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June 29th, 2009 by KittyKitty

Most people who do not have dogs at home realize that they are highly prone to dog arthritis. How many times have you seen some dog that maneuvers as if it is pain? This is particularly the case with advanced aged and/or overweight dogs which are generally inactive physically. Is this familiar? It could, as this is just the kind of lifestyle which causes arthritis in humans, too. Nowadays, we refer to arthritis a lifestyle disease with reason.

Happens to all of us
Actually, arthritis in dogs is much alike to arthritis in humans, in that it is a crippling disease that creates hardening of the joints and muscles. And as in men and women, arthritis in canines is quite usual as joints will, in the normal course of things, suffer quite a bit of deterioration. And as with humans, arthritis – most usually osteoarthritis – in dogs can be an uncomfortably painful ailment which, if not treated, causes a good deal of distress.

Age factor

One thing to consider is that arthritis can affect dogs at all ages. Obviously, the more aged the dog, the more chances that it will get arthritis, but arthritis affects younger dogs too. And if a puppy or young dog has suffered an accident, this increases the chances of developing gog arthritis early. Also there are ailments that can help induce the onset of canine arthritis, such as the disease called hip dysplasia, which is a common cause of limping in dogs, and which may result in arthritis in later years.

First steps
Naturally, at the first signs of movement difficulty you should take your dog to a vet. Getting the right treatment is essential as dog arthritis is not  100% curable, but, given the right kind of dog arthritis treatment, it can be kept in check.

Of course, one of the most effective ways to combat dog arthritis is to give your dog plenty of exercise, 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
There are also, of course, over-the-counter medicines that can at least help alleviate the pain of dog arthritis, though as we have already said, there is no permanent cure. 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 canine arthritis. So, let’s say that dogs have an approximate 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 does not strike.