Does your Dog have Arthritis?
Just a few of the many potential areas of pain
Have you noticed any changes in your dog’s mood or activity — have they slowed down, seem withdrawn from the family? It could be arthritis.
Canine arthritis affects at least one in every five adult dogs and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain.
Does Your Dog Have Any of These Tell-Tail Signs of Arthritis?
- Change in their gait
- Favoring a limb
- Difficulty sitting or standing
- Sleeping more
- Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
- Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
- Weight gain
- Decreased activity or less interest in play
- Attitude or behavior changes
- Become more aggressive
- Being less alert
If your dog seems to have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks take him to your veterinarian for evaluation. If it is arthritis, the best thing to do for your dog is to start a treatment plan as soon as possible.
Therapies or treatment may include:
- Healthy diet and exercise to help maintain proper weight. (Swimming is a great low impact exercise for your dog)
- Supplements to help relieve arthritis symptoms
Never give your dog human medication without checking first with your veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs – particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen – and a safe dose will differ by size – you wouldn’t give a dachshund the same amount you would give a greyhound.
Do you have a dog with any kind of mobility problem? If you do please share your experiences with me.
Arthritis is a condition where the jntios between the bones are inflamed, and as the condition progresses, the joint damage can lead to damage at the ends of the bones. In extreme cases as the jntios get worse, it could lead to stress fractures and the like.At your age, the pain you are likely feeling is due to the joint disease. You should definitely listen to your body and stop when you feel pain.Are you aware of the role the foods you eat have in inflammation and the progression of arthritis? There may be simple changes you can make to your diet, your type of exercise, and the stretches you do that would make a big difference in how you feel.Also, other than rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disorder), most arthritis is due to stress on the jntios because of improper posture, or injuries like falling or car accidents. A chiropractor can help you evaluate and prevent future problems.Good luck!
Doggy Glucosamine works wonders. I foeesrtd an 8 year old arthritic dog who could hardly walk around the dog park. After a few weeks on Glucosamine and a few pounds lighter, he was running around like a puppy. Great stuffYou get people Glucosamine at the health food store natural enough for ya?
The glucosamine and cdoihroitnn is really helpful. As is switching to a high-quality senior food if you haven’t already they’re formulated to help joints and bones. Keeping her as active and she can tolerate is good too. The more they lay around, the stiffer they get. Use it or lose it, type thing. We have a 14 y.o old guy and since switching to a senior food, he’s become much more active. He’s still quite stiff and sore some days, but he has made improvements. We have dermaxx in the cupboard for him, but have not had to use it since switching foods, and adding supplements. Allowing them to chew on real joints (cow and such) can help, too, if that’s not too icky for you. You can usually find them in the higher end pet stores, not the big box stores. There are also treats at those stores with the supplements in them, and a few other supplements, for hip and joint problems!