Key Facts

Animal Treated

Dog

Animal Condition

Arthritis

Specialist(s) Required

Veterinary Anaesthesia

Ford

Meet Ford, a 12-year-old Labrador, suffering from terrible pain and stiffness.

Before visiting the Specialist
Ford, a friend for new foster dogs that are rescued from puppy farms, was prescribed meloxicam, gabapentin and tramadol by his referring vet. He was initially referred to an in-house physiotherapy team for further pain management, he was sent to a Pain Clinic.

Ford’s Care
Before Ford visited Karla Borland, a Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, he had started to whine when he tried to lie down, and he was unable to sleep in a comfortable position. He had a hunched posture and needed some assistance to get on his feet in the mornings. After an assessment of Ford’s lifestyle had been completed, his medication was changed to a combination of meloxicam, gabapentin and memantine. Memantine is a NMDA antagonist that is useful for chronic pain. He also received a course of acupuncture.

Ford’s Progress
On his pain medication and ongoing acupuncture, Ford improved significantly. He is now able to lie comfortably, stand without assistance and is keen to go on walks and guide his foster dogs around once again.

Article provided by Karla Borland
Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
www.andersonmoores.com