Share your Cartrophen experiences!

tk123

Bailey has had his first course of cartophen injections over the last 4 weeks. I'd love to hear other people's experiences of it - especially when you saw an improvement?

I thought he was miraculously cured the other evening when he got up and seemed fine...but a while later he was hopping again. He definitely has a spring in his step though on walks the last few days. He's wanting to get in the river in the mornings now that it's brighter and yesterday morning he took about 5 flights of zoomies when I told him to stop digging/eating muck lol ..Then last night he got up without holding his leg up at all(!!!!)
The (new) vet has given me a months supply of metacam to start from next week but I think I should wait a little longer as something is definitely happening? Ideally if the cartrophen is working he could have regular top-ups as needed so we're promoting repair rather than just masking the pain.

PS I've been doing the wonky legs thing a good while now so I already know all about supplements, hydro/swimming and the dangers of long term use of NSAIDs (vet said we'd monitor with regular bloods if we do go down that route).... just tell me about your cartrophen experiences!!

3dogs

All 3 of mine have had courses of Cartrophen over the years for various ailments and my middle guy gets a course a couple of times a year ( he is very broken and is on long term NSAID and nerve blocker meds) 
I usually see an improvement between week 2 and 3 with a fairly significant improvement after week 4. 
For my girls it was to treat specific injuries so I didn't see it wear off but I can tell when my boy needs another course. We are at week 2 of his current course and the vet has advised after this course he has a monthly top up dose as he is deteriorating - this is due to his specific condition not the treatment. 
From my research into this there are little side effects to long term use and certainly for my dogs it has been an incredible aid to repair

Springwell

I have two working dogs who are maintained on Cartrophen - for one with elbow and hip dysplasia it has been a reprieve from surgery and given him a new lease of life

VonVix

My four year old boy has arthritis on both his front wrists, I noticed the changes start to happen around the time he got his third injection, and he just improved from there. He essentially went from being a hedgehog to a kangaroo, he obviously felt great because he was loving jumping across from chairs to beds, even jumping on my desk!

It has lasted about 6 months, he's due for another go of them if possible. I can see him starting to feel his legs again, not as enthusiastic about jumping around, quicker to get grouchy with the other dogs. Not as bad as he was before (he had a limp after having a play) but the discomfort is lingering around again.

Shaunoc

i'm thinking after vet suggestion of doing this treatment for 7 year old goldie during vaccinations. his joints are currently ok, but arthritis is inevitable in coming years. i forgot to query the cost at the time.
can anyone share cost for 4 week treatment ballpark? did anyone manage to get it sorted via doggie insurance after?

edit: sorry for thread resurrection, however new one seems waste

cocker5

Yes Allianz pay for sure

My cocker had them done in February.. honestly I noticed no difference at all

What I will say to you is why not start good quality supplements now they will help hugely long term:

Yumove active
Fish oils
Bone broth
Tumeric paste

All daily will help your guy .. if u get the yumove via your bet your pet insurance will pay

They have my guy flying around and he’s 14 this month with arthritis and hip dysplasia - apart from the injections no other medication at all

You should also keep an eye on weight, huge effect on arthritis

Look into hydro they are great for dogs with joint issues (yes pet insurance pay)

cocker5

Sorry cost was €235 for 4 injectionsall administration by my vet .. usually the two middle ones are given by the nurses making it €200 even but I’m
Not keen on the nurses where Cody goes!

Shaunoc

cheers Cocker.
I'm on top of weight and supplements - bar tumeric paste. Read the recipe years ago and never got around to attempting it.
I'll chat to vet again soon about Cartrophen. She is thinking better to start now before he feels the pinch a little further down the road.
may need a dose myself

tk123

Well it was useless for Bailey because he was misdiagnosed :rolleyes:.. we changed vets literally within 1-2 weeks of me starting this thread. The difference in him now is CRAZY - he was in so much pain then. ATM he gets weekly laser, 1 x dasuquin tablet and 1 x spoon of fish oil and we do our own physio to build muscle.. no other potions or medicines. The differences in vets is crazy too - the vet we see now is a pain specialist.