| As a dog begins to age or suffers constant stiffness | | | | pain, slow down disease progression, delay the need |
| or has a disability, watching their arthritic decline is | | | | for drugs, and reduce the medications that may |
| heart wrenching. This disease progresses at a slow | | | | cause serious side effects. |
| pace, beginning with a discomfort that is hard to | | | | A common initial approach is to change all food to a |
| pinpoint. The worst cases turn into an animal not | | | | rather high quality of natural diet selections, while the |
| being able to stand, walk about, or even eat their | | | | best dog food is made in the home using recipes |
| meals. There are many forms that arthritis comes in | | | | illustrated in books by Pitcairn and Volhard. Most dogs |
| with different underlying causes. When it comes to | | | | that 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 arthritis | | | | glucosamine supplements, which work to fortify the |
| through autoimmune rheumatism, dogs too suffer | | | | cartilage associated with damaged or disease-ridden |
| from this condition. Lyme disease and primary | | | | joints. A veterinarian can point you in the right |
| cartilage degeneration in young dogs are other | | | | direction - 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, their | | | | antioxidant vitamins are also good, especially when |
| bony joints don't move as smoothly, causing bony | | | | used in combination of homeopathic treatments. |
| spurs to emerge, which work towards alleviating | | | | When it comes to arthritis, the subject of herbal |
| affected joints. It is the unstable joints and bony | | | | treatments often arises. Pet owners ask about this |
| proliferations that cause pain in an animal as they | | | | approach, 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 to | | | | working on the body. If you are thinking about herbal |
| express this pain. Older dogs and cats do not moan | | | | treatments, check with a professional veterinarian |
| and groan about achy joints. Sometimes, displaying | | | | who is well versed in Eastern herbal prescription |
| difficulty getting up and down is a sign. If they have | | | | choices. |
| 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 even | | | | constant pain by twisting about their spines. These |
| become grumpy, which is why a yearly checkup for | | | | sorts 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 involve | | | | acupuncture treatments. |
| surgery and medicine work well. However, | | | | Arthritis is not a death sentence and can be |
| degenerative osteoarthritis has no cure. An affected | | | | contained when a blend of natural and conventional |
| animal has no choice but to live the rest of their life | | | | approaches 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 becomes | | | | a healthy diet and administering glucosamine |
| worse - cortisone-like options. Yet, some owners | | | | supplements in the early stages. If you notice that |
| have found benefits in turning towards natural | | | | your pet is a bit "stiff," make sure to speak with a |
| therapeutic treatments, which have proven to ease | | | | veterinarian very quickly. |