Kelso's demodectic mange came back and the new vet decided to treat with a six week course of oral Ivermectin, the primary ingredient in Heartguard. Instead of the nasty baths in Mitaban, he got to have a daily splash of Ivermectin in his food. Joint pain is listed as a common side effect of Heartguard, even when only administered once a month, so imagine the potential with 45 straight days of it!



The good news is that he seems to have finally beaten the mites, but now he's limping on his back right leg. He went to the vet for his follow-up and the vet seemed totally unconcerned about it. Didn't even offer suggestions for making him more comfortable. However, K-dog is only 16 months old and, being a corgi, I don't want this to carry any lingering ill effects for his joint health. I'm in the process of retooling all the boys' food--we're moving off kibble (they're already on grain-free, though), moving towards all raw, and will be adding some EFAs and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. This is long term.



In the short term, how do I make sure he gets better quickly? It isn't really slowing him down--he still wants to run and play with his brother. He just doesn't put weight on it. I'm concerned that it won't get better if he doesn't take it easy, though. I'm going to try some apple cider vinegar in his dinner tonight--I read that helps with joint inflammation. I've been massaging it for him when he lays next to me on the couch. Is there anything else I could be doing to help the inflammation pass? And what is a normal time frame for this to last.

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My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong

No suggestions for helping sore joints? Really?

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My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong

Green Lipped Mussel Extract is good for joints - one of my Danes was prescribed that but I believe you can purchase it at a herbalist shop.

Ive got one of mine on Yumove Dog & Cat Supplements, Proven To Improve Your Pet ont know if its something you can get there or order on line, Pets at home and other outlets sell it here. Ive put up the link at least you can see whats in it as such and maybe track something down similar stateside otherwise.

Mobile Bones is good to Ive used it in the past, however again dont know if it will be same situation for you re getting it. Again Pets at home is an outlet here too. Dog Health Supplements | Natural Remedies for dogs

Another thing I havent tried that looks good and I may try in future is
www.animalife.co.uk something called vetrofen Pet.

Ive heard Devils Claw is good too which is herbal/Natural perhaps thats something you can check out more on too, and try to source there otherwise?

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Thanks both of you. I'll see what I can dig up. I don't think it's going to last forever, *and* yesterday he was playing in the yard just fine, no limp, although the little devil limped on the way to too the door! But I'd like to see him walking normally again all the time, and I'm terribly distressed the meds did this to him at such a young age. My thinking is, if he's susceptible to joint pain, then we need to pay attention to it before it becomes an issue when he's a little older.

__________________
My babies
Aber, Ragnar, Kelso (the corgi trio), Daisy (our rescue mystery-mix puppy), Ellie, Henry, Gwennie, Jezebel (the kitty quartet), Blake, Chaucer, Molly and Milton (the kittens), and Bingo the African Grey parrot

Over the Bridge:
Pippin: 1/6/08-17/5/11
Freja: 11/8/10-30/10/10
Kirby: 11/8/10-1/11/10

"Praise liberty/The freedom to obey/It's a song that strangles me/Well, don't cross the line" Billie Joe Armstrong