Arthritis In Dogs
Before we go into the details about the effects that arthritis can have on dogs, we would like to point out a few facts. Arthritis doesn't only effect older people or older dogs, it can also effect children or even puppies. If you are a dog owner you always make sure to cover their heart worm medicine, feed them quality dog foods, and make sure they get a proper amount of exercise. But do you make sure they are getting enough Chondroitin, Vitamin C, and Glucosamine in their diet? When your pet is looking like they aren't feeling so well, most people suspect they have a doggy flu or perhaps a virus - but the fact is it quite possibly can be arthritis. Taking the proper steps in preventing arthritis in dogs include a healthy diet with a quality joint supplement such as K9 Joint Strength.
How to make an Early Diagnosis and Treatment
How do you know that your dog has arthritis? Especially since some breeds of dogs have an extremely high pain tolerance. Well, luckily there are few different ways to spot that your canine friend my be in trouble.
Signs that your dog may have arthritis:
- Sleeping more often than usual
- Showing signs of limping
- Having trouble getting up or laying down
- Increase in weight
- Temperament changes
- Less playful and less active
- Hesitant to jump onto a couch, go up steps, or even run
- Showing signs of pain when you touch their joints
- Less alert
If your dog is experiencing any of the above symptoms for more than a two week time period, it would be a good idea to contact your local veterinarian and set up an appointment. The vet will most likely want to take X-Rays for an arthritis evaluation. The best thing to do is take steps to prevent arthritis in the first place. However, if dog does have arthritis you can treat it with proper nutrition, supplements, and health care. Treating arthritis in dogs is very similar to treating a human with osteo arthritis
Therapies for your dog may include:
- A holistic human grad dog food and exercise to get your dog to an ideal weight.
- A non steroid drug prescribed by your veterinarian
- A quality dog joint supplement such as K9 Joint Strength to provide your dog with adequate Chondroitin and Glucosamine. Both of which are beneficial in proper joint health.
- Over the counter pet treatments or products like K9 Joint Strength that contain Omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids are proven for pain relief when it comes to arthritis in dogs.
Never give your dog human medication before you check with a veterinarian before hand. It is true that some human drugs can be used for dogs as well, however a great deal of them can be extremely harmful to dogs. In particular ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Also, the dosage must be accurate since every breed of dog varies in size. For instance you wouldn't feed a french bulldog that same dosage as a german shepherd.
Now that we went over a good bit of options for your dog's joint health, we want to point out the fact of how important proper diet is to keep your dogs as well as puppies happy and active.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin For Dogs Can Benefit Your Pets A Great Deal. Find Out More...
Arthritis happens to be one of the oldest diseases in history. It was proven that dinosaurs suffered from it and there is also evidence that humans in early times also suffered from the same pains and chronic aches that it causes. So it would only make sense that our canine companions would suffer from this as well. Arthritis in Dogs can be a tough thing to deal with for both dogs and owners. With our help, we can show you some excellent ways to prevent and treat it.
The Human and Dog Connection
Now that we know that dogs and human alike can both suffer from arthritis, but were you aware that by managing your dogs arthritis you can manage yours as well? It's true that our pets can have a positive impact on your lives, boost your will to exercise, and even lift your spirits when you are felling down. People who own cats, dogs, and pets in general tend to live longer and more fulfilling lives and have fewer visits to the doctor.
Before this line is good________________________
More good news is that the treatment strategy for osteoarthritis in humans and in canines is similar:
- Early diagnosis and treatment
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercise
- Proper medication
Don’t Spare Yourself to Spoil the Dog
We can’t help it. We spoil our pets. If you focus more on your dog’s health than on yours, try these tips to keep both of you healthy and active.
- Visit the doctor. Your pet needs to see the veterinarian at least once a year for a check-up – maybe more. When you make his appointment, call your own doctor and schedule one for yourself. Make sure you both get some baseline X-rays to chart your bone deterioration.
- Shed excess pounds. Pay more attention to what your pet eats and when, and do the same for yourself. Read the food labels for each of you to make sure that every bite is giving you both good energy and nutrition. Limit your servings and don’t cheat by eating between meals or slipping Fido extra snacks.
- Coordinate your dog’s medication schedule with your own to make sure you both take your dosage every day. Arrange medicine with mealtime if it needs to be taken with food. Keep your meds together so you will see yours every time you reach for his. Use colorful stickers or permanent markers to help distinguish whose medication is whose, especially if you have trouble reading small print.
- Never let your dog take your medicine – and don’t take his – without discussing it with your doctor.
- Let Rover take you for walk. Instead of kicking your dog off the couch so you can stretch out, kick him off, grab the leash and stretch out together. Take a walk or run with your four-legged friend. You’ll both strengthen the muscles around your joints, which reduces stress on the joint itself. But don’t over do it. Both of you need to increase exercise levels slowly and stay hydrated. Monitor how you both feel after the walk to determine if you need to increase or decrease your level next time. Don’t only treat your own blisters and sore feet – be sure to check Fido’s paws and pads after exercising for lesions or lacerations.
