good luck to you and your beloved pet.