Time takes its toll of all of us and dogs are
no different. As your dog ages, you might notice him slowing down.
It might be harder for him to get up in the morning, he might walk
slower, or he might not be as interested in chasing the ball as he
used to be. Just as with elderly people, elderly dogs suffer from
many ailments. One of these is dog arthritis.
.Arthritis in dog can show up in many different ways. As in
humans, arthritis attacks the joints in the body, making it
increasingly difficult to move and get around. Because of
evolution, many dogs will try to mask their pain. In the wild,
dogs that could not keep up with the pack would be ostracized.
This can make it more difficult for the human pack to know when
their friend is suffering. Watch for a decline in everyday
activities. Is your dog slowing on your daily walks? Maybe he is
less likely to play fetch or run around the yard? Or maybe he is
having a hard time getting up from a laying down position? Other
dogs will actually cry and whimper in pain.
Typical Treatment for Dog Arthritis
First thing to do is take your
dog to the vet for an evaluation. Your vet will check for painful
places and range of motion. She might do x-rays. She might also do
some blood work to check out your dog’s internal workings to make
sure that any medication will not have an adverse affect on your
pet.
One form of treatment is pain reduction. This can be done with
injections at the vet or by pills that you can take home. Only
give your pet prescribed pain relievers never give him something
intended for humans as it could make him very ill. Most vets will
only use pain medications for short amounts of time before
requiring repeat blood work. One side effect of some pain
medications is liver and kidney problems and they will want to
make sure that their cure is not making your dog worse in other
areas.
Another option for dogs is to take glucosamine. As in humans,
glucosamine helps relieve arthritis symptoms by replacing joint
fluid. Many dogs see an improvement while on the supplement. Your
vet can let you know a recommended starting dose for your dog,
which is usually used for a minimum of 6 weeks. After that time
you can try lowering the dosage or the frequency until you find a
good maintenance level for your pet. It comes in both tablet and
liquid form, making it easy to find a way to administer it to your
pet.
Acupuncture is another treatment for dogs with arthritis. Just as
in humans, acupuncture needles are inserted into the dog’s body. A
treatment session lasts anywhere from one minute to 30 minutes,
and usually several treatments are required in order to see
improvement.
Another treatment often used in conjunction with one of the above
treatments is to use diet and herbs to treat dog arthritis. More
often done by a holistic vet then your regular one, the dog is
given fresh foods like salmon, lima beans, and kale as well as a
mix of Chinese herbs. This treatment is not for the faint of
heart, as it not only requires cooking for your dog, but herbs
often need to be given at multiple times of the day to be
effective.
Small changes to your dog’s every day life can also make coping
with arthritis easier. Make sure that he has a soft comfortable
bed to sleep in that is easy to get in and out with. Continue with
light exercise to help keep his joints mobile. Make sure that he
is maintaining his proper weight, as an excessive weight gain will
cause more strain on his joints. This may require a change in the
amount of food or the type of food that you give him. You can also
look for ways to make it easier for your dog to get around, such
as installing a ramp to get up your front stairs or into the car.
Arthritis does not have to mean the end of the road for your pet.
With a little extra care and some changes in routine he can be
happy and comfortable for years to come
