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Home Home and Family Pets Effective Arthritis Treatments for Dogs
Effective Arthritis Treatments for Dogs PDF Print E-mail
Written by Mike Roberts   
Arthritis in canines is usually a disease that's age related and is recognized to be one of the most common diseases in dogs. No matter what the age of your dog it can be affected, especially if they are over weight. Arthritis is most common in larger breeds that grow to more than 60 pounds, like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Rottweilers and German Shepherds.
by MikeRoberts


Arthritis in dogs is usually a disease that's age related and is recognized to be one of the most common diseases in dogs. No matter what the age of your pet it can be affected, especially if they are over weight. Arthritis is more common in larger breeds that grow to more than 60 pounds, like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Rottweilers and German Shepherds.

It is the breakdown of cartilage between the joints that causes your pet pain during movement. This is the is almost the same pain humans feel when they have arthritis.

Many pet owners have taken a preventative approach to try and stave off these age related issues of movement and pain. If you want to start your pet on such a regimen it should be done before the age of five. The usual supplements that you would give your pet would include Chondroitin and Glucosamine. They have been shown to help promote healthy joints in not only dogs, but humans too.

If your pet starts showing symptoms of arthritis you need to take steps to help control their pain quickly. Dogs are good at masking some of the symptoms of pain so when you see it's painful for them, believe me it's really bothering them.

The first thing you need to do is identify any symptoms of pain in your dog. These symptoms can range from sleeping more, walking instead of running, not wanting to play, or showing stiffness when getting up. Anything that is not normal can be a sign of pain and stiffness and should be evaluated quickly by your Vet. Dogs don't generally show pain unless it's severe. If they are experiencing moderate pain they can mask it by moving slower, looking stiff and not moving as much. Be on the lookout.

Once your pet has been evaluated by your Vet you will know if you need to start some type of medication to relieve the stiffness and pain. Most times your Vet will recommend an NSAID, an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug. These medications can usually treat arthritis effectively, but the downside is possible side effects and a high cost. There can be adverse reactions and each pet has different levels of tolerance to each individual drug.

If you are concerned about prescription medications and their long term usage and potential side effects you might want to consider using available natural supplements that can be a less expensive and just as effective. It may take some trial and error in finding the right one for your pet.

My Labrador Retriever Brandy was showing signs of arthritis at eleven years. She was treated with Metacam for over a year and did quite well, however the cost was difficult to deal with since the medication dosage is based on the weight of the dog (mine weighed 75 pounds). I searched around and found an exceptional natural treatment that eliminated her pain at less than half the price of Metacam.

Everyone wants to do the best thing for their pet, however you also have to be able to afford the medication. There is a natural supplement that can relieve your dogs pain as well as being affordable. That type of treatment worked for my dog Brandy and I'm very sure that it should work for your pet as well.

About The Author:

Mike Roberts has owned and hunted Labradors for over 30 years. He is interested in eliminating hip and joint pain in dogs. Read his articles on pet arthritis and dog arthritis for more information.

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