You have to be careful giving pets any meds. You might ask at a pet shop such as Petsmart or even your drug store. Some meds are very toxic to dogs and cats. Out Husky used to get a shot once a month from our vet for arthritis which is the same as some race horses get. Yes it is pricy, but did last almost a month at a time. Some vets know about it and others don't.

The link below lists some options. I hope you find something that helps.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Dog arthritis- Placerville Veterinary Clinic

My sister gave her blue heeler dog baby aspirin for many years. She gave the dog one baby aspirin a day. This helped her dog but you have to remember the relief was not immediate. It was more of a preventative measure.

Perhaps you are thinking of glucosamine?
I have no idea what the dosage for a dog would be.
You also run the risk of irritating your dog's stomach.
lori

My friend's lab had trouble and she gave him glucosamine. Here's a link re dogs & glucosamine that might be interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dogs + Glucosamine

You dog may have a blown ACL. No medication will help that. He MUST see a vet.

I know you say you can't afford to take him to a vet but you just have to go ahead and do it. It is unfair to deny medical treatment to a hurting animal. Yes you may have to go into debt but that's the responsibility we take on when we have pets. It took us over 5 years to pay off a vet bill we incurred when DH was out of work (for 15 months!) and one of ours needed surgery.

You can give him some relief from the pain temporarily by giving him one adult aspirin every twelve hours. Give it with food and get a buffered version. PLAIN Aspirin only. TYLENOL is NOT for dogs.

Good luck. Healing thoughts for the poor guy. See a vet. He's hurting and you can't fix it at home.

What is a blown ACL? Our lab had arthritis when she got older too and we gave her an adult enteric coated aspirin each morning when she seemed stiff--she'd get that way off and on, sometimes obviously very painful.

Later on the vet prescribed something we had to get at a special vet pharmacy--$50 for months supply back then. Sorry I don't remember what it was. Came in little blocks vac packed together, and liver flavored. It didn't seem to help much, made her sick, and stained my carpet where she upchucked it. We went back to enteric coated aspirin and brought the unused blocks to the vet for anyone else who might need them.

I don't agree with giving animals human medicine unless a vet advises to do so. They keep up with reports on new findings where perhaps a serious result if the medicine is used.
I don't have the education of a vet and therefore do not diagnose my pets. Too many illnesses and ailments have similar symptoms.
I would ask you to take him to the vet for an exam.
Lynn

Breenthumb I've posted a link. This is a very common injury in older active larger breed dogs like Labs etc.

I don't want to scare anyone but one of the first signs of some pretty nasty deadly tumors mimic those of arthritis. So it can't be stressed enough that any dog exhibiting lameness should be evaluated properly by a vet. Hind quarter weakness can mean anything from a simple ache from over-exertion that day or to a dog bleeding out internally.

From what the OP posted it certainly sounds like it is just a bad knee. However it is very painful for the dog and dogs are stoic critters to begin with. It needs to be seen by a vet. Period.

Here is a link that might be useful: ACL Injury

Whatever the outcome...I'm right there with you and pray for some relief for your furbaby...

Wildchild, thank you for that link. I'd never heard of it before but can see that it would be very painful and need a vet.

Our vet was the one who told me to use enteric aspirin. When it was no longer enough--years later-- he prescribed other meds.

Loves2sew, hope your DD's Golden finds some relief. I feel that way myself some days.

I agree with those who recommend taking him to a vet. You must make proper veterinary care a priority for you pet.

I, too, beg that you please find a way to get him to the vet. You can't deny him treatment when he's in pain. Taking care of a sick animal is a priority and comes before many other expenses in my book. And you really don't want to give him human meds without checking with someone who knows about animal health. Some meds (and other things--like chocolate, of course) that are safe for humans, are deadly for pets.

I agree he must be taken to a vet. I do animal rescue and we have low cost clinics. Most states have similiar clinics where vet care is less expensive. Contact your local humane society.
If you can't afford vet care then he should be given up to a shelter that can re home him. I'm sure that sounds heartless to you, but denying him care is cruel.
Donna

Sorry to read that your dog is hurting. I bet he is your best friend- your kid's best buddy- a wonderful friend that watches tv with you every nite- warns you if somebody is outside.
I must agree with the above- you brought the dog home- it is your responsibility to take proper care of him- regardless.
I bet you have cable tv- smoke maybe- probably drink a few beers a week- you obviously have computer service. Any/all of these are not necessary- you don't need them, but you want them- well, you wanted a dog- now take care of it.
I am sorry to be so blunt- but you have a responsibility- if you really want to, you will. If not, give the dog to a rescue who will take care of him.

Our rottweiler had a blown ACL and needed surgery. He has made a complete recovery and you'd never even know that he had hurt it. Our other rotty is 10 years old now and has arthritis in his hind legs. The vet talked us into using Dasuquin, a Glucosamine Chondroitin supplement that's only available from your veterinarian. It was $80 for 150 pills. When it's gone we won't use it again. None of us has seen any improvement and I think his price was outrageous.

I've also tried Glucosamine Chondroitin for my knees. I have advanced osterarthritis and will have my knees replaced at some point. Most of the studies for humans suggest that the supplement helps in about 50% of the cases. But it seldom helps if you already have advanced bone damage- which is where I'm at. My medicine was significantly cheaper at the supermarket than what my vet charged me - and it didn't help me either.

The only way you'll really know what's wrong with your pet is to take him to the vet.

Mcmann you have good instincts. Here a link to what Quackwatch has to say on the matter.

Did your Rottie have TPLO surgery? We had an 8 1/2 old Lab that had it and he was good as new also. The funny thing is the vet who did the surgery suggested I take him to water therapy. Unfortunately the nearest facility was over a mountainous road about 40 minute away.

Now mind you after TPLO there is a 8 week period of absolutely NO activity but I was expected to haul a 90 pound dog into my truck and over the mountains daily for therapy for a couple of weeks. LOL I didn't think it was such a great idea so we didn't. Actually Max had to have a second surgery because he got too bouncy outside the vet's office on his first follow-up and popped a couple of screws!

Having a very active Lab and a hyper bouncy Rottie now I expect to have to go through it again at some point. Hope not but I tell DH we should have a large athletic dog surgery fund.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glucosamine Chondroitin

I don't know if this woill help your rotti- when my last rott was about 12 years, she could no longer get into the truck- I was given 'Glyco-Flex II' from the vet- it is about $40 for 120 pills- it made all the difference in the world! Gave her 3 more years as a comfortable, happy rott. If you can't find it at that price, let me know- that is if you would like to try it. It took about 3 weeks-to a month for her to really be comfortable, if I remember right.

I gave mine a small amount of Benadryl to keep her from noticing any pain. Did take her to the vet, and was told it was an ACL problem. A few days later she was fine though.

As for everyone jumping on this person's back about "responsibility of a pet owner", odds are she knows that.

"If you can't afford vet care then he should be given up to a shelter that can re home him. I'm sure that sounds heartless to you, but denying him care is cruel."

No need to be rude and insinuate that she's being cruel to her pet.

Cindy