A Pet Owner's Guide to Arthritis in Dogs

I have had many canines in my life and every one
of them has suffered to some degree the effects
of arthritis in dogs. In fact, almost all dogs
will suffer from this disease to some degree in
their later years of life. There are no cures
for it. All a dog owner can do is to help is
four-legged friend by minimizing the effects and
symptoms of the joint disease.

Smaller breed dogs suffer from osteoarthritis to
a lesser extent than larger dogs. The reason for
this is quite simple; larger dogs carry more
weight and therefore have more stress placed on
their diseased joints then do smaller breed
dogs. There is really nothing that can be done
about this fact except to make sure that whether
your dog is small or large that they do not carry
any extra body weight. In other words, if your
dog is fat, put him or her on a diet
immediately. This excess weight can dramatically
increase the pain suffered from arthritis in
dogs.

Another important thing to remember for people
with older dogs is to ensure they get the proper
amount of exercise. If an older dog gets too
little exercise, his muscles will deteriorate
and they won't be able to support the joints
properly. When the joints are not supported, the
effects of arthritis are again magnified as the
joint is loose and allowed too much freedom to
move in directions it should not.

If the dog gets too much exercise as it gets
older, this too will simply aggravate the
condition of osteoarthritis and cause more
suffering and pain for the animal. There is no
set amount of exercise that can be stated to be
proper for all breeds and all dogs. One must get
to know their own pet and understand what is the
correct amount for him or her. One simple guide
for knowing too much exercise is taking place is
that the animal begins limping after exercise on
a regular basis. If this happens consistently,
then you know probably there is too much
exercise going on and the animal needs to work
up to that level a slower pace.

And let's go back to the issue of being
overweight. It may be extremely difficult to
withhold food from your loved pet as he or she
gets older, but it is vital for his well-being
that he not be overweight even in a small
amount. Besides the issues of joint arthritis,
which is aggravated with the extra weight, there
are other cardiovascular reasons for maintaining
a lower body weight in your canine. Basically,
the more proper your pet's body weight is, the
longer he or she will live.

Also remember to make your dog as comfortable
around the house as possible if he is suffering
from arthritis in dogs. We have built a
handicapped ramp for our older dogs in order
that they can go up and down the porch steps
easier. Steps and stairs are very difficult for
dogs suffering from dog arthritis. A simple ramp
made out of plywood and then covered with an old
rug is a very good ramp for the older dogs to
use. Another thing to remember is that older
dogs enjoy sleeping much more than younger dogs.
Allow them plenty of quiet time where they can
sleep as much as they like. Also remember that
old bones enjoy something soft to sleep on. Find
your dog some cushioning material where he or she
can nap and sleep at night.

And lastly, if your dog is suffering from
arthritis disease, always provide a warm place
in the wintertime. Cold winter days are no place
for old dogs suffering from joint arthritis. The
cold weather aggravates the disease tremendously
and makes the dog very uncomfortable. If your dog
simply can't come in the house for some reason,
make sure that he or she has a very well
protected and warm area outside. They even make
heated dog beds the you may look into for your
arthritic dog.

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dogs and how to treat the symptoms of this common
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