It can be hard sometimes to tell if your dog has arthritis as they tend not to show signs of pain. A reluctance or slowness in doing daily activities, like climbing stairs or jumping off of a bed or couch, can sometimes be signs. The lack of desire to go for a walk or wanting to return early can also be cause for concern.
Arthritis can occur from many different factors. Joint injury or infection, inherent congenital conditions or defects that can cause the surfaces of joints to wear unevenly which can result in the joint cartilage eroding. Should this happen, the cushioning effect of the cartilage is lost and the surfaces of the bone within the joint become exposed which leads to bone rubbing on bone. Immune mediated disorders are another cause of some types of arthritis.
Inflammation of the joints is one other form. Should the joint become inflamed, the tissues around it will thicken and lose their elasticity. Range of motion becomes limited and it is painful to move.
There are a growing number of medications (both over the counter and prescription only) along with nutritional supplements that aim to help relieve the symptoms of canine arthritis in dogs. When considering which to choose you should remember that nothing can cure the condition so if a treatment is stopped, symptoms will return.
In general supplements are a viable option for delaying the onset of the disease and a good preventative measure for breeds that are expected to develop arthritis as they age. These tend to contain enzymes that help the body re-balance itself and stop attacking its own cartilage. In addition many will contain compounds such as glucosamine that contain the building blocks of cartilage and so are believed to help the body repair the damaged joints to some degree.
Prescription only products should be the last resort once all other treatments fail to work. This is because although they can be extremely effective, they do run more risk of side effects and as prescription only medications are likely to prove an expensive option. Dogs that show an intolerance of one type of NSAID may do absolutely fine with another so do not dismiss this choice of treatment simply because your dog has not coped with Rimadyl for example. Each NSAID is different and though they all act similarly individual dogs respond to some better than others.
In addition to medication simple changes can help any sufferer of arthritis. Losing excess weight is key to reducing the strain on the pet’s joints and should be your first move. In addition restraining a particularly energetic dog may help. If jumping and twisting brings on bouts of stiffness for example, try to stop your pet from being quite so energetic.
Simple massage and quiet time with an animal in pain is also shown to improve their overall well-being significantly.
There may not be a cure for canine arthritis but there are countless ways to help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the condition. Whichever method you choose do be sure to consult with your vet. They will know which treatments are most likely to prove effective in your particular pet’s case.
