How to Help Your Dog Cope With Arthritis

Few sights will spur a pet owner to action like the image of a beloved pet hobbling around due to arthritis pain. If your dog has developed arthritis, rest assured that you can make their life easier and happier in a number of ways. Here are some valuable steps you can take to help your arthritic pet cope.

Try Medications to Reduce Pain and Inflammation

Medications can often help control the inflammatory pain, swelling, and damage of arthritis. The first line of defense may involve a prescription for canine-friendly NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These drugs decrease the amount of pain-causing substances called prostaglandins.

If NSAIDs don't provide your dog with much relief, you can step up to corticosteroids. These drugs, which supplement the production of steroids in an animal's body, packs more anti-inflammatory power than NSAIDs. They also carry certain risks, however, so you may want to reserve them for severe arthritic episodes.

Dogs occasionally receive prescriptions for opioids, but only for the most severe and unmanageable pain. If your pet struggles with arthritis of this intensity, you might actually consider surgery as an alternative. For instance, a joint fusion procedure limits motion, but it also stops the bone ends from rubbing together painfully.

Make Nutritional and Dietary Changes

Some well-considered nutritional and dietary changes can help your dog experience less trouble with their arthritis. Weight loss can prove crucial if obesity has placed extra stress on the joints. Your dog may benefit from fewer or smaller feedings, or from low-calorie pet foods designed to combat obesity.

In addition, you may also need to look at the ingredients in your pet's menu. Some foods tend to promote inflammation, while others actually boast anti-inflammatory properties. Raw foods cause less inflammation than cooked ones as a general rule.

Since dogs are able to get their nutrients from many kinds of foods, including fruits and vegetables, your pet may have a variety of anti-inflammatory options. Try supplementing his diet with dark, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, berries, fatty fish, and other rich sources of anti-inflammatory substances.

Additionally, seasonings don't just add interest to meals; some of them can also help fight inflammation. For instance, two of the herbs that commonly grace kitchen counters, turmeric and ginger, appear to reduce inflammatory pain in animals.

Don't neglect the potential value of veterinarian-approved nutritional supplements in your pet's battle against arthritis symptoms. Dogs who don't eat fish can receive valuable anti-inflammatory aid from omega-3 supplements instead. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may also help by enhancing joint lubrication.

Encourage Gentle Exercise

Arthritic animals (and their human counterparts, for that matter) tend to resist doing anything that makes their pain worse. As a result, your dog may naturally choose to sit quietly instead of running around. In truth, however, gentle exercise can actually help to ease pain and preserve joint mobility.

Seek veterinary advice on what kind of exercise plan would suit your dog's individual needs and condition. A brief, easy, daily walk may be all they can do, but it may also make a dramatic difference in their longterm comfort.

Dogs who suffer from severe joint pain may still be able to exercise with the aid of water therapy. In this approach, the dog exercises in a pool or tank partly filled with water. The water provides buoyancy, supporting the animal's body and allowing for less painful weight-bearing joint motion.

Make Your Home More Ergonomic

The last thing your arthritic dog needs is unnecessary physical obstacles. You can prevent this issue by making your household more accessible. Maintain a clear pathway to your dog's bed, with food and water bowls in easy reach. You can also add gently sloping ramps as an alternative to stairs.

An arthritic dog may move too slowly to get outdoors before his bladder or bowels revolt. Make certain that your pet can still use the doggie door or other provided exit path. If all else fails, there's nothing wrong with diapering your dog (as long as you administer regular changes and cleanings).

Give your canine the quality of life they deserve, arthritis or no arthritis. Contact Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach to schedule a veterinary consultation.