Arthritis in dogs

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is a health problem that one in five dogs in the US, will encounter after age seven. Dogs can contract painful degenerative joint disease (DJD), which is one of the top recurring pains that dogs suffer from. A dog can get arthritis in the back, shoulders, neck, hip, or elbows.

Signs to recognize Artheritis in your dog

A dog that favors one side of the body over the other may have arthritis. A dog that acts uncomfortable while standing, or sitting on one side of his body may also have arthritis. A dog that appears to be sleepy despite not getting enough exercise may also be a dog with arthritis. A dog suffering from arthritis may not be as active as he normally might otherwise be. Stiff joints may make the dog walk slower, hesitate before moving, and avoid playing his favorite games.

Treatment

When you notice the above signs of possible arthritis it is important to take your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan. Part of the treatment plan may include diet, exercise, and warm comfortable resting and sleeping areas away from cold drafts and cold surfaces.

A dog with arthritis should not be on a dry dog food diet because dry food is made mostly of grains and grains will cause the dog's joints to become inflamed and painful. A better diet for a dog with arthritis is the raw diet or a cooked meat and vegetable diet. This type of diet will decrease the amount of inflammation he experiences in his joints. It is also possible that your vet will prescribe Omega 3 fatty acids as a supplement to your dog's diet to help decrease the inflammation in his joints. Omega 3 fatty acids can be obtained from fatty fish capsules or from flax seed.

Some dog owners upon hearing their dog has arthritis may immediately think of decreasing the amount of exercise in order to avoid giving the dog reason to experience additional pain. Although it is true that you dog probably experiences pain, joints need to move in order for the dog to avoid unnecessary stiffness. Dogs who love water, will enjoy the freedom of movement being in water will bring. If you don't live near a lake or pond, try encouraging your dog to use a wading pool in warm weather. Take a dog with arthritis for short walks, no longer than 15 minutes in duration. If you have a dog with arthritis that is normally kept outdoors, you may want to bring him in the house or other warm dwelling during cold weather as cold weather will increase the stiffness and pain the dog experiences.

Your vet will take an x-ray at the diagnosis appointment to determine the extent of damage to the joints at that time. Besides advising on diet and exercise, the vet may place the dog on medication to help relieve the dog of joint pain and immobility. The medication might be able to repair the joint if given on a regularly prescribed dosage.

Never give dog human medications, as certain medications can be toxic to dogs. Always give only medications approved or prescribed by a certified vet.