Arthritis
doesn't discriminate, it affects dogs and cats alike but we see it most
often in large breed dogs and overweight dogs. Arthritis is a
degenerative disease, it will continue to progress and is incurable but
can be slowed down or if using preventative measures, can likely delay
the onset.
Preventatives:
-The
easiest way to prevent/delay arthritis is keeping your pet at a healthy
weight, or even lean. The problem is, pets are becoming more and more
obese that the 'norm' has become overweight pets - so when people see a
lean dog, they assume it is under-fed. The best way to gauge this is to
use the Body Condition Score that vet's use.
-Omega
3 fatty acids - these are found in certain fishes and in flaxseed.
They reduce inflammation throughout the body and they also reduce
cartilage breakdown. (make sure to use only Omega 3's ... Omega 6's
induce inflammation). Great sources of Omega 3's: flaxseed, sardines,
salmon..)
-Glucosamine
hydrochloride / Chondroitin Sulfate - These do not always come as a duo,
but are often seen together. Glucosamine supplementation can influence
cartilage structure and chondroitin is a structural element of
cartilage and extra supplementation has anti-inflammatory properties.
-Green lipped mussels
- What are those?? Well, green lipped mussels are showing up in more
and more bags of dog food! They are actually delicious, they come from
New Zealand and I buy mine locally from an asian market.
So your dog is starting to show symptoms of arthritis, now what?
I
am not a fan of pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary, so I am
VERY hesitant to rely on NSAIDs for pain management because they start
to affect the liver, and unforunately in my vet tech experience, I have
seen too many pets go into liver failure because of long-term medication
use. Pain relievers do exactly what they say.. cover the pain. How
about looking for healthier ways to help supplement cartilage and reduce
painful inflammation (it's never too late to start the supplements
mentioned above).
-Talk to your vet about Adequan (a-dee-quan).
It is a series of injections that your vet's office will give your
dog, over the course of a few weeks. Adequan helps to maintain
cartilage at it's current amount and supports the repairing process. It
is FDA approved, which assures it's effectiveness!
-Talk
with your vet about alternative measures like acupuncture and laser
treatment. Even ask about at-home methods like massage and
accupressure.
-If you have access
to a canine hydrotherapy pool, utilize it! Especially if your dog has
weight-induced arthritis, swimming is the best way to exercise without
the pressure on already achy joints. I don't suggest going to a creek
since most dogs will run and jump during play and the cooler water temps
can stiffen joints. Hydrotherapy pools (or underwater treadmills)
maintain their water temperatures around 90*F which helps tender joints
and muscles.
-Look into supplements designed for alleviating arthritis. My favorite is Phycox,
which comes in chewables or a powder. Your vet can order these or you
can purchase them through a reputable online pet pharmacy like VetRxDirect.com. Another one I'm familiar with is Joint Defense by 2Doc's.
NSAID's
like Deramaxx or Rimadyl should be your last resort. Long-term use
(which in the case of nsaid's, means longer than 5 days or so) requires
checking liver values through a blood test. This is very important and
should be a red-flag if your vet doesn't suggest monitoring liver values
while on these kinds of medications. These can be used as-needed and
not necessarily every day.
How to make your old achy dog's life easier...
-Mobility harnesses
are used to help support your dog when needing to get around or in/out
of the car, up/down stairs etc. There are several kinds out there, just
pick one that will be comfortable for your dog.
-In the case of larger breed dogs, ramps will
help getting in and out of cars. These take some training for the dog
to get used to, so don't set it up into your car and expect your dog to
walk up it right away.
So you can see it is a manageable disease and there are lots of options available to help your arthritic pooch!
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