Dog Arthritis Facts

Dog owners make sure their companions receive
routine treatments to keep them healthy such as
monthly heart worm pills and flea drops and they
schedule regular veterinarian visits, keep shots
up to date and provide nutritious food. When
your companion is slower to get up to greet you
or looks like they are in pain when running and
playing, canine arthritis could be to blame.

Arthritis affects both people and animals and
the pain and stiffness is similar in both.
Statistically, dog arthritis affects one in
every five dogs in the U.S. and is one of the
most common reason for treating older dogs by
vets. Once a dog reaches seven years of age,
they are considered to be an older dog and a
keen eye can recognize the first signs of the
pain and stiffness of canine arthritis so that
the dog can be treated sooner to avoid
unnecessary pain.

Some warning signs of dog arthritis are sleeping
more, weight gain, favoring a limb, difficulty
standing and sitting, being less alert, heavy
panting, whimpering, bumping into things,
startling easily, being hesitant to climb stairs
and less interest in play. If your dog display
any of these symptoms for a period to time that
is longer than two weeks, a visit to the
veterinarian is in order. Your vet will perform
a canine arthritis evaluation that will consist
of an in-depth blood panel, physical exam and
x-rays. The vet is checking for loss of
movement, pain and swollen and distorted joints.
If the vet feels that the warning signs for
arthritis are prevalent, s/he will prescribe a
course of treatment that can involve medication,
supplementation or surgery.

In addition to medication, owners can be
proactive and considerate of their dog's pain by
buying an orthopedic dog bed and higher food
bowls and giving their canine glucosamine and
chondroitin supplements. Glucosamine and
chondroitin work to lubricate and cushion joints
and the dog can feel pain relief and enjoy a
wider range of movement after the supplement is
taken for more than two months. It is essential
to talk to your vet before giving any
supplements to your dog to make sure there are
no risks for complications.

Pet owners should also feed their dogs a
healthy, high quality diet that provides their
recommended daily doses of vitamins and minerals
as well as higher levels of Glucosamine and
Chondroitin. Owners should also encourage their
dogs to go on short walks and shower them with
attention so that they will want to get up and
move.

Canine arthritis symptoms can thankfully be
minimized with lifestyle and dietary changes and
your dog can go on to life a happy and healthy
life. The changes will take some getting used to
by both parties, but the end result will be worth
every bit of effort.

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Learn more about how pet owners can help their
pets deal with dog arthritis on our site at
Cactus Canyon. http://www.cactuscanyon.com

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