I could not reply to this thread earlier as I have been waiting to see if there are beneficial effects from a new (to me) treatment for DJD.
In my case its a cat, a tough as old boots cat with chronic kidney disease and probably the start of a liver cancer and to top it off arthritis of the hip joints.
I can only give him 35% normal by weight dose of Metacam and only every 60/72 hours to avoid excessive kidney load. I have given him a Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplement for two years but that product does not improve mobility through anti inflammatory effect, it is merely supposed to protect against further degradation. I tried Opioids but with cats you mostly get a cat that sleeps even longer than is normal and that's not quality of life.
Last November my vet suggested we try a medicine developed for dogs, ARA 3000 Beta developed by a French company. He calculated the by weight dose and every 5 weeks has had an intra muscular injection. After that it will be every 3 months if he lasts out, the product is not contra indicated for kidney patients.
It is highly subjective observing cat behaviour as they hide any signs of weakness for as long as they are able. So after 3 1/2 months I will say I believe there has been improvement based on his behaviour.
Firstly his back legs will never regain the lost muscle due to many factors, secondly at this stage of his DJD it would be a miracle to see him leaping about. He is 17 years old and decreased PCV due to his failing kidneys means he has less energy, some people treat their pets with EPO to counter this but its very expensive.
So with those factors in mind I have observed him closely. Like anyone with creaking limbs if he gets up quickly and moves without stretching I see one leg or the other initially give way slightly. After a stretch he can walk about freely enough.
In November he did not venture out into the courtyard other than to pee and poo and do a fairly limited patrol. Now he makes extensive patrols and territory marking and even through the coldest weather has shown an interest in exploring.
You have to avoid wishful thinking with your pets regarding treatments for DJD but I believe I have witnessed improvements in mobility and less tendency to have poor days.
Cats quickly lose their appetite when suffering chronic pain and I knew on the days before his next dose of Metacam that the effects were tailing off just by his demeanour and appetite or lack of.
The observation of appetite has to be tempered by his other condition of CKD so again my observations are subjective. It goes without saying not to trust what you read about complex subjects on a public forum but if your beast has joint disease ask your vets opinion on the choices and mention this product.
Vets mostly turn to NSAID or in severe cases Opioids but neither address the cause of the inflammation.
Cost me €16 per shot so not cheap to start but later every 3 months cheap enough. I have no connection myself or by friend or family with Lexmoor the company making this product.
Two years ago a neighbour had a beautiful dog euthanised due to very poor mobility, her grandson suggested trying a buggy but she was having none of it. A terrible shame as the dog enjoyed its interactions with the other pets at her house and with humans, only the dicky legs let her down.
The one in the video i supplied looks quite sporty,so when i'm hopefully back up and mobile i'll be able to use it as part of my/our exercise program. That's why i want a large wheeled one with a more stable central wheel,suspension etc,rather than a two front wheels flimsy one.
