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ARTHRITIS IN DOGS
Canine arthritis is hard for owners to diagnose because it is often mistaken for old
age and a general slowness of a dog. Proper diagnosis of arthritis is important so that
the dog can receive appropriate treatment, especially pain relief.
SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS IN DOGS
A dog who has difficulty getting out of its bed or basket after a long rest or
sleep period may be showing signs of arthritis. Unfortunately, many owners mistake this for
laziness and ignore the problem. This is caused by stiffness in the joints when resting, which
usually loosen once the dog is up and about. The impression of laziness can be compounded
because many dogs can be their usual active self once on the go and over the transient stiffness, so owners think the dog just
wanted an extra sleep. However many dogs with arthritis can over do it one day and suffer
from pain the next (called the rebound effect).
Your dog may have a noticeable limp. A limp should never be ignored and early veterinary
advice is recommended.
Some dogs may have noticeable swollen joints. Early veterinary advice should
be sought.
A dog that compensates by putting more weight to an unaffected limb may have
thinner muscles in an affected joint. For the same reason the dog's nails on the affected
limb may be longer as they are not so worn down by walking.
You may notice that your dog is unable to jump as much as it used too, most noticeable
when climbing the stairs, getting into a car or jumping onto your bed or sofa.
Arthritis symptoms can come and go so owners may think their dog has muscle strain or
injury and rest the dog without seeking a vet's advice.
Glucosamine for Dogs
Much like humans, dogs with joint problems such as arthritis have shown an improvement in their mobility and reduction in joint stiffness when they eat glucosamine products. One easy and convenient way to give glucosamine to dogs with signs of arthritis in a tasty way is by giving them a daily Pedigree Joint Care + chew treat. This joint care for dogs contains glucosamine which has naturally been derived from shellfish. Glucosamine helps to rebuild joint tissue in a dog's body. Other natural ingredients include omega 3 which will help to support the natural suppleness of your dog and also promote his or her joint mobility. The chondroitin in Pedigree Joint Care will help to ease any stiffness and discomfort in your dog's joints and is extracted from green lipped mussel powder whilst the methionine will help to support your dog's natural regeneration process. There are case studies of dog's whose lives have been improved by Pedigree Jointcare Plus, such as Bracken, at their websites www.pedigreejointcare.co.uk and www.pedigree.com
Pedigree Jointcare Plus is recommended for large dogs such as Flat Coated Retrievers and other dog's whose weight is from 25kg to 50kg. There are also Pedigree JointCare Plus products for small and medium weight dog's. Prices range in value from the small being cheaper. Pedigree Joint Care Plus is said to give your dog a new lease of life. This glucosamine for dogs product is available in a seven day pack or even cheaper in a 21 day box. It is recommended that Pedigree Joint Care + be given to your older dog each day to see an improvement after several weeks. Pedigree have a six week challenge at their website. We at flat-coats.co.uk fed these to our dog after she reached the age of ten years and saw an improvement in her walking and running after just two weeks. We are able to go for long walks again and it is great to see her running around once more. She loves the taste of these and it is just like giving her a daily treat rather than medicine.
Early veterinary examination is recommended if your dog shows any of the symptoms above
or if you suspect your dog is ill. Your dog will then benefit from a qualified treatment
regime. Some dog insurance policies may cover such costs. Most treatments centre on reducing the inflammation in the
joints and managing the pain.
Preventing your dog from becoming over-weight will help prevent unnecessary pressure going through
their joints. If your dog is already over-weight, a diet and gentle exercise will help it loose
weight which will relieve some of the pressure from their weight causing further wear and
tear to the joints.
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Dog Car Ramp
One way to help an arthritic older dog to get easily in and out of a car is with the use of a dog car ramp.
Most dog car ramps extend or fold up for easy storage into the car and are robust enough to take the weight of most adult dogs.
In the photo above you can see Lucy, our older Flat Coated Retriever making use of the dog car ramp. It took her a wee while to get used to walking up and down it and we overcame this by dangling her favourite meat treat over the dog car ramp treads. She soon learnt to use the dog car ramp in order to be awarded her treat. We are sure it is helping to reduce her arthritis pain levels and allowing her to go for walks.
Read more about the signs of arthritis in dogs and the available treatment in an article written by a veterinarian who runs a do breeds and health related issues website at
www.dog-breeds-and-dog-health.com where there is information about Osteoarthritis (OA), Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and a description of synovial joints and damage to the articular cartilage that can occur in older dogs. Dr Caroline also discusses in more detail the diagnosis of canine osteoarthritis and the conservative, medical and surgical treatments available.
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