When Arthritis Attacks Your Dog

As a dog begins to age or suffers constant stiffnesspain, slow down disease progression, delay the need
or has a disability, watching their arthritic decline isfor drugs, and reduce the medications that may
heart wrenching. This disease progresses at a slowcause serious side effects.
pace, beginning with a discomfort that is hard toA common initial approach is to change all food to a
pinpoint. The worst cases turn into an animal notrather high quality of natural diet selections, while the
being able to stand, walk about, or even eat theirbest dog food is made in the home using recipes
meals. There are many forms that arthritis comes inillustrated in books by Pitcairn and Volhard. Most dogs
with different underlying causes. When it comes tothat suffer pain undergo a great change after
cats and dogs, arthritis can strike any breed or age.switching their diet. The next step is to administer
While humans seem to commonly experience arthritisglucosamine supplements, which work to fortify the
through autoimmune rheumatism, dogs too suffercartilage associated with damaged or disease-ridden
from this condition. Lyme disease and primaryjoints. A veterinarian can point you in the right
cartilage degeneration in young dogs are otherdirection - usually suggesting brands like Cosequin and
common causes, joined by one of the most striking -Glycoflex. To treat pathologic inflammation,
degenerative osteoarthritis. As animals get older, theirantioxidant vitamins are also good, especially when
bony joints don't move as smoothly, causing bonyused in combination of homeopathic treatments.
spurs to emerge, which work towards alleviatingWhen it comes to arthritis, the subject of herbal
affected joints. It is the unstable joints and bonytreatments often arises. Pet owners ask about this
proliferations that cause pain in an animal as theyapproach, yet numerous holistic veterinarians believe
attempt to move.herbs are not as useful as nutritional changes and
When arthritis attacks, your pet is usually unable toworking on the body. If you are thinking about herbal
express this pain. Older dogs and cats do not moantreatments, check with a professional veterinarian
and groan about achy joints. Sometimes, displayingwho is well versed in Eastern herbal prescription
difficulty getting up and down is a sign. If they havechoices.
problems climbing stairs, jumping onto furniture,The majority of animals suffering from arthritis (or
getting into the car, or seem sore after exercise,other musculoskeletal conditions) try to relieve
you may suspect arthritis. Your pet may evenconstant pain by twisting about their spines. These
become grumpy, which is why a yearly checkup forsorts of pets will truly appreciate the occasional
older dogs and cats is a must.chiropractic attention. The animals that undergo
With some types of arthritis (like OCD, hip dysplasia,moderate to severe pain have also responded well to
and rheumatoid arthritis), treatments that involveacupuncture treatments.
surgery and medicine work well. However,Arthritis is not a death sentence and can be
degenerative osteoarthritis has no cure. An affectedcontained when a blend of natural and conventional
animal has no choice but to live the rest of their lifeapproaches are followed. It is very important to slow
on anti-inflammatory drugs that include aspirin,down the advancement of this disease by enforcing
phenylbutazone, Feldene, and when it becomesa healthy diet and administering glucosamine
worse - cortisone-like options. Yet, some ownerssupplements in the early stages. If you notice that
have found benefits in turning towards naturalyour pet is a bit "stiff," make sure to speak with a
therapeutic treatments, which have proven to easeveterinarian very quickly.