Arthritis Symptoms in Dogs
If you are noticing that your dog is limping when he plays fetch these days, or that he isn't chasing squirrels they way he did when he was younger, there may be something going on with his joints. When your pet is showing less interest in his usual playful activities you may want to make a trip to the veterinarian to check for arthritis in his joints.Arthritis is an inflammation in a joint. This inflammation can result in changes to the joint cartilage, the joint fluid, and the bones that are involved with the joint capsule. This inflammation or swelling leads to pain and stiffness when your dog tries to move. The most common type of arthritis in dogs is osteoarthritis. It involves the degeneration of the articular cartilage followed by remodeling and new bone formation.
Since dogs can not communicate with you directly to tell you what his ailments are, we pet owners must watch for warning signs of our dogs health. Symptoms are: weight gain, depressed mood, decreased interest in playing, if he favors a leg, difficulty standing or sitting, a desire to sleep more. If any of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks is an indication that your dog has arthritis. Early detection is the key to getting your dog help so that further damage can be minimized.
There are several medications and treatments for arthritis in dogs. Believe it or not, one of the best things to do for arthritis besides supplements is exercise. Short walks several times a day while maintaining a healthy weight are excellent ways to ease the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Anti-inflammatory drugs are excellent when monitored and used wisely, however try to keep drug usage at a minimum. Herbal supplements are another way to help improve join inflammation along with acupuncture. Acupuncture can be very beneficial to this disease.
Causes of arthritis are varied. Many times it is the result of a past traumatic injury resulting in joint instability. Overweight dogs puts an overage of weight on joints and can cause the joint to be unstable making it open to arthritis. Genetics often play a role in arthritis as in the case of some breeds having hip dysplasia such as German Shepherds. Lastly, a failure of proper bone development as a young dogs.
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posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 1:59 PM
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