Dogs With Arthritis

Arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage protecting the ends of the bones at a joint.  It’s estimated that 25 to 30 percent of dogs suffer from some form of arthritis or degenerative joint disease.

And it’s just as debilitating and painful for your dog as it is for us.

Arthritis often appears as a degenerative condition in older dogs, but dogs of any age can suffer from osteoarthritis brought on by a trauma or injury.

In fact, it’s more common for a dog to develop arthritis after suffering a trauma to the joint.  The trauma could come from a traffic accident, an infection in the joint, or abnormal stress placed on the joint surface.

Arthritis develops much faster in your dog after an injury than it does in a person.  It often occurs within weeks, even if the injury is minor.

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Arthritis

Here are some tell-tale signs to watch for if you think your pet is suffering from arthritis.

• Your dog may have difficulty getting up after resting.  Watch to see if her legs give out, she’s stiff, or loses her balance.

• Your pup may lag behind when walking with you or walk with a noticeable limp.

• Your four-legged friend used to chase her ball or toy, but she just doesn’t seem interested anymore.

• You call your dog to the couch, but he doesn’t seem interested in hopping up beside you.

• Your dog used to climb stairs, but now she doesn’t even attempt it.

• Your pooch used to love getting petted, but he resists your touch or yelps in pain now.

• Your dog used to love playing, but now she sleeps more and just doesn’t seem interested.

You should visit a qualified vet to confirm your dog suffers from arthritis, but these warning signs can help you spot the early onset of arthritis in your pet.

Common Treatments For Dogs With Arthritis

The most common arthritis treatment prescribed by veterinarians is the drug Rimadyl, also known by its generic name Carprofen.

Pfizer originally touted Rimadyl as a miracle treatment for pets with arthritis, but opted to discontinue it’s TV advertising after a significant amount of pet deaths occurred and many cases of adverse side effects were reported.

Rimadyl can be an effective treatment for some pets with arthritis, but you should understand the risks associated with its use.  Unfortunately, many vets don’t reveal the risks to their clients and assure them it’s completely safe.

In March 2000, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled Rimadyl: Most Arthritic Dogs Do Very Well On This Pill, Except Ones That Die.  It’s a well-written article that examines both the benefits and drawbacks to using the drug.

(We would have linked to the original article on the Wall Street Journal website, but it’s only available with a subscription.)

You should also check out the news and advisories about Rimadyl posted at The Senior Dogs Project.

Metacam, Deramaxx, and Previcox are other anti-inflammatory drugs which have caused problems with dogs.

Many dog owners choose to treat their pet’s arthritis with glucosamine, an effective natural treatment with many of  the same benefits as Rimadyl without the harsh side effects.

Glucosamine is a natural sugar created in your dog’s body and found in certain foods.  It plays a vital role in the repair and maintenance of healthy cartilage.

There are many glucosamine products available today, but most only come in a pill or capsule.  The liquid form is more easily absorbed by your pet’s body.

We recommend Synflex for Pets, a liquid glucosamine product that now comes in a tasty beef flavor your dog will love.

Glucosamine is also available in Arthrix, a chewable tablet containing a combination of powerful nutrients that helps improve your dog’s joint mobility and reduces joint discomfort.

More and more vets are recommending a memory foam dog bed to help the dogs under their care get a better quality of rest while reducing the pain they experience during the night.

Many dog lovers have also experienced success using massage to help their faithful companions cope with the pain and stiffness from arthritis.

Not only will a good massage improve the blood flow and lymph circulation of your dog, it also produces endorphines which act as natural painkillers.

You can learn how to perform massage on your dog with Dog Massage Secrets, a comprehensive set of online video lessons that will teach you everything you need to know about massaging your four-legged buddy.

You’ll also want to invest in Heal Your Dog Naturally, a wonderful ebook that’s full of effective information on how to naturally treat your dog for a wide variety of common health problems.

You’ll learn how to dig down and discover the real causes of your pet’s health problems so your dog can heal permanently.

It’s a must-have for your dogcare toolkit and it will help you save money with less trips to the vet.

Legal Disclaimer:  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not provided to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  They are provided for educational purposes only.