dog joint care
dog joint care
Pet Arthritis and Joint Pain Causes
Does your dog or cat have arthritis? We think of arthritis and joint pain as being human conditions, but they are common for canines as well. Did you know that 60 million American dogs suffer from arthritis? If you notice something is off with your dog, but aren’t exactly sure what might be the cause, here are some common signs of animal joint pain:
* Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play
* Limping
* Lagging behind on walks
* Difficulty rising from a resting position
* Yelping in pain when touched & resisting being touched
* A personality change because of the pain
There are various medical conditions that can account for Fido’s joint pain. Take a look at some of these descriptions to identify which one best describes your pet’s illness.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, slowly progressing condition that is caused by the breakdown and destruction of your pet's cartilage. As that occurs, the bony structures begin to rub against one another causing pain and discomfort.
Degenerative Joint Disease involves a breakdown or destruction in portions of the joint, usually cartilage. Just as in the case of osteoarthritis, this condition does not necessarily mean that your pet is experiencing any inflammation.
Hip Dysplasia is characterized by a malformed "ball and joint" socket in your animal. As you might expect, this ill-fitting combination causes a series of complications. Here, chronic inflammation is common; calcium build-ups occur; there is muscle pain; and the tissue in the surrounding areas begins to break down.
Elbow Dysplasia is a like condition that is typically hereditary and most generally found in larger breeds of dogs. Bones become malformed and usually results in "bonechips" that are very painful. Typically, your pet will exhibit some lameness when suffering from this condition.
Knee Dysplasia is also characterized by malformed bones and bone "chips." It is painful and often obviates itself since the pet is lame and/or limping as the condition progresses.
Knee Stifle Joint typically involves torn ligaments, which cause instability in the joint. Dislocation of the (knee) joint is also a problem. Inflammation is common since this is a joint that is subjected to a lot of stress and strain. In most cases it is a result of poor breeding.
Osteochondrosis is a condition where you are contending with a medical condition that results from poor breeding. Improper or inadequate diet can also cause this condition (both factors may be at play). It is characterized by cartilage deterioration and tissue is generally both inflamed and painful.
Hypertrophic involves excessive bone growth and/or "spurs" on the joints themselves. In such situations, the pet is typically experiencing a lot of pain.
Shoulder degeneration is usually a multi-factorial situation making a clear-cut cause difficult to isolate. An unstable joint, Osteochondrosis or even trauma may be the cause or perhaps a combination of factors.
If one or more of these conditions looks to be affecting your dog, make sure to see your veterinarian. Conventional dog & cat joint pain care involves a routine that is very similar to those suggested for humans, including changing the diet, incorporating regular exercise and taking an anti-inflammatory to ease swelling and pain.
Over the counter drugs such as aspirin may dampen pain, but do nothing to treat your pet's arthritis. Possible side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and cramps. Traditional veterinarians might recommend steroidal medicine prescriptions. However, due to the many potential side effects of these drugs, including liver and kidney problems, vomiting, ulcers and excessive urination, more and more pet owners are turning to natural dog joint care. Studies show that natural remedies can be as effective as prescription drugs in alleviating joint and muscle pain, without the potential adverse reactions of these chemical-based drugs.
FlexPet™ is an all-natural Joint Pain Supplement. The primary component of FlexPet is CM8™, which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It has been helpful for many canine sufferers of arthritis and joint pain.
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Joint care for dogs and frequent running?
I like to jog with my beagle mix 3 times a week. I would love to jog with her every day, but i am afraid of wearing down her joints and cartilage. Is there a good natural supplement out there that I could start her on now to avoid future problems. she is 9 months old.
I'd speak to your vet about whether she is up to this much running at this age. You generally want to wait until they have finished growing to start running with them.
Glucosamine/MSM supplements are great. These supplements work to support cartilage in the joints and joint lubrication, as well as combating inflammation. They are most effective as preventatives, as they preserve cartilage more than they rebuild it.
Fish Oil supplementation can also help, as it is an anti-inflammatory, too. Lots of other benefits to fish oil, but you asked about joint care.
Also keep an eye on your dog when you run with her. The dog will go too far and too long just to please you. If she isn't completely picking her feet up off the ground (you'd either hear her nails scrape the pavement or notice that the tops of her nails and maybe her paws have scuffs), then you worked her too hard.
You also have to be very sensitive to temperature. Dogs don't handle heat well, sidewalks and roads get VERY hot, and she will need more water than will you.
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