Go see your vet- they are the ones that need to figure out what is going on and the best course of treatment. If Sweetpea is young, then starting on a course of glucosamin/chond may be the option, with some pain relief thrown in until the joint supplements kick in. It take sometimes 6 weeks for the joint supps to start working- they are not instant pain relief. If Sweetpea is in pain, tell your vet, and get some Deramaxx or whatever they recommend. Most dogs will do fine with Deramaxx, but I am sure if you do a search on the internet, you will find plenty of people who have a story to tell, just like every drug and medical procedure on the planet.:roll: I personally see doctors and vets because I am not a medical professional and trust THEIR opinion- if not, why bother?
Drugs aren't always bad, and especially with an older dog, I would never mess around with anything that was not vet approved -I am not a vet, and I am not going to mess around with stuff that I don't get from my vet, period. My animals are treated like my kids, and I don't mess around. If they are in pain, get them to the vet, and if necessary, give them the big guns and let them feel good, especially if they are older and the potential side effects are the lesser evil of just being old and wanting some pain relief. When I am old and in pain, God help the person that tries to diagnose my problems that is not my doctor!
Sorry for the rant- I just have never understood trying every alternative med under the sun before trying tried and true medical treatment- I don't feel qualified to diagnose and treat our children and animals.
And never give dogs ibuprofen or Tylenol! Coated aspirin, like Ecotrin, or baby aspirin only.