If your dog has been prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID's) painkillers or Librela for stiffness and loss of mobility, and you're hoping to reduce the amount of medication given if supplementation proves effective, it's important to bear the following in mind:
1. Any adjustments to your pet's medication must be done in consultation with your vet:
This is important to ensure that the best possible joint care is provided at all times.
2. Don't stop any drugs abruptly:
Sudden withdrawal of anti-inflammatory drugs can cause an unpleasant and sometimes distressing spike in joint stiffness and pain, which should be avoided.
3. Give PEA for 12 weeks first:
It takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks of supplementation before palmitoylethanolamide reaches peak effect (based on current understanding).
It's important therefore, that the dose of medication remains the same during this time.
4. Test the water:
Working with your vet, reduce the dose of medication by around 20%.
Monitor mobility and joint comfort over the next 2 weeks, using the progress card supplied.
5. Make changes gradually:
If there is no slipping back in activity, ease of movement and joint comfort after 2 weeks, reduce the dose of medication again by another 20% - 25% in consultation with your vet.
6. Determine the lowest dose:
Continue reducing the medication every 2 weeks (under veterinary guidance), and only as long as stiffness or joint pain do not increase.
At some point it will become clear whether medication can be discontinued altogether or if a low dose is still required to maintain mobility, along with optimum well-being and quality of life.
NOTE:
If you are not already supplementing with Joints and Joint Support plus Recuperation now would be a good time to start these too, to provide ultimate joint care.
For many dogs this enables medication to be lowered even further and in some cases withdrawn altogether.
If you need any advice on where to go from here, do get in touch via the contact page on this website.