2. There are many forms of arthritis that can create pain
for a dog. Like humans, dog arthritis is an inflammation
of a joint or joints. Anywhere a dog has a joint they can
have arthritis. The cartilage in the joint may be inflamed,
but it can also be joint fluid causing the issues within the
bones. The main types of arthritis in dogs are
osteoarthritis, immune mediated, infective, and
idiopathic.
3. The most common dog arthritis is osteoarthritis which is
a degenerative disease in the joints where the cartilage
will need remodeling, and then the new bone causes the
arthritis. The dog arthritis symptoms are usually a
gradual onset of limpness in the limbs. In other words
lameness will result to where the dog finds it difficult to
walk. Most often a dog will also be less likely to be
active such as walks, playing, or even going up stairs.
4. Dog arthritis begins as a gradual limpness in the affected
limb or limbs and may progress to lameness. An
advanced case will reveal itself as a dog that is less
active in play, on walks and generally has difficulty
walking. The stiffness and pain are more likely to be
pronounced in the morning or after a nap - when the
dog has been sleeping in the same position for some
time. During the day when the dog is most active, the
pain is generally minimal.
5. An arthritic dog will usually experience pain when their
legs are touched near the inflamed joint. The will usually
be swelling in this area, but it may not be visible to an
unaided eye.
6. Dogs with arthritis can be treated with medications
which are available to help manage the inflammation.
However, a lot of dog owners prefer to take a more
natural route for the treatment of their pet's dog
arthritis. In a lot of cases, these treatments are more
effective for the animal. The most popular natural
remedies for arthritis in dogs are Glucosamine and
MSM. Many experts believe MSM, Glucosamine and
Chondroitin to be the three essential ingredients in a
dog arthritis treatment regimen.
7. Glucosamine is an amino sugar which occurs naturally in
the body - but part of the effects of aging is the loss of
the ability to produce enough of this sugar for the body's
needs. Glucosamine is not found in any significant food
source, but can be obtained from the shells of shellfish.
The anti-inflammatory effects it offers are very useful in
the treatment of arthritis, in humans and in animals
alike.
8. Many times, just a change in diet can be enough to treat
the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Especially in tandem
with exercise, diet can relieve arthritis in many dogs.
Just as in humans, obesity can lead to arthritis. If the
animal is kept at a healthy weight, then much of the
pain of arthritis will simply disappear.
9. Again the method of treatment should depend on the
severity of the arthritis as well as the cause of it. Some
causes are something you must treat, but cannot be
rectified, unlike obesity that can be treated and
corrected.