Splurge On That Fancy Dog Bed
While some dogs enjoy lying on cool wood or tile floors, many dogs also enjoy a nice, comfy bed. Since hard floors may exacerbate joint pain, it is a good idea to consider providing a bed for your arthritic dog. Having a dog bed may also help prevent your dog from becoming injured by jumping on and off the furniture.
Dog beds come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, and the descriptions might just make you want to try one out for yourself. There are many companies that make orthopedic dog beds or beds with cooling memory foam mattresses. If your dog has trouble getting all the way down to the floor, consider using a bed that is slightly elevated. Once again, there is no one size fits all solution. Dogs have preferences and may like one style or level of support over another.
If your dog is reluctant to use the bed you select, keep it in a common area like the living room. You may also want to place the bed next to your bed so your dog can rest there at night. If your dog still doesnt warm up to the bed, consider trying a different style of bed. With the number of available choices, even the most particular princess and the pea pups should be able to find a bed that suits their fancy.
Give Your Dog A Daily Massage
Massage therapy is great for arthritis and some pet boutiques charge big money for a dog massage. You can do this for free! Use long gentle strokes and always push blood toward your dogs heart. Massage gets blood flowing to the arthritic area and can reduce pain and stiffness for several hours.
You can actually do this massage in combination with the next suggestion which is heat therapy.
What Is Dog Arthritis Exactly
As dogs get older, the cartilage surfaces of their joints begin to thin, and cartilage cells die. When the cells die, they release enzymes that cause inflammation of the joint capsule and release of excessive joint fluid. Extra bony growths can develop. With severe cartilage thinning, the normal joint space narrows and the bone beneath the cartilage deteriorates.
All of these processes set in motion further changes in the normal functioning of the dogâs joint, and an ongoing spiral of pain, lameness, limb disuse/inactivity plus, muscle atrophy sets in.
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How Are Dogs Diagnosed With Arthritis
Your vet can sometimes tell which joints are affected by any pain and/or discomfort by examination, including joint flexion and extension. To investigate properly they may suggest further tests to help confirm and locate arthritic change, and sometimes identify any underlying causes too. In some cases, blood samples may be required to rule out any medical conditions associated with arthritis.
Dog Arthritis Exercise And Diet Management
Exercise and nutrition can go a long way when it comes to arthritis in dogs treatment and management.
Nutritional Diet. Feeding your dog with a high-quality, nutritious diet can help manage arthritis progression. Your vet should be able to recommend a high-quality diet, some of which even have added ingredients to help support joint health.
Proper Exercise. Physical exercise benefits dogs with arthritis by reducing joint stiffness and improving mobility. It also helps overweight dogs achieve healthy body weight. Physical exercise for arthritic dogs shouldnt be very intense to prevent further degeneration of the joints.
Cease physical exercise when your dog shows signs of fatigue or pain like limping, lameness, panting, or hesitation. Ideally, talk to your vet in terms of how much activity per day your dog needs and can handle.
Weight Management. Obesity is a major risk factor for arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis. Encourage your dog to lose excess weight to achieve a more lean conformation that minimizes the pressure she puts on her joints. Healthy weight loss is best achieved with a healthy diet and physical exercise.
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Control Your Dog’s Pain
“Pain control is the foundation,” Login explains. That’s because if your dog hurts, he’s probably not going to want to exercise. And if your dog won’t exercise, it becomes more difficult to control her weight.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as carprofen are the most common arthritis medicines for dogs, Login says. But if your dog doesn’t tolerate these drugs well, your veterinarian may recommend some other options to try.
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You aren’t limited to pharmaceuticals when it comes to pain control, however. Talk to your veterinarian about your options, and whether holistic veterinary careincluding treatments like acupuncture, laser therapy, massage therapy, physical therapy, aqua therapy, and stem cell therapymight help. Your dog could also be a candidate for supplements like omega-3-fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Help Your Dog Get A Grip
Make sure to keep your dogs nails clipped short. Long nails change the mechanics of the foot and can make walking more difficult, or sometimes even painful. Although it may seem intimidating at first, you can learn how to clip a dogs toenails with confidence and ease.
If you notice that your dog is having trouble getting a grip on slippery surfaces, consider trying Dr. Buzbys ToeGrips® dog nail grips. ToeGrips help dogs move with confidence by providing extra traction and improving the brains perception of where the limbs and feet are positioned.
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Manage Your Dogs Arthritis Naturally
These 3 simple steps will get to the root cause of your dogs arthritis and I think you and your dog will love the results.
Remember my old Chili? I treated her for leaky gut when she was 10. Afterwards, her joints and movement were so much better and as a bonus, her allergies were too!
So why waste your money on NSAIDs that can make dog arthritis worse?
Instead follow these simple 3 steps. Youll not only set your dog up to succeed youll also reduce his joint pain. And dont forget these steps also reduce his risk of cancer, allergies and other diseases.
Can Arthritis Be Cured
Unfortunately not. Once cartilage in your dog’s joint has been damaged it rarely repairs itself completely. But many pets can successfully be made pain free by appropriate long-term use of medication and sensible management to control further deterioration. With so much variety in severity of arthritis between patients, many dogs cope well, leading full and active lives without any veterinary intervention at all. However, certain patients will require treatment ranging from simple lifestyle changes to complex surgery.
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When To Call Your Vet
Arthritis is best treated with the help of a holistic veterinarian. Conventional vets may recommend certain dog medications to reduce pain, including:
- Muscle relaxants
- Medications to reduce nerve pain
- Opioid medications
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
However, these medications are only good for short-term relief. Long-term use can lead to addiction and tolerance buildup, increasing the risk of an overdose and other side effects, such as bloating, vomiting, headaches, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
Holistic veterinarians will recommend natural remedies for dogs with arthritis combined with lifestyle and diet modifications. They may also point you to an acupuncture specialist or a physiotherapist to provide extra mobility treatment and reduce muscle tension.
Never give any human pain medication to an arthritic dog unless youve been told so by your veterinarian and guided about dosage. These are human medications for a good reason their serving size is adjusted to average human weight, making them inappropriate for our canine friends.
Dog Arthritis Natural Remedies
Once you have a diagnosis, your veterinarian can help you develop a dog arthritis treatment plan. Arthritis in dogs is not a curable condition, but there are many treatments and therapies available to effectively control and manage your pets pain and discomfort.
Let the label and your veterinarian be your guide as you help your arthritic canine companion return to a less painful and more active lifestyle.
There is no reason to allow your pet to suffer with untreated pain, Dr. Morgan says. For many pets, this may require a multi-modal approach, meaning you may need to keep adding therapies until you achieve the desired effect.”
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What Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis Over The Counter
First things first – never self-diagnose your dog with arthritis. You should always ask for the vets advice before purchasing any over-the-counter medication, and have it confirmed that its indeed degenerative joint disease.
At Purely Pets we actually offer a free, 24-hour vet helpline as part of our dog insurance policies policies where you can get advice and reassurance if you have any concerns.
If your vet prescribes something for your dog, its likely to be one of the following:
How To Prevent Arthritis In Dogs
While youre unable to prevent the condition developing in dogs who have age arthritis , it can be prevented in young dogs by restricting them from jumping up on the sofa and running up the stairs while theyre still growing and their joints are developing. Young dogs can be taken on shorter walks and on routes with a limited incline to reduce pressure on their hip and knee joints.
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What Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis Pain
As dogs grow older, there are a number of conditions that they are prone to develop, chief among them is canine arthritis. If your dog has been diagnosed with arthritis, you may be looking for potential treatment options to help ease the pain and discomfort your dog is experiencing.
However, as a dog owner that does not have veterinary medicine experience, it can be difficult to ascertain which treatment options are safe to try out without inflicting greater harm than healing. This guide discusses what arthritis is, signs of arthritis in dogs, and what you can give your dog for arthritis pain.
What Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis
If youre searching for natural pain relief for dogs with arthritis, youve come to the right place.
In this article, were going to discuss some of the most popular natural arthritis treatments for dogs, as well as some more unique ways to ease their joint pain and make your pup feel more comfortable.
Since this progressive joint disease can cause discomfort, pain, and sore joints, and make leading an active lifestyle more difficult, canine pain relief is key to improving your pets quality of life.
So whether youve tried some alternative arthritis pain treatments for dogs in the past, or youre entirely new to the world of natural pain relief for dogs.
Get ready to unlock a whole range of helpful treatments that dont involve a trip to the veterinarian for prescriptions of nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs, etc.
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Be Patient And Realistic
Your arthritic dog needs all the patience, support, and TLC you can offer. With your help, your dog can still remain happy and comfortable for a long time in the face of arthritis.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis. Though treatment can slow the progression of the disease, it may eventually become so severe that your dog’s pain cannot be controlled and he will be too immobile to benefit from assistance.
Sadly, when other options have been exhausted, the time may come to consider humane euthanasia. As difficult as this decision is, rest assured you will be doing the right thing if it is out of love for your beloved companion.
How You Can Ease Your Senior Dog’s Arthritis Pain
You recognize the signs. The slow hobble to greet you at the door where once your dog practically leaped at the chance to put his paws on you. The laborious clamber from a resting position to standing.
These are clear signs of arthritis pain and it affects between 60 70% of dogs.
Other signs include limping, reluctance to go up and down stairs and generally, a lethargy where you once had an active pooch.
When you think about it, its not surprising that arthritis pain slows down even the most enthusiastic dog greeting. After all, its condition where the cartilage has worn away and now your dog experiences bone grinding against bone when he gets up. No wonder so many of those movements look less than graceful!
Why theres no cure for arthritis pain, there are treatment plans you and your veterinarian can employ to ease the pain.
Of course, if youre like most pet lovers, you may wonder what causes arthritis and if its a natural extension of old age? In other words, what brings this painful condition on in the first place?
First, arthritis is often caused by a ligament damage that hasnt healed properly. Have you ever seen a dog go airborne for a frisbee and then have a rough landing? That rough landing can have consequences later in life.
But what about the dogs that have never been especially active and who might be smaller? Well, arthritis can and does affect many dogs and we dont always know all the reasons why.
So whats a pet lover to do?
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Arthritis Relief Treatment For Dogs
The first thing you should do once you suspect your dog has arthritis is to take him in for a thorough examination by a vet. Then, your vet can talk with you about treatment options and ways to keep your dog feeling his best.
Treatment focuses on protecting your pets mobility and enhancing her quality of life. Your veterinarian will have a personalized management plan that is likely to include medicine and supplement prescriptions and tips for making your cat or dog more comfortable at home. Human products are almost never safe for companion animals give your pet only products that were prescribed to her in the recommended dosage, even if they are natural supplements.
Steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs thats NSAIDs for short are often used to reduce pain and inflammation. Nutritional supplements containing compounds such as glucosamine, chondroitin, methylsulfonylmethane, hyaluronic acid, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E are commonly recommended, too. Overweight pets benefit from weight loss, according to the Arthritis Foundation, so limit treats, cut back on portion sizes and incorporate safe, gentle exercises suggested by your veterinarian.
How Is Arthritis Treated
If your vet suspects your dog has arthritis, they may require treatment on numerous occasions over their lifetime, with treatments varying greatly in terms of medication and timescale between patients to give your dog the best immediate and long-term solution.
Cartilage protectors are designed to reduce cartilage damage . These may all reduce cartilage degeneration, as well as promote repair of joint structures and reduce painful inflammation.
Arthritis is commonly worse in overweight and unfit dogs, so the most important therapy is the combination of weight control and exercise management: minimising load on the joints, and maximising the range of movement and fitness of the muscles around those joints.
Nutraceuticals are not medicinal products, but feed supplements that are designed to support the healthy function of dogs. Commonly used nutraceuticals are joint supplements. A growing number of vets in the UK would recommend joint supplements such as seraquin, as these supplements tend to contain chondroitin and glucosamine, which occur naturally in joint cartilage, alongside natural ingredients like curcuminoid a potent antioxidant.
These can often be given as a treat alongside any prescription medicines prescribed by your vet.
New drugs are always being developed and becoming available, so development of a successful management plan in the patient requires regular review of the current medication with detailed progress reports from the owner.
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Weight Management & Nutrition
One of the most important aspects of managing arthritis is making sure your pup maintains a healthy weight.
Excess weight will only further complicate their condition, and lead to more joint deterioration as time passes.
Your vet will likely discuss the best ways to keep your pup slim and trim, and may even suggest prescription diets that are created for optimal joint health.
Buying Guide For Best Dog Pain Relief And Arthritis Medications
Just as humans are prone to more aches and pains as they grow older, so, too, is your dog. But while youre able to seek medical attention on your own for health concerns, your pooch is entirely dependent on your care. Dogs do suffer from arthritis and other painful conditions as they grow older, but just because these health issues are common doesnt mean you should ignore them. There are medications specifically made for dogs to address these issues and help your pet be more comfortable.
Its important that you not write off any signs of pain in your pet, such as limping or lethargy, as normal signs of canine aging. Luckily, there are quite a few dog pain relief and arthritis medications available, both by prescription and over the counter.
If Fido doesnt seem to be quite himself these days, its time for a visit to the vet to pinpoint the problem and figure out a solution. Our buying guide contains helpful information about some of the treatments your dogs veterinarian is likely to recommend. Weve included some of our favorites, too.
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Provide A Dog Bed In Every Room Where Family Spends Time
Some dogs have one dog bed and it may not necessarily be available to the dog until bed time. This is fine with young dogs, but older, arthritic dogs need something to cushion their protruding joints wherever they spend time with humans.
If your arthritic dog is laying on a cold, wood floor of a game room while the kids play for hours at a time, your dog will thank you for placing a dog bed in the game room.
Now lets move on to products that can be added as budget permits.