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