Osteoarthritis Is A Common Disease in Dogs

There are various types of arthritis your dog may
develop. The most common kind is osteoarthritis
and this affects one in five dogs at some point
in their lifetime. This disease is not confined
to older dogs. Young dogs may suffer with hip
dysplasia, joint trauma, patella luxation or
ruptured ligaments. In some cases it is possible
for your dog to have surgery, especially if he is
young. It is vital that you take your pet to the
veterinarian for a proper diagnosis as soon as
you notice any change of behavior, i.e. limping,
lameness or reluctance to rise from a laying
position.

Although our pets cannot communicate verbally,
you will be able to tell easily enough when
there is a problem. Check his paws to make sure
there is no foreign object stuck in there. Your
veterinarian will want to take X-rays and run
tests, followed by a course of treatment.
Although this disease is old there is no cure
for it yet. Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is a
progressive condition, but there are many ways
in which we can reduce the symptoms and maintain
quality of life for our dogs with arthritis.

He or she may suffer more in wet or cold days
and it would be helpful to provide a soft, warm
bed as well as a heating pad placed under the
blanket. Raising the food and water bowls will
enable your dog to reach better. Taking short,
frequent walks over a smooth terrain will be
less stressful than climbing a hill or
negotiating a rocky path.

Massage, acupuncture and swimming are becoming
more and more popular. If your dog is overweight
your veterinarian will give you new instructions
for meal times. Find out the correct weight for
the breed of dog you have and reduce the calorie
intake every mealtime. If your dog has trouble
jumping on or off the bed or furniture, invest
in a ramp or steps to make life a little easier
for him. These can be bought or else easily put
together with a little imagination and a few
tools; plywood, nails, old carpeting.

Depending on the severity of arthritis, either
pain medication and/or natural dietary
glucosamine chondroitin supplements will be
prescribed. You need to know that all medication
carries side effects. This may be necessary to
relieve pain immediately for a short period. Ask
your veterinarian about liquid glucosamine. This
is a perfectly natural supplement which, in
time, helps the body to rebuild vital tissue
surrounding the joint. This can be sprinkled
daily onto your dog's food and within a couple
of months or even a few weeks you will notice
the healing occur.

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regarding managing joint pain using all-natural
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