vivitonin

[cherryelm]

Has anyone had a dog on vivitonin? I ask because my 13 yr old eng cocker spaniel who has always been a little eccentric has been prescribed it. On saturday morning she began to act very strangely, she got lost and distressed in the garden when she went out she was walking into trees and getting stuck in corners. When I brought her back in the house she paced around for hours to the point of exhaustion walking into furniture, getting stuck behind the sofa and sometimes her back legs would collapse. I rushed her to the vet and he said her heart was just ok and he thought she had had a stroke. He prescribed aspirin and vivitonin. Today after just 3 doses of vivitonin and aspirin she is almost back to her old self is it possible that the vivitonin has had such a rapid and dramatic effect or has this 'stroke' just been a transient thing? I know my dog is old and I have to face up to the inevitable but I was really frightened for her on saturday.

[antiguru]

I had a dog on this for the last year or so of her life, prescribed following a stroke, and saw much the same change you have.

It works by increasing blood flow which means oxygen gets around the body more quickly. It also helps blood get through narrowing arteries and vessels. It�s often known as �the old dog pill� and I haven�t yet come across a vet that doesn�t use it.

One thing I would say though; it�s not cheap and of course you�ll probably need to keep your dog on it for the rest of her life. There are lots of reliable places to buy it on the internet, but you will need a prescription from your vet to do this. I did a bit of searching, improved the cost from my vet by at least 25% and then went to my vet to get the prescription so I could order it. Their response was to offer to match the internet price! Put Vivitonin into Google for sources.

I�m glad this has worked for your dog and you�ve got a bit longer with her. One of my dogs (not on V) died two weeks ago without warning from a blood clot and not being ready to let her go has made it much harder to deal with. Cherish the ol� girl.

[cherryelm]

Thank you antiguru. I was beginning to think that my Cherry's behaviour was all in my mind!! I am so sorry to hear about your dog and you are right I have been given more time with her and I am going to cherish it. Thank you also about your advice about the prescription.

[southerngirl]

Hi Cherryem. Glad you posted this question. I have a 15 year old dog who is on Vivitonin because she had mild stroke symptoms. It definitley works like magic. I stopped giving it to her for a few weeks because she improved so much. Unfortunately last weekend she had three very severe seizures within 24 hours. I put her back on vivitonin and within days she was so much better (she had been having spasms for about 3 or 4 days) and these have stopped almost completely. I agree with you that just because a dog is old and with every ailment you begin thinking this is the end, it isn't necessarily. My dog is so interested in everything and eating and drinking, grooming, playing, running around etc. I may have her for another year at least, although my vet has said I may be in for a roller coaster ride with her!

[Cindy2]

Hello Cherryelm, My dog will be 17 years old on 6th June 2013, she has been on Vivitonin since she was 13. I give her a break now and then. She used to stare into space, go outside and forget where she was etc like she had dementia. Within 3 days of starting Vivitonin she was running around chasing ball like a 3 year old. She is now partially blind and deaf but loves her daily walk and of course food his her favourite time of day. I know it will be a very sad day when I have to send her to 'the rainbow bridge', but she has given us so much joy we will not let her suffer. Dogs like humans, do get dementia but Vivitonin helps a great deal.