Treatments For Canine Arthritis Help Dog Owners And Their Pets

If you begin to notice that your dog having trouble going up and down the stairs, jumping on the couch or just an overall gradual reduction in the overall mobility of your pet, then he or she might be affected by the debilitating effects of arthritis. While some dog breeds are more prone to developing some sort of arthritic condition than others, the reality is that any dog can develop arthritis regardless of their age or pedigree. Factors that can contribute to the onset of arthritis are injuries, birth defects and poor nutrition. As a matter of fact, canine arthritis can develop for the same reason that it does in humans. With time, the bones and joints deteriorate and cause wear and tear on the elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders, hips and so on. The joints begin to wear away and are unable to do their job properly, which will of course lead to pain for your dog.

The following are the three main types of canine arthritis. First we have Osteoarthritis, which is a progressive condition that is caused by the cartilage breaking down around the joints, thus causing bones to rub together. Degenerative Joint Disease is the breakdown of the joint itself so the bones and cartilage begin to degenerate. The third is Hip Dysplasia, which is a malformed ball and socket joint, thus the joint is not connected properly and allows the build up of calcium. This in turn affects the bones, muscle and cartilage.

If your pet is one of the unlucky ones that suffer from dog arthritis then the likelihood is that you are feeling rather helpless. You may believe that there is nothing you can do aside from make your dog comfortable and ensure that he or she undertakes little exercise. Well, that is absolutely not the case. There are several things you can do for your dog if he or she has dog arthritis and all of them will help to ease the pain, if only temporarily. First we will look at a medical solution, then we will provide more homeopathic approaches.

Most vets will first look to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) for arthritis care in dogs. As with humans, prescription medication will be a last resort if these don’t work. The NSAIDs that are approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use in dogs include:

Etogesic
Rimadyl
Deramaxx
Metacam
Zubrin
Previcox
Novox

Some of these are given in liquid form (which is easy to hide in food), while others are supplied as chewable pills or pills that must be administered to the dog. If the NSAIDs don’t work for your dog, or they don’t do enough to alleviate your dog’s discomfort from arthritis, you can look into prescription medications. Some of the above can only be obtained with a prescription, but the following always require a prescription:

Etodolac
Etogesic
Peroxicam
Butazolidin

Just like humans, the negatives to using the any medication is that they will likely produce some side
effects in your dog. Pay attention to potential side effects and report any you see in your dog.

If you don't want to take a chance with the potential side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can use to help slow down the progression of the disease and help your dog to stay healthy and as pain free as possible.

Animal experts are now discovering what’s been known for humans with arthritis for some time – glucosamine and chondroitin are excellent supplements to add to the diet. They relieve the stress on the joints, reduce pain and ultimately reduce inflammation. A 1998 study showed that dogs given these supplements had a significant reduction in symptoms from arthritis than dogs that had not been given the supplements.

The best form in which to give these supplements is liquid. You can simply add them to your dog’s food and he’ll never know he’s getting anything other than his food. Many of these supplements are also loaded with other beneficial ingredients like Vitamins E, A and C, and omega acids. Not all vets are on board with giving dogs supplements and might look upon such additions with dubious intellectual interest.

Before giving your dog any supplements, be sure to check with your vet, but also know the facts. Do a little research so you can tell your vet with some accuracy why the supplements might help your dog. If your vet is wildly opposed to the idea, but you are sure it will help your dog, you might consider talking to another vet about the possibility of giving supplements to your dog. Don’t just give them to your dog without some kind of medical clearance. You want to make sure that the various mixes of nutrients are right for your dog and not dangerous.

Aside from administering natural treatments, a dog owner should always provide a clean and safe environment to keep their pet from further injuring herself. The addition of equipment such as dog ramps, dog steps or dog stairs can help reduce the wear and tear than can accumulate on their joints as well as prevent potential harm to your dog as they attempt to jump on to the sofa, beds or vehicles.