Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Treating Arthritis In Dogs

Dogs, like people, suffer from many joint
problems and infirmities related to age. It's
estimated that one in five adult dogs in the
United States suffers from arthritis. It's said
to be one of the most common causes of chronic
pain in dogs seen by veterinarians.

Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes
in a joint. It can occur in many joints in the
body and can happen from joint tissue destruction
following infection, stress, trauma, from
conformation, or from other reasons for
degeneration. Usually the cartilage and tissue
surround a joint wear away and the bony layers
beneath begin to rub against each other, causing
pain. It usually occurs in the later years, but
it can happen at surprisingly young ages. Many
different animals can suffer from arthritis.

There are a number of signs that your dog could
be suffering from arthritis. Your dog symptoms
could be changes in attitude or behavior,
decreased activity or less interest in play,
being less alert, weight gain, reluctant to jump,
run or to climb stairs, stiff or sore joints,
difficulty sitting or standing, sleeping more or
favoring a limb or limping.

These signs, of course, may also be indicative of
other problems, but they can indicate that your
dog has arthritis. If you see these signs in
your dog for more than a few days then you should
see your veterinarian for an evaluation. He or
she will give your dog a physical exam and
possibly x-ray the affected area. Once you have
a diagnosis you and your vet can devise a
treatment plan. There are a number of possible
therapies:

1. Make sure that your dog has a healthy diet
and exercise. It's important that your dog
should not be overweight if he has arthritis as
excess weight can exacerbate the problem. To
help him improve his joint mobility, gradually
increase your dog's exercise.

2. If appropriate, to treat your dog's arthritis
you and your vet will work together to find a
drug treatment. Not all arthritis is bad enough
to require drug treatment.

3. Some dogs will take nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These are the
most common pharmaceutical treatments for
arthritis in dogs. You will need to discuss with
you vet certain risks that they have.

4. Your dog may benefit from over-the-counter
medication, such as glucosamine and chondroitin
sulfate or Omega fatty acids. These have been
shown to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis
in some dogs.

5. One of the most effective approaches is to
treat a dog using both drug treatment and
over-the-counter medication.

If your dog is diagnosed with arthritis you
shouldn't despair. Many dogs in the United
States have some degree of arthritis and they
continue to lead happy lives. In fact, with a
good diet and exercise and appropriate treatment,
there is no reason why they can't live out their
normal lifespan totally pain-free.

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