Family vet day....

Both jess and tyson.....chilli, con and I..., madness!

Very funny, con had to keep tyson and jess away as if chilli cried ( they all got yrly shots) tyson would go off. Its his kitten! Chillis great... Tysons healthy as. Jess has a tumour on her toes. Shell loose 2 toes if they remove it. Shes 13. The vet agreed... leave her be, too old for surgery and its weight bearing toes. She may never walk again if they op. I was worried about anesthetic at her age. The vet said, realistically, at her age... do nothing bar anti inflamm, she doesnt have 5yrs and surgery is not going to help her. She'll just live around it and surgery will either shorten or end her being able to ever bear weight again on that foot. But..,, shes 13! The vet said.,, she's a big dog! Not many her size, breed make 11 so..,,, she had her annual shot and chartrophen and histamil so.... day by day but shes doing well.

Just a note to make everyone aware..,,

Cartrophen has been brilliant for her very bad arthritis in one leg in particular, however..., she would pant so hard for hrs after the shot till the next morn. It was extreme, far worse than an overheated dog.  The vet rang the lab that makes it here. They had never heard of a reaction to cartrophen unless the dog had a reaction to c5. Jess never had a prob with c5 but did with cartrophen. It was a first for our vet and the lab.  They now give her hystamil 10 mins before cartrophen and it completely stops her reaction to it yet still gives her the benifit.

Sorry for the book but...

I wanted everyone to know incase your baby has cartrophen and reacts to it. Its a great saviour for arthritis, but if theres a reaction in the first 24 hrs. A antihistamine stops it.

That's very interesting Tracy (about the cartrophen) i hadn't heard of that.

I've heard the name cartrophen, but I didn't know what it did - is it a sort of anti-inflam? Or does it act directly in the joints in some way?

Re: the tumour. I think you've made the right decision, anaesthetic at her age is dangerous,and if it isn't bothering her then leave well alone!

It does bother her. Im forever telling her tostop licking but ialso have a bitter spray to deter her. I sprayed it on ny hand, licked it... arghhhhh. Its awful! The vet said some dogs dont mind it but. ?... arghhhh! I had to have a teaspoon of vegiemite to kill it in my mouth. Ewhhhhh...

It wont go away but shes a great vet. Not looking to make money but doing the best for her in her senior yrs. Shes 91 in human yrs now.....

Sounds like an eventful day at the vets. Thanks for the info on catrophen. I hope Jessie's toes don't bother her too much, I'd have made the same decision in your shoes.

Please be aware....


While cartrophen is a great relief for arthritis.  It is the canine equivalent of pentosan for horses. Exactly the same active ingredient.  My rottie (boris) had pentosan and it enlarged his vital organs till it took his life.  I was very scared when they suggested cartrophen for jess yet she has done very well on it. They suggest a shot every week for 3 wks then one shot every mth. Out of fear, I only got her a shot when I saw her arthritis affecting her. She only has 2 shots in summer and maybe 3 in colder months when her arthritis is bad. I wouldnt use it on a young dog and this may sound bad but....

Vets dont tell you the bad side effects that can come from using it. But... for an old dog the benifits certainly outway the disadvantages when you know your on borrowed time.

All I can say is.... research, research, research..... any drug before you use it.

It's funny, all my past dogs have hated the bitter sprays (they really are disgusting!), but they don't bother Dempsey much!

Poor Jess, she's going through it a bit isn't she? But she has a lovely owner who'll make sure she's comfortable so it isn't all bad!