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Originally Posted by ilovejoel  He is pretty stiff when he gets up. It makes me sad because I can tell he wants to play and do lots of stuff but in the end it makes him worse  |
If he is stiff and not playing, the old guy is likely in pain, therefore too inactive and overweight - all bad for him and for his arthritic joints. I'd ask the vet about starting him on the glucosamine chondroitin and even Rimadyl. They can often help stop a lot of the inflammation, reduce swelling and stiffness and increase a dog's activity level. The covering of the end of the bones can inflame, swell and hurt and cause fluid to rush to the area to protect it, causing more swelling, stiffness and pain. Bone spurs can even develop from it, causing more inactivity and pain. The chemicals and other body processes from inflammation and disease process can eventually start to destroy the cartilage and underlying bone. Arthritis can be very destructive and painful. An anti-inflammatory medication can really help interrupt that inflammation and disease process as long as the dog is on the NSAID and he feels better, becomes more active, which in turn often gives better circulation and nutrition to the joints and he loses some weight. The less weight he carries, the less arthritic pain and accompanying joint destruction takes place.
Perhaps he lays in the cold because he is hurting really badly as I use ice when my hip or back hurt a lot, as well as his being hot-natured. I would encourage him to lie down on warm surfaces to help increase circulation and promote reduced swelling as the blood flow takes up the extra fluid and follow some of those steps in the i Love Dogs arthritis article for him. Maybe one of those cooling collars around his neck with the little ice pack can keep him cooler as he soothes his stiff parts on a warm surface. I hope Roscoe feels better soon and can get a little more active and leaner with less pain and stiffness on a good treatment regimen.
