Monday, August 15, 2016

Expert Opinion On Long Term 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.

Arthritis is caused by usual wear and tear over years. It will sometimes be referred to as degenerative disease or osteoarthritis. Most pet owners will definitely deal with the condition at a certain point in the life of their pets. The condition worsens with age since the body is unable to repair the joint cartilages as fast as is required.

It is possible to spot early signs of arthritis if you are keen. The signs include restrained and labored movement. The dog may also resist your invitation to play and no longer enjoy going up and down the stairs. In the morning, you will notice stiffness and it may limp while in motion. Degeneration is usually gradual and thus easily missed by many pet owners. Other dogs no longer leap or will do so at reduced angle and vigor.

Through observation, vets will identify early signs and recommend natural arthritis relief for dogs. During examination, the vet may request you to walk the pet for a while. This allows him to observe its motions and reactions. Other notable signs include shrunk muscles around the legs and spine because they are under-utilized. Whenever you palpate the joints on limbs, your dog will wince. The best confirmatory test for arthritis is X-ray. Several scans may be recommended on different areas.

Therapy, like it does to human beings, offers arthritis pain relief in dogs. The most common options are heat treatment, hydrotherapy and whirlpool treatment. Therapy soothes pains and aches around arthritic joints. Heating using pads or using water relaxes body muscles. It boosts blood circulation which calms affected areas. Your pet continues to experience the relief long after 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.

Check what your dog eats from an early age. Ensure that this food is healthy and of the right quantity. Most pets will overeat just because there is food on the plate. It ends up over weight which exposes it to arthritis later in life. Instead of feeding it on smaller food quantities, choose a diet that is low on calories.




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