Most people who do not have dogs at home realize that dogs are highly susceptible to dog arthritis. How many times have you viewed a dog which maneuvers as if it is pain? This is particularly the case with older and/or overweight dogs that are generally less active physically. Sound familiar? It could, as this is just the sort of lifestyle which brings on arthritis in men and women, also. Nowadays, we refer to arthritis a lifestyle disease with reason.

Happens to all of us
In fact, arthritis in canines is very similar to arthritis in humans, in that it is a crippling disease that creates stiffness of the joints and muscles. And as in people, arthritis in canines is fairly usual as joints do, in the normal course of events, suffer an amount of deterioration. And also as in humans, arthritis – most usually osteoarthritis – in dogs can be an immensely tortuous ailment which, if not treated, causes a good deal of distress.

Age factor

And the worst thing is that dog arthritis can afflict dogs of any age. Obviously, the more aged the dog, the more chances that it will get arthritis, but arthritis affects younger dogs too. For example, a young dog that has been in an accident or has sustained some kind of injury is also prone to develop canine arthritis. Also there are ailments that can help induce the onset of canine arthritis, such as the ailment called hip dysplasia, which is a usual symptom of limping in dogs, and that can lead to arthritis in later years.

First steps
Obviously, if your dog displays symptoms of arthritis, the first thing to do is to visit a vet. The administration of the right kind of medication is very important, because like human arthritis, dog arthritis is not entirely curable, but, given the right kind of dog arthritis treatment, it can be kept in check.

And although you might not think it, gentle exercise is one of the best treatments, which may sound paradoxical since exercise will cause increased joint movement, but is actually of great help. That is because the exercises are not meant to be vigorous physical workouts, which will no doubt worsen the condition, but perhaps a steady walk, which releases lubricating fluids for the joints and aid their smooth movement.

See it coming
Naturally there is a variety of medicines and treatments that you can buy to alleviate the symptoms, though as we have already said, there is no 100% result. But these medications are best prescribed by the vet. And a vet is also your best bet for preventive measures, which really are the best ways to treat dog arthritis. So, assuming that dogs have an average life span of 14 years, if your pet is getting near 10, you should know that it’s time to ask your vet about ways to keep your dog healthy so that dog arthritis cannot strike.

Tags: Arthritis, canine, Cure, dog, remedies, Remedy, Treatment, Treatments