Maggie’s Nystagmus And Osteoarthritis
Happy Wednesday, everyone! On Monday, we took Maggie to the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center for our surgeon to evaluate her ankle. Before leaving for Columbus, Maggie had a transient episode of Nystagmus. Nystagmus in dogs is an involuntary, rhythmic, and uncontrolled movement of the eyes, often flickering side-to-side, up-and-down, or in circles. It is not a disease itself, but a symptom of underlying vestibular or neurological issues, such as inner ear infections, idiopathic vestibular syndrome, or toxicity. Upon presentation, Maggie’s neurologic examination was within normal limits. Upon further evaluation of her ears, bilateral ear infections were found, which may have contributed to her dizzy spell. She was examined for her ankle pain, and I can happily report she does not have an ACL tear but does have Osteoarthiritis.
I am listing the following medications that she is currently on for her ears and her ankle. If you are experiencing any of these issues with your pet, I hope this helps. Maggie is doing much better, and her ears are clearing up. She showed no signs of ear pain, but she had a bath the night before her appointment, and we think some water may have entered her ear canal. She is still favoring her leg but putting weight on it. We will need to monitor this, but it does not require surgery at this time. I recently took new photos of her, but they are all of her resting or lying down because we needed to rest her leg.
Maggie will turn 9 in June, and as she gets older, we are finding more health problems with her. I’d like to keep you updated as we go. We see Dr. Dyce regularly and our local Vet, Dr. Pensenstadler, for evaluation, medicine changes, blood work, for bilateral adrenal tumors, high blood pressure, ACL tears, and arthritis. Her spirits are up, which is great. She is slowing down a bit, but still wants to run and play fetch. Eating, drinking, and bathroom are all normal, and she is taking her medicine well. The notes below were provided directly by the team at OSU. A follow-up vet appointment is scheduled for Maggie on March 30, 2026.
Ear Infection: Medicine and Instructions
*TrizULTRA + Keto Ear Cleaner: This medicated ear cleaner helps remove debris and soothe irritation while targeting yeast and bacteria. It also helps break down biofilm, the protective layer that strong bacteria form, allowing ear medications to penetrate more effectively and work better.
*Clean ears once a week.
*Moisten a cotton ball with the solution until fully saturated.
*Place a cotton ball into the ear canal and gently massage the base of the ear for 15-30 seconds.
*Remove the corona ball and allow the pet to shake its head.
*Wipe away any solution or debris with a dry cotton ball.
*Repeat for the other ear.
*Do not use Q-tips.
*Clean the ears thoroughly first, then wait 5 minutes for the ear canals to dry before instilling the prescribed ear medication.
*Enrofloxacin- Dexamethasone SP Compounded Otic Solution: Instill 0.7 ml solution into both ears twice daily for 3 days.
*Then instill 0.7ml solution into both ears once a day for 4 weeks.
*Compounded drug product: This is a medicated ear drop that contains an antibiotic (enrofloxacin) to treat the Pseudomonas bacterial infection and a steroid (dexamethasone) to reduce inflammation, redness, pain, and swelling within the ear
canal.
How to medicate ears: https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/vmc-pharmacy-ear-drops-digital.pdf
Osteoarthritis Management
Pain Meds for her Ankle: Medicine and Instructions
1) Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for managing osteoarthritis. Being overweight puts unneeded stress on the joints that can worsen the pain and lameness. Today, Maggie weighed 30.7 kg (about 67.6819 lbs) and had a body condition score of 6/ 9 (with 4-5 / 9 being ideal). Maggie is currently at an ideal weight. A dog with ideal body condition has a visible waist when viewed from above, an abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, and ribs that are easily felt with gentle petting.
2) Activity Modification
We would like Maggie to remain active, as this helps keep the joints healthy. Dogs with arthritis are typically more comfortable doing low-impact activities such as leash walking and swimming. Maggie may still participate in other activities, but she is likely to be more sore after high-impact activities.
3) Pain Management
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs): These can help alleviate discomfort associated with joint inflammation. These are aspirin-like medications and examples include firocoxib (Previcox), carprofen (Rimadyl), deracoxib (Deramaxx), meloxicam (Metacam), and etodalac (Etogesic). This is by no means an exhaustive list of available anti-inflammatory medications. All of these drugs can cause gastrointestinal-related side effects in some dogs. If you notice any vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or inappetence while Maggie is taking these products, discontinue the medication and contact your veterinarian. In addition, if Maggie is likely to be taking these medications long-term, periodic blood testing (e.g., every 4-6 months) is recommended. In general, use the lowest dose and frequency of these medications that provide a positive effect.
Because of Maggie’s persistently elevated liver enzymes (ALP), we recommended that Maggie discontinue carprofen and switch to an alternative NSAID (meloxicam) after undergoing a washout period. We recommended trialling meloxicam for an additional month and monitoring her progress. Maggie should have her bloodwork rechecked in 4-6 weeks to confirm she is tolerating meloxicam and to monitor liver values.
4) Joint Supplementation
Long-term use of joint supplements, such as glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), is recommended to promote optimal joint health and minimize the progression of osteoarthritis. We recommend giving Maggie’s maximum daily dose of EPA + DHA (ingredients in fish oil) is approximately 4,000 mg fish oil per day. Some dogs cannot tolerate their maximum dose and develop diarrhea, so we recommend starting at half the dose ~2,000 mg and building up from there if possible. Adequan injections may also aid in joint health.
If oral medical management and other categories of medical management do not keep Maggie comfortable, joint injections may be another option to increase comfort, such as hyaluronic acid, steroids, and platelet-rich plasma. Additional joint
resurfacing surgeries and joint replacement surgeries are also available. If Maggie’s mobility declines or remains stable over the next month while trialling meloxicam, a course of adequan injections (biweekly injections for a total of 4 weeks) may be considered and can be performed with your primary care veterinarian. Medications Maggie should undergo a 3-day washout period to switch her from Carprofen (Rimadyl) to Meloxicam another Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medication.
Meloxicam 1.5 mg/mL Oral Suspension:
*Give 2 ml by mouth every 24 hours (once a day) for 2 weeks and then once daily as needed for pain management. Give with food. Shake well before using.
*This medication reduces pain and inflammation. Potential side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, dark/tarry stool, or lethargy. If any of these occur, discontinue the medication and contact a veterinarian. Do not administer with any other NSAIDs (carprofen, galliprant, previcox) or steroids (prednisone). Start this medication on Friday 3/6/26
I’m Bobbi Jo, a lab-lover who took my passion for animals and dogs and turned it into something bigger. When I adopted Jake and Maggie, my love for them became the driving force behind Two Adorable Labs, and my blog was born. My hope is to not only share them with the world, but to help educate others on the importance of animal health and well-being.
Two Adorable Labs has become a collection of all that I love. I’ll send one post each week on things that bring me joy on animal health, home decor, and food recipes for humans and our furry friends. I hope you enjoy these posts and much as I do creating them!
I love hearing from all of you and do my best to respond to each and every one of you. I always enjoy your comments, feedback, and suggestions so keep them coming! If I’ve posted a recipe (for our human and our furry friends) and you try it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @twoadorablelabs and use #twoadorablelabs.
If you do try and love my recipes, I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating. I read every single one and respond to them. It also lets Google know that the website contains quality content. The more comments and 5-star ratings, the more Google will show my blog in search results! Thank you so much!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jake and Maggie are now proud Ambassadors for Ava’s Pet Palace.
Log on to avaspetpalace.com/twoadorablelabs for 20% off your order!
Love, Jake and Maggie
You Might Also Like
What Is the “777” Rule For Dogs?
Happy Wednesday, everyone! What is the "777" rule for dogs? The 777 Rule for Dogs is a simple guideline that helps adopters understand what to expect when bringing a new dog home—especially from a shelter or rescue. It reminds you that adjustment takes time and...
What Are The Health Hazards Of Walking A Dog During Winter?
Happy Wednesday, everyone! What Are The Health Hazards Of Walking A Dog During Winter? Maggie loves playing in the snow, but the major snowstorm that rocked our area on Sunday made it hard for us to stay out and play as long as we normally do. We got about 14...
30 Tips And Statements On What Pup Parents Wish They Knew Before Getting A Dog
Happy Wednesday, everyone! I’ve been volunteering at the Hancock County Animal Shelter and spending time with my cousin’s dog, Jasmine (yes, she is still there). As I watch people come in, I wonder whether they are seasoned dog owners looking for another addition to...
0 Comments