Dogs with Arthritis
For any adult that suffers from arthritis, you know how much of a frustration it can be. Dealing with the pain and the inability to do certain tasks can be stressful and upsetting. The same applies to your dog. And, when your dog is in pain, you will want to do everything in your power to make him or her feel better. But what can you do? Luckily, there are a number of different ways you can help a dog with arthritis. So, let’s take a look at some suggestions…
Suggestions for dogs with Arthritis…
- Take your dog to the vet for frequent check-ups so that you can make sure the condition is monitored. Your vet will be able to tell you whether there are any adjustments that are required in terms of your dog’s treatment plan.
- Considering getting a dog DNA test carried out. There are lots of different mix breeds of dogs today, and many pet owners never bother to find out the exact DNA of their pet. However, this is important in terms of truly understanding your pet’s needs and health risks, so it’s certainly a good idea to get a test carried out.
- Make sure you are feeding your dog the correct amount of food. Over-feeding will cause pressure on your dog’s joints, which makes the pain worse. Some tips in terms of feeding your dog include following a controlled diet and adjusting your dog’s food based on the seasons. You should also resist the temptation of giving your dog too many treats, which can be a challenge when you want to cheer him up. Of course, exercise is important too, which we will discuss in the next point.
- Controlled exercise is a necessity. When your dog is running, walking, or playing, make sure you carefully monitor his or her activity. If you can, finding a soft surface for activity comes highly recommended. You can also speak to your vet about this, as they will surely have some good advice regarding the best sort of controlled exercise for your dog specifically.
- Adjust the environment your dog has at home. There are a number of different things that can help a dog with arthritis in this regard. This includes securing rugs to help your dog get traction when he walks or putting down carpeting, as well as using ramps to assist your dog with getting in and out of bed or the car, and providing soft supportive bedding for your dog’s achy joints.
So many different ways to help..
- Look into the option of surgery if your dog has advanced arthritis.
- Have you thought about acupuncture? This is another option to consider if your dog has advanced arthritis. This is a painless treatment and it has had success rates amongst dogs suffering from this condition.
- Chondroitin and glucosamine supplements can be used to support better joint functioning and improve joint mobility for dogs that have arthritis.
- Pain medication may also be helpful for your dog. Common options in this regard include disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Of course, you should never give your dog any medication without speaking to your vet first.
- Keep your dog dry and warm as much as you can. This is important because damp and cold conditions can make arthritis worse, aggravating the condition. It is also worth looking into applying warm compresses to painful joints and investing in a padded dog bed.
- The final piece of advice for anyone who is looking for ways to help their dog with arthritis is to talk to their vet about professional animal massages. It is likely that your vet will be able to recommend a professional animal massage therapist to you. Massage works well in terms of boosting your dog’s sense of well-being, circulation, and flexibility.
There are a number of different things you can do to help
As you can see, there are a number of different things that you can do to help your dog if he or she is suffering from arthritis. There is no denying that this is a painful and frustrating condition, and you will want to do everything in your power to make your dog feel better. If you try the suggestions that have been mentioned above, you should notice a considerable difference.
