Info needed on cheaper vs of pain relief for dogs than vet supplies – OTC in Qld, Australia or online?

Question

We have an 8 year old Cav King Charles Spaniel who has pain in his shoulder joint.
X-rays at vets confirm he has calcification between the joints around his neck causing sharp stabbing pain.
The vet put him on a course of Previcox which worked brilliantly and explained this may be all he needs BUT if the pain returns he will need to be on meds for the rest of his life (Cavs can live to 12-14 years so that’s 4 - 6 years).

So, rather than pay heaps of $$$$$ for a few tabs at a time via the vet we’re looking for an alternative that we can use on our Cav that won’t harm his liver etc, will ease his pain and won’t kill us financially.

We live in Brisbane, Queensland so obviously stuff only available in the US / UK etc may not work as it could be difficult to import them. Prefer natural if possible and know about glucosamine but please note it is not arthritis but calcification (small bits of bone) that are forming in the space between the bones of his spine.

Many thanks

Answer 1

I would be consulting an orthopedic surgeon to see if he can fix the poor little mite by surgically removing the bone calicification. That must be so painful. I don't think you'll find a natural product that will work on that kind of pain.

Ask your vet about it and if the surgery can be done then you need a referral to a specialist centre.



If nothing can be done surgically, ask your vet if you can buy the medication in bulk. It's much cheaper that way. My old dog is on medication and I buy in bulk from the vet. I asked when I got really p'd off with paying a $20 dispensing fee every time I needed the meds.

Answer 2

Some strange ideas people have here. You dont say how old your dog is, what breed and how long this has been going on. We are left to guess if this is a result of an accident, arthritis, hip problems, or something else. If arthritis or hip problems, then a simple joint supplement is sometimes helpful. You do not need to pay up for dog supplements. For example, Triple Flex at Costco is a perfectly fine joint supplement. Pure sulfur with NO anti caking ingredients, called MSM is also an excellent supplement. Pure is hard to find, but studies have shown it to be most effective without any other ingredients. Baby aspirin can be given in moderation, always with food. Large dogs can take more, but like humans, there is the potential for tummy problems/upsets. Natural remedies include Arnica and Traumeel pills by Heel. Many use these with good success. These can be ordered online at places such as Vitacost and Swansons LIver supplement or not, Rimadyl has the potential for some very serious side effects. I would never give it to my dog. There are too many other good choices out there to risk using this drug. Another person mentioned Metacam (meloxicam). This is a very good drug with fewer side effects than most. I cannot imagine why she got a thumbs down. Its definitely safer than Rimadyl. Tramadol is also frequently prescribed by vets for arthritis, often in conjunction with metacam. You can also opt for Adequan injections which work really well. Make sure your dog has a soft place to lay at all times. Double or triple memory foam. I got the memory foam mattress toppers at walmart for my dog, folded it, and she loves laying on it with a blankie on top. Its only $20. Hot and cold packs, acupuncture, chiropractic and hot/cold laser are other treatments that help. You need to know if this is an older dog, you will not get RID of the problem, but hopefully you can manage it. Ro

Answer 3

get children pain OTC medicine no more than 100 mg