Boscoe is my dog.
I took the photo above on Boscoe's eighth birthday, December 16, 2005. I treat Boscoe like my son. He has his own bed, watches TT.V., vacations and has dog friends over for parties and sleep-overs. He also has an e-mail address, gets junk-mail and tele-marketers call him from time to time. Boscoe may also be a winner in this year's Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes, so keep your fingers crossed and wish him luck.
As Boscoe approaches nine years old he is showing his age. This summer on Memorial day he banged his knee as he jumped into my car for a ride. The rest of the weekend Boscoe performed a flawless three-legged-dog impersonation. Tuesday after the long weekend we went to our vet and got a Cortisone shot. All was fine until a few weeks ago.
The summer came and went and a couple of weeks ago Boscoe began his "Peg-Leg Pete" act again. First I thought he was just sore from a walk or too much playing in the yard but after a week of limping around the house we went to see the vet.
This time our vet felt Boscoe was experiencing arthritis and probably needed some x-rays to confirm his diagnoses.
Well today Boscoe got x-rayed.
This is my dogs rear end.
According to this x-ray Boscoe has "bilateral hip dysplasia with severe degenerative joint disease.
Here are Boscoe's rear legs.
The vet says this x-ray shows "severe arthritis in the left hock."
So what does all this mean? It means I hope Boscoe has really won the grand prize in that sweepstakes notice he got because treatment may be expensive. I think we are going to lose some weight, swim more to help keep his joints loose and try some medications.
I have been giving him Rymidyl for the last week but I think we may try something else.
My vet suggested Adequan.
This if from a web-site pushing the drug "...Adequan: A Near-Miracle for Dogs with Arthritis... Is your dog slowing down as he gets older? Does she hesitate before jumping in the car, on the bed, or going up the stairs? Is he dragging himself up from a reclining position with his shoulders instead of springing up with his hindquarters?... The canine drugs known as Rimadyl, Etogesic, Metacam, and Deramaxx. Like all NSAIDs, including the human ones, they have a long list of potential side effects, include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, kidney and liver damage, and even death..."
I don't like those side effect, especially the DEATH one.
The copy continues "...Adequan is an injectable substance known as a "polysulfated glycosaminoglycan," and is very similar to... glucosamine. Adequan has been proven to be preferentially taken up by inflamed joints when injected into the dog's muscles. It soothes and lubricates the joint, naturally reducing inflammation and pain by reducing friction. Even better, instead of just masking pain as NSAIDs do, it actually helps to rebuild cartilage in the damaged joint. It's not just pain control, it's therapy."
Sounds Great!!!!
I am going away for the weekend and I may get a second opinion because this Adequan stuff is expensive, but I think Boscoe and I will begin his "therapy" next week.
Well I've written too much for one entry and I've run out of things to say but I will give Boscoe Dogg updates as they are warranted.
