Much like in humans, “dog arthritis” refers to the inflammation of joints, which causes pain and discomfort. What’s interesting about arthritis is that it does not only strike man. Dogs also suffer from arthritis, and it can affect them regardless of their age. In fact, dog arthritis is one of the most common illnesses that pet owners and veterinarians have to deal with. The good news is that dog arthritis can be prevented.
Although it happens more often to older dogs, there are instances when even younger dogs can become susceptible to arthritis. Inactive and overweight dogs tend to develop this disease early in life, as well as dogs that have had injuries and accidents. In fact, if they have suffered serious damage to their legs, the possibility of developing arthritis is very high.
Dog joint pain is very similar to arthritis pain that occurs in humans. A degenerative disease, arthritis causes stiffness in the dog’s joints, which then prevents them from walking and running normally. This is because of the pain they feel due to the inflammation of joints. Although, it’s often difficult to tell when your dog has arthritis, there are some signs and symptoms that indicate your pet might be suffering from arthritis.
Try to observe your pet and see if there are some changes in the way they run or walk. If they limp every time they run or walk, and become reluctant every time you invite them to jump, play or climb stairs, it is most likely that your dog is suffering joint pain.
If you observe stiffness as they get up or lie down and are having difficulty rising from a certain position, you might want to pay close attention and see if there’s really something wrong. Other symptoms include sudden changes in personality or mood, such as an unwillingness to be touched and petted. They may also seem to be aloof and just sit on a corner, not wanting to play with you at all.
You need to address the symptoms as soon as you observe them by either setting up an appointment with your veterinarian or by giving your dog some pain medication. Although there are really no known cures for arthritis in dogs, there are a lot of things that you can do to relieve it, keep them comfortable and prevent the arthritis from worsening.
It’s a good thing that there is an effective arthritis treatment for dogs that has been proven effective in lessening their suffering. Glucosamine chondroitin for dogs is said to help lessen the suffering of dogs from painful arthritis. Also, over-the-counter pills and food containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate, as well as omega fatty acids are all good in providing dogs relief from arthritis.
Some prescription meds are also proven to be effective dog arthritis medication. Although many have said these medications are effective, you still need to ask advice from your veterinarian to ensure that your dogs have the ability to tolerate whatever side effects such medications may bring.
Whenever possible, exercise is a great way for your dogs to lessen the progression of arthritis. Some dog owners may not be able to consider frequent exercise if their dog is not sufficiently mobile. But the truth is a bit of an exercise every once in a while will lessen the stiffness of your dogs’ joints. This is because of the lubricating fluid that is released from frequent movements of the joints.
What’s really disconcerting about dog arthritis is that there is really no known cure. The only thing that you can do is provide your dog comfort and relief from pain by administering the best treatment possible. And as you’ve heard a million times, prevention will always be better than cure. The best thing to do for prevention is to give your pet an effective dog joint supplement that contains glucosamine and other proven ingredients.
If your dog is already suffering pain and mobility problems due to the onset of arthritis, then it’s often best to get them a joint pain treatment that will help relieve the pain, reduce inflammation, and restore mobility.
