You can Help Homeless Pets by donating one dollar!
Arthritis
Treatments you can use for Doggies
Tippy is the author of this information.
Canine Arthritis is probably one of the most common dog
diseases that veterinarians must treat. Older dogs are more
likely to suffer from this disease than younger dogs, but
Canine Arthritis has been known to affect younger dogs as
well, especially if they are overweight or have suffered a
major accident that injured their legs.
There can also be genetic factors that make a particular dog
more likely to eventually develop Canine Arthritis. Genetic
diseases like Hip Dysplasia make it a lot more likely that
your dog will suffer from Canine Arthritis. But with
preventive measures your dog might never have this problem
at all and if it does, this disease can be treated and
managed and the dog can still have a good quality of life.
If you dog is diagnosed with arthritis there are
steps to proper treatment and the treatment may be tested
and adjusted by your veterinary team until a treatment is
found that your dog can tolerate and that will work to its
best advantage against the pain and lameness caused by
Canine Arthritis.
Treatments for Canine Arthritis may include:
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs:
NSAIDs are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that are non-
steroidal in nature. There are certain such medications that
are specifically designed for use with pets. Human NSAIDs
may work on pets, but determining the right dosage from a
human pill is difficult unless your veterinarian has advised
you, and the wrong dosage of NSAIDs, especially of human
medications, can be dangerous or even deadly.
One drug commonly prescribed is called Deramaxx; another is
Rimadyl (Zenecarp in the United Kingdom). NSAIDs provide
relief from the pain associated with Canine Arthritis.
NSAIDs can also reduce the inflammation and even slow the
progress of the disease.
Joint Fluid Modifiers:
Joint fluid modifiers such as glycosaminoglycans and
hyaluronic acid work by changing the fluids in the joints to
relieve friction on the joint so that surfaces within the
joint can be healed. These drugs are one of the newest
medications available to treat this disease.
Unfortunately, there is no immediate result with joint fluid
modifiers; instead they are effective over a period of time.
These drugs are usually prescribed along with an NSAID so
that the dog will have pain relief until the other drugs
take effect to heal the joint.
Surgery:
For dogs with advanced cases of canine arthritis surgery may
be the only option. However, many pet owners aren't willing
to let their pet undergo this surgery as it has a high risk
and is very costly. There are few veterinarians who are even
qualified to do this surgery. But for those pet owners who
want relief for their pet at any cost surgery may be an
option.
Natural Cures:
There are many recommended natural treatments for your dog
for canine arthritis. Most of these herbal remedies can be
bought at a local herbal health food store. There are also
natural treatments like acupuncture and massage. So if you
are interested in going the more natural route to help your
dog through this disease then you can visit your herbal
health food store and ask the personnel there or go
searching online. People in either place will no doubt be
more than happy to help you.
Vaccines:
There are also vaccines available to help your dog fight the
effects of canine arthritis. These vaccines are preventive
in nature and are not a cure for the disease. You can ask
your veterinarian about vaccines and if the vet recommends
this treatment you can set regular appointments to have your
dog receive it. Be sure to ask about the vaccine's side
effects and what you should know about the vaccine itself so
you can make an informed decision and protect your pet.
But the number one way to treat canine arthritis is for your
dog not to get it in the first place. Take preventive
measures so that your dog will not develop it or if your dog
does develop it the disease never gets to the point of
crippling your dog.
One important preventative measure you can take is to make
sure that that your dog has a regular, steady diet that
contains the proper nutrition. Some of the cheaper dog foods
are full of corn, which is very bad for your dog. Nutrition
has been linked to developing this disease as well as many
others, so don't take proper nutrition for your best friend
lightly.
Also make sure to manage the weight of your dog so that it
doesn't become obese, since obese dogs are more likely to
develop this disease. Take your dog for regular non-
strenuous walks every day. Exercise lubricates the joints
and helps stave off all kinds of diseases.
And overall, pay plenty of attention to your pet. If you
notice your dog having trouble moving around then you should
be concerned. If you are aware of your dog's health and you
catch canine arthritis early enough then the condition can
often be reversed. But at later stages joint damage is
permanent and your dog may be in pain the rest of its life.
So, be aware and pay attention to your dog and its health so
that you can prevent your dog from getting sick in the first
place.
Tippy Says: I used to have joint and arthritic problems,
but No More!
Find out why Here
How to Keep your Dog as Healthy
as Possible
