Dog arthritis is a degenerative disease in which the joints have became inflammed, causing chronic soreness, swelling in the joints and as well , reduced mobility. At last count, from a study by Pfizer Animal Health, approximately 8 million adult dogs in the United States may be suffering with this painful degenerative joint disease.
Fortunately, unlike in the past where anti-inflammatory drugs such as dog arthritis aspirin may be the only accessible treatment, now there are many other alternative remedies and treatment options to help relieve your pet’s arthritic pain and discomfort.
Diagnosing the Symptoms
When caring for a dog with arthritis, you need to be certain that the condition is properly diagnosed. Observe and watch for tell-tale physical symptoms such as:
- Slow to get up from a resting position
- Joints appear stiff or lame when he or she walks
- Sudden lack of interest in activities they once enjoy
- Reluctance to run, jump or climb stairs
- Unusual hostility when you make physical contact with your pet
Treatment
Once the symptoms of dog arthritis is properly diagnosed, you will then need to look for the most effective treatments to help relieve your dog’s joint pain and counter the effects of inflammation.
Treatment will depend upon the cause and severity of the arthritis and could likely include the following:
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and steroids may be prescribed to relieve pain, decrease inflammation as well as encourage movement in the short term.
Surgical treatment may be an option for some animals with arthritis where the joints are extremely painful, unstable and immobile however, this method can be extremely taxing as the recuperation can be painful.
Supplements such as Flexpet that contains glucosamine can also be very helpful in reducing the pain of arthritis and increasing an arthritic dog’s mobility.
Other complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy and magnetic therapy may also be introduced to relieve the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
Together with these treatments, good dietary management to help control your dog’s weight is also an important feature for any arthritic dogs. Arthritis is even more difficult to cope with if your pet is overweight, so a good diet program is helpful in many different ways and it will also help to provide your dog with a healthier life.
In addition to altering your dog’s diets, some light physical therapy exercises is also beneficial to your pet’s cardiovascular system. Exercise can also help prevent muscle wasting, a common problem with arthritic dogs and will also keep the tendons and ligaments flexible, encouraging the well-being of your dog.