Dog Arthritis and Joint Pain: Causes, Indicators, and Treatments

Dog Arthritis and Joint Pain

As a pet parent, you might be miserable seeing your companion getting older. You may feel helpless and sorry when your ca    nine buddy has arthritis and faces difficulty moving. Helpless because there is no known cure for dog arthritis yet. However, some remedies may ease your dog’s suffering. Let’s understand dog arthritis in-depth and explore the pain-relieving measures as well.

What Is Arthritis in Dogs?

As a dog grows older, the cartilage in its joints (knees, elbows, hips, etc.) starts to deteriorate. It begins to lose its softness, resulting in bone-on-bone frictions. The problem worsens when the bone-to-bone rubbing forms a new stiffer bone surrounding the joint, restricting the dog’s mobility. Such an inflammation puts dogs through excruciating pain and discomfort.

What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?

Though age is the primary cause, several more factors lead to arthritis in dogs. These factors may affect your dog’s one or many joints. The causes include the following:

  • Age – As your dog ages, its joints wear out and degrade, resulting in arthritic issues.
  • Overweight – Do you have a sizable dog? It is then vulnerable to arthritis. That’s because the extra pounds are putting strain on the joints. Such pressure progressively weakens the joints.
  • Injuries – If your dog is prone to injuries such as fractures, its cartilage is more likely to be damaged, leading to joint problems.
  • Genetics – You may notice that a specific dog breed suffers heavily from joint problems. The reason for this is due to hereditary variables such as physique.

What Are the Indicators of Dog Arthritis?

It is essential to suspect arthritic signs and symptoms in your dog to detect and treat them as soon as possible. Look for the red flags listed below, and if you observe one, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.

  • Rapid weight gain
  • Licking, chewing, and biting joints
  • Irritable Behaviour
  • Lethargic and energy less
  • Limping
  • Unwillingness to move
  • Cry out when touched
  • Sudden behavioral change

Measures and Remedies for Arthritic Dogs

If your dog has been diagnosed with arthritic problems, you can embrace the below things to alleviate its pain.

Give Your Dog Supplements and Medications

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as Carprofen, are incredibly effective at lessening joint inflammation and stiffness in dogs. Additionally, FDA-approved injections such as Adequan promote joint lubrication, thereby alleviating pain. You can buy these products for your canine companion from reputable and accredited stores like PetCareRx.

Maintain Your Dog’s Weight

Obesity strains joints, causing pain and discomfort. As a result, you should assist your fat dog in losing weight by implementing a good exercise regimen and food plan. Walking and swimming are moderate workouts that might help your dog shed weight and increase mobility.

To alleviate arthritic discomfort in your dog, feed a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin sulfate, and glucosamine. Nourish your dog with nutritional foods that fight inflammation, such as veggies, fruits, and whole grains. Serving inflammatory foods to your dog, such as processed meals, is not good.

Massage Your Dog

It’s time to pamper your four-legged friend. To reduce muscular tension, carefully massage your dog’s tense muscles. However, avoid touching their joints when massaging; else, they will experience aches. Massage therapy will significantly improve your dog’s mobility. You may hire a professional pet massage therapist.

Consider Acupuncture

Get your dog to have acupuncture therapy, in which a specialist will insert tiny needles into specific areas of your dog’s skin. The treatment increases blood circulation and stimulates the production of pain-relieving chemicals.

Arrange an Orthopedic Dog Bed

The orthopedic bed is built of “viscoelastic” polyurethane foam. The foam makes the bed soft and arthritic friendly. Hence, it is specifically designed for your pooch in pain due to bones rubbing on a hard floor or a regular bed. The mattress will provide excellent support to your dog’s bones and joints. It also makes it convenient and painless for your dog to get up.

Make Your Home Slip-Proof

When your dog gets up/moves or does activities with limited mobility on a slick surface, it is vulnerable to injury. Ensure your dog’s bedding on resting and seating space is equipped with non-slip mats to avoid accidents. Similarly, to allow your dog to move freely throughout the house, use non-slip carpets, matting, and rugs. Place them at the bottom and top of stairwells, near your dog’s beds, sofas, and floors.

That is how you may support your pet partner and make its life easier and more bearable. However, before giving your dog any medication or taking him for acupuncture, consult with your veterinarian. The rest of the methods you may embrace right away.

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