.

Facts On Special Joint Care For Dogs And Pain Relief For Arthritis

By Shelly Wright


As a pet owner, you feel the pain as it is felt by your dog when it ill or uncomfortable. For the pets, they age and are as uncomfortable as elderly human beings. This is why veterinarians recommend special joint care for dogs. Arthritis is one of the most common health problems in canines but is unfortunately detected when it is already too late. You are only left with the option of managing the condition.

Canines experience wear and tear around joints as they age, just like human beings do. Vets refer to the condition as osteoarthritis or degenerative disease. The condition is so common that most pet owners have to deal with it at a particular point in life. Since the body is unable to repair cartilage tissues as fast with age, the condition worsens and becomes very painful.

The earliest signs of arthritis include difficulty in moving and even reluctance to move. Play sessions become shorter and less animated. The pet is now hesitant to run around the yard or up and down the stairs. It is stiff in the morning and may even limp. Since the degeneration is gradual, it is likely to escape your attention. The angle and vigor of leaping decrease with your dog showing hesitance.

Vets make observations before recommending natural arthritis relief for dogs or medication. You may be asked to walk the pet over a distance to enable the vet observe its motions. Muscles around the spine and legs also shrink because of under-utilization. The canine winces when palpated around the affected joint. X-ray scans are used to confirm the condition of joints.

Therapy is as terrific in providing arthritis pain relief in dogs as it does in human beings. Some of the therapy options available to canines include hydrotherapy, heat treatment and whirlpool. It works by soothing their aching joints. The muscles are relaxed when heated using pads or water. It is also an effective way of boosting blood circulation which makes the dog calm. This relief lives on long after terminating therapy.

Care of feet and nails helps in improving walking style and preventing arthritis, just as it does in human beings. Ensure that they are trimmed properly on regular basis to give the canine a proper running gait. The idea is to avoid abnormal stress on joints and ligaments. You may use rosin spray to give your dog a more confident walking gait.

There are athletic canines like gray-hounds and sled dogs that are prone to arthritis. To slow down or prevent the attack, it is advisable that you expose the pet to regular exercise. Take regular walks and engage in interactive play. A massage will also help to relief the pain. In fact, it is a bonding session since pets love the attention and touch.

Watch what you feed your dog on from puppy stages. The food should be of the right quantity and calorie content. It is natural for pets to eat until the plate is clean. This leaves then overfed and overweight. This also increases the chances of arthritis at old age. To avoid starving the dog, choose food that is low in calories.




About the Author:



No comments :

Post a Comment