ARTHRITIS IN DOGS

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.
  
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  TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CANINE ARTHRITIS

  
  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 lose weight which will relieve some of the pressure from their weight causing further wear and tear to the joints.
  
  
  Read the dog health page.
  
  
  
  Free UK Delivery on Dog and Pet Portraits from photographs at Karla's Creative Capers who did the portrait on the left from a photo of my flat coated retriever, Lucy. The portraits are ready to hang on the wall and are of a high quality canvas. For full details see www.karlascreativecapers.co.uk
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  Healthy Treats Joint Aid
  
  Healthy Treats Joint Aid is available from Tesco shops. These healthy treats joint aid chews contain Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help your dog's joint mobility. The Tesco healthy treats joint aid chews also contain vitamin, minerals and extra Omega 3 oil which help with canine arthritis. The Glucosamine and Chondroitin are sourced from green lipped muscle powder and the treats are quite large enough to satisfy the hungriest of pets.
  
  
  
  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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