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in Dogs
If Your Dog is Suffering from Arthritis or Dog Joint Pain You
Can Help Relieve Their Pain
Your
dog can have joint pain and arthritis too and canine arthritis
can be every bit as painful and dibilitating as it is for people.
But since they can't tell us we have to be alert to the
signs. If you've noticed your dog exhibiting any of the
following signs of arthritis in dogs you need to talk to your
vet and take the necessary steps to improve their condition
and make them more comfortable.
-
Favoring a limb — This can occur on
its own for many reasons that don't mean joint pain or arthritis
in dogs, they may have twisted a joint while playing or have
gotten something sharp stuck in their paw. Most of the time
they bounce back or we pick the bramble out and they are back
to normal. However, if you notice your dog favoring a limb
more often and it becomes ongoing behavior it could be due
to joint pain or arthritis.
-
Difficulty sitting or standing — If
your dog has arthritis or joint pain you may notice that certain
positions cause them more difficulty. They may not like standing,
especially for longer periods, if this puts stress on the
joint that is causing them pain. If sitting is the position
that hurts them you may even notice a hesitation before they
obey a "sit" command. If they used to sit right
away but now they look at you as if to ask, "You don't
really want me to sit do you?!" or seem unable to get
comfortable your dog could be experiencing joint pain.
-
Sleeping more — Arthritis in dogs
can result in them sleeping more than usual. Being in pain
causes a mental drain for us and it is no different for dogs.
Besides, other fun activities they used to enjoy are now too
painful. So what else to do but sleep, which also provides
a respite from the pain.
-
Seeming to have stiff or sore joints —
Joint pain and arthritis in dogs will affect the way they
are able to move. Do they still have the same spring in their
step. It might not just be old age. Sure dogs, like people,
slow down and are less limber as they get older and that is
to be expected to a certain degree. But it may be that they
are getting arthritis or experiencing joint. You need to know
because there are treatments available that can help.
-
Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs —
This kind of ties in with the one above but it isn't the stiffness
or limited movement that you are looking for, it's that hesitation
they now have when it comes to doing things they didn't give
a second thought to before. Joint pain or arthritis in dogs
will make them pause before going up or down the stairs, for
example. It's as if they are deciding if it is really worth
the pain. Note: if your dog suddenly starts urinating (or
worse) in the house and you have stairs going outside, consider
the possibilty that they may have severe joint pain or arthritis.
-
Decreased activity or less interest in play
— You may also notice a general reduction in your dog's
activity levels. They just aren't their normal selves. They
may not even want to play anymore. This can be a sign of many
ailments but if you see this symptom together with some of
the other ones here your dog may be suffering from joint pain
or arthritis.
-
Weight gain — Joint pain and arthritis
in dogs can result in weight gain. Of course this is primarily
due to their dramatic reduction in physical activity. Unfortunately,
the weight gain can cause even more pain as the added weight
puts more stress on the already tender joints, which will
make them even less interested in getting exercise. It becomes
a vicious cycle.
-
Attitude or behavior changes — Arthritis
in dogs and chronic joint pain can take their toll. Often
times Aussies will have a fairly high pain tolerance and won't
even let you know that there is a problem. But are you noticing
attitude or behavior changes? Ask yourself what is causing
them. Are they making odd noises or moans, do they avoid certain
places or activities, have they started sleeping in an unusual
place (softer or warmer perhaps), do they lay in a new odd
position, are they getting more irritable or short tempered,
are they licking their fur expecially on joints? Be on the
lookout for things that aren't normal and always ask yourself
what is causing it. You know your dog best. What are they
trying to tell you?
Arthritis in dogs can arise in various ways. Age, hip dysplasia,
poor nutrition, obesity, injuries, infections, immune system disorders
or even poor breeding practices that allow dogs with a history
of arthritis to be bred.
Regardless of the cause arthritis in dogs is degenerative
and painful. As the cushioning from the cartilage is
destroyed the bone structure in the joint itself are exposed so
eventually the bone rubs directly on bone. This causes the joint
to become painful and inflamed and the tissue surrounding the
joint become thicker and lose their elasticity which restricts
movement further.
Dog Joint Pain and Arthritis in Dogs: What You Can Do...
So you think your dog is suffering from joint pain and
your vet has confirmed that it is in fact the case — what
can you do to help relieve their pain?
Common dog arthritis treatment involves the use of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These should always be prescribed
by your vet and you should not give human medications to your
dog. Some may be safe but others can cause bleeding in the digestive
tract or liver damage.
There are other natural dog arthritis treatments that won't have
the same side effects as pharmaceutical dog arthritis medications.
These are often used in conjuction with each other.
Some of the most popular natural dog arthritis remedies contain
glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate or omega fatty acids. These
help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. FlexPet
offers all-natural joint pain and arthritis relief and is
made in the USA. Check their website for special offers and be
sure to watch the video to see the kind of results they are getting.
I was particularly impressed with how they stand behind their
product and offer an unconditional guarantee.
Dog Joint Pain and Arthritis in Dogs: Importance of Nutrition
Another important way you can help your dog prevent joint
degeneration or at least slow the process is to ensure they are
getting good nutrition. Wysong offers raw, dry and canned
dog food and nutritional supplements made with all natural ingredients
to the highest standards. Read
our article about Wysong here.
If you would like to try Wysong products we have arranged for
a special coupon code that is exclusive to Australian-Shepherd-Lovers.com
readers. Just enter the code AUSSIE18
on their order page when you checkout and you will receive
18% off of your order. Use
this link to visit their website to use the code.
But whichever dog food you are feeding be aware that weight gain
is a real possibility with dogs that have joint pain or arthritis
so you may have to adjust the amount you are feeding or consult
your vet about switching to a lower calorie food.
Nutritional Supplements Can Help
When it comes to which nutritional supplements you should
be using there are many excellent products available
to help prevent or at least reduce the impact of arthritis in
dogs. That means less pain for your dog and less pain for you
in vet bills.
I recommend Dr.
Jones' Ultimate Canine Health Formula because the "Dr.
Jones" in the name refers to Dr. Andrew Jones who
is a real practicing veterinarian. He has a wealth of
information about his supplement formula that uses safe, natural
ingredients on his website and when you visit his site you can
also get a free copy of his "Special Report on Dog
Food". (You can still get a free copy even if you
don't order.) Here's
the link.
Keep Your Dog Comfy and Cosy
Arthritis in dogs will make them much more sensitive
to their environment. Just as with arthritis in people
they will have good days and not so good days. One of the things
you can do to help is to make sure they have a soft comfortable
bed that is nice and warm.
Hard surfaces with no give will aggravate the condition while
cold will tighten the already stiff joints.
Another point here is how slippery the flooring is can
also make a difference. Carpeting provides good grip
while slippery smooth flooring can put added strain on joints.
Maintaining Range of Motion for Dogs with Arthritis
Once you are getting proper treatment for pain relief and you
are providing good quality food and nutritional supplements you
will want to then maintain and even extend the range of
motion as much as possible.
You will want to avoid activities or exercises that are too strenuous
or jarring to the joints. Let your sense be the guide rather than
your dog's enthusiasm. They may get too excited and want to run
and jump but maybe a gentle walk would be better.
Dog Arthritis Treatment -
Treating Dog Arthritis Through Regular Dog Massage
Massage techniques designed to help your dog with arthritis
and joint pain are available. Arthritis in dogs can be
helped by regular dog massage, however, as with any dog arthritis
treatment consult your vet.
If your dog has just started showing symptoms of dog arthritis
you may be able to delay the onset of physical pain and frustration
for your dog.
Dog arthritis treatment with regular dog massage helps
increase blood flow, releases endorphines that act as natural
painkillers, maintains or improves range of motion, helps relax
and calm your dog and provides a great opportunity for you to
bond as well. It's an all around good thing to practice even if
your dog doesn't have arthritis yet.
There are very inexpensive lessons in dog massage available
online. To learn more about treating dog arthritis with
dog massage check out the Dog
Massage Secrets Web Video Series. They provide easy to follow
videos that you can watch right on your computer.
Arthritis in Dogs — Conclusion
Arthritis in dogs, regardless of what caused it, is a serious
condition that can cause your dog a great deal of pain and reduce
the quality of their life. However, there are many things you
can do to help ease their discomfort, improve their range of motion
and help them to overcome many of the symptoms of dog
arthritis and joint pain.
If you have a dog with arthritis or is showing some of
the early signs of arthritis in dogs please consult your
vet and begin implementing some of the dog arthritis treatments
available as soon as possible.
Resources:
FlexPet
All-Natural Dog Joint Pain and Dog Arthritis Relief
Wysong
Natural Dog Food - use coupon code AUSSIE18
to save 18%
Dr.
Jones' Ultimate Canine Health Formula Nutritional Supplement
Arthritis
in Dogs
Dog
Massage Secrets Web Video Series
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