Helping A Dog With Arthritis

“There’s no one remedy for arthritis in dogs, and what may be effective for one animal may not be sufficient for another,” remarked Dr. Levine, who concluded, “The best thing pet owners can do is to keep their pet active and at a healthy weight. And begin thinking about arthritis when middle age rolls around because the sooner you begin arthritis treatment for your dog, the better.”

The fact of the matter is that, just as humans do, dogs can suffer from arthritis as well and the effects can be just as weakening and devastating. Rest assured though that proper treatment of a dog with arthritis can considerably improve the quality of that pets life.

As it has become known arthritis doesn’t only affect humans. Cats although not too often and especially dogs suffer from joint pain caused by arthritis, inflexibility, stiffness and mobility problems. Luckily for any dog or cat out there handling arthritis through supplements, medications and changes in lifestyle can drastically improve the quality of a pet's life.

Typically arthritis occurs during the middle ages of a dogs life, therefore for a small or medium sized dog, symptoms start to develop themselves by age seven or eight. Now sadly with a large or giant sized breed of dog, arthritis symptoms can begin to manifest themselves as early as age four or five.

Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs

It is very important for pet owners to know and understand the symptoms of dog arthritis. Starting the treatment for arthritis as early as possible will help slow the progression of arthritis in dogs.

Usually in dogs, arthritis becomes visible as joint and hip stiffness and inflexibility especially in the mornings or when the weather is cold. It is not uncommon for a dog with arthritis to have a stiff walk.

In the more advanced stages of the arthritis, the pet will lose range of motion becoming immobile; may even experience difficulty getting up; will appear unbalanced or unsteady while walking and the dog’s stride length particularly in the rear legs will become short than usual, with the feet remaining close to the ground due to the limited range of motion and inflexibility.

Managing a Dog's Arthritis Pain and Stiffness

Below are a few pointers that can help pet owners with a dog's arthritis, slowing its advancement and most importantly improving the pets’ quality of life especially the elderly dogs.

• Sleeping in an elevated bed will help keep pets off the cold floor and will make getting up easier, therefore reducing the stiffness and pain that occurs due to exposure to cold.
• Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce the strain on the joints and therefore slowing the progression of arthritis and other joint ailments.
• Regular low-impact exercise will help maintain mobility while keeping the body trim and in shape. Avoid jogging and running as this can be painful for the dog. Instead, opt for walking or swimming and be sure to provide “warm up” and “cool down” sessions before and after each exercise session as sudden starting and stopping exercise is traumatic on the joints.
• Massage can help improve stiffness that results from arthritis. Start at the end of the extremities and move in toward the heart. Massage also serves to relax pets, while providing the owner with an opportunity to feel for any bumps, cuts or other abnormalities that may require attention.
• Providing the proper bed will help reduce stiffness and pain, particularly in the morning. Maintain a warm sleeping area for pets away from drafts. Beds should also be firm in order to provide support to the hips, shoulders, spine and neck. Orthopedic foam beds, placed on a raised bed platform will be highly helpful for your pet.
• Heat can help minimize stiffness and pain, particularly in the morning or on a cold day. Applying a microwavable heat pack or a heating pad for 20 minutes at a time, two or three times a day, can help lessen arthritis discomfort. Problem areas often include the shoulders, back and hips.
• Supplementation can slow and even reverse some of the joint damage. Glucosamine-Chondroitin supplements, often containing the anti-inflammatory MSM, have been found to be extremely effective in the management of arthritis.
• Medication can help dogs who are in need of a bit more pain relief. Aspirin can be effective in many cases, and it’s generally well tolerated. You can also help your pet with homeopathic ingredients which have historically been used to help treat the symptoms of joint pain by getting Pet Bounce Homeopathic Oral Drops for Arthritis and Joint Pain Relief. For more advanced cases, prescription medications can be beneficial. Speak with your pet’s veterinarian if you feel that medication may improve your pet’s quality of life.

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