What helps a dog with arthritis?

7 Comments

1. Lindsay B says:

   January 26, 2012 at 2:43 pm

   What helps, is whatever your vet prescribes.
2. Dogs4Life.. says:

   January 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm

   Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. It affects not only people of all ages — including children — but also strikes our furry friends, too. If you’re a dog-owner, you make sure your buddy takes his heartworm medicine, eats well, looks bright-eyed and playful, and greets you as only a doggy can when you come home. You notice changes in mood and activity, so if your pet isn’t feeling his best you may suspect a cold or stomach virus – but it could be arthritis. In fact, arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.
   Spot’s Pals Are Early Diagnosis and Treatment
   How do you know if it’s arthritis? Your dog can’t explain what’s wrong with him, so it’s important to watch his non-verbal cues closely and take even subtle changes seriously.
   Signs that your dog may have arthritis:
   Favoring a limb
   Difficulty sitting or standing
   Sleeping more
   Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
   Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
   Weight gain
   Decreased activity or less interest in play
   Attitude or behavior changes
   Being less alert
   If your dog seems to have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks take him to your veterinarian for an arthritis evaluation, which will involve a physical exam and possibly X-rays. The best thing to do for your dog in managing his arthritis is to get a diagnosis and start a treatment plan as soon as possible. Treating canine arthritis is similar to that of human osteoarthritis.
   Therapies may include:
   Healthy diet and exercise to help maintain proper weight.
   Working with your veterinarian to find a drug treatment that helps relieve the pain.
   Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): the most common form of pharmaceutical treatment for arthritis in dogs.
   Over-the-counter pet treatments, such as pills or food containing either glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids. Both have shown to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
   A veterinarian-prescribed NSAID and an over-the-counter treatment that together may help decrease pain and disease progression.
   Never give your dog human medication without checking first with your veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs – particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen – and a safe dose will differ between a greyhound and a dachshund.
   No matter how you decide to treat your dog’s arthritis, make sure you work with a veterinarian to ensure that you select a program that helps your best budd
3. Woof says:

   January 26, 2012 at 3:23 pm

   You can give aspirin to a dog, but adjusting the dose to the dog’s weight may be a problem, especially in a small dog (baby aspirin?). Check your vet. Also there is something called Rimadal or Rymadal that is wonderful. My little 13 pounder had to take it when she pulled a ligament and it worked almost instantly.

   I also give my dogs glucosamine but, like in humans, it does take a while to kick in — I talking weeks, not days.
4. MamaBas says:

   January 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm

   There is definitely help to control the pain associated with arthritis although of course, you know there is no cure. It helps too, to keep his weight down, and keep him on limited exercise so he retains a bit of mobility for as long as he can. Once on pain relief, don’t overdo the exercise however because it’s easy to assume all is well once they move freely again.

   You might fine alternative medicine, acupuncture and also swimming (in a canine pool) which will help him exercise, without putting strain on the arthritic joints.

   There are also glucosamine tablets that will help.
5. A Great Dane Lady says:

   January 26, 2012 at 5:00 pm

   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14994484 is PubMed , a government site. It shows a study using beagles and an otc herbal product called Boswellia. I’ve been giving it to 2 of mine for a couple of years now. It works great for them.

   You can find it at Swanson Vitamins.com or even Amazon or Ebay.
6. •Poppy• says:

   January 26, 2012 at 5:06 pm

   Talk to your vet. S/he can tell you what medication and how much would be appropriate for your dog.

   Exercise also helps, but it can be hard because it’s painful. If you can get her to swim it would be great exercise that is low-impact on her joints. If it must be out of water, grassy areas are kinder than paved ones.
7. Andrew Walker says:

   January 26, 2012 at 5:37 pm

   Hi. Have you tried stem cell therapy. Its fairly new but successful.