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You swore to be with your dog through thick and thin, and now you’re dog is older and ridden with osteoarthritis. Your dog needs you now even more than when she was a pup. Caring for a senior dog with ostearthritis can be difficult, but these steps, shared by Smiling Dog Bakery, make it just a little easier….for both of you.
Caring For A Senior Dog With Osteoarthritis
“Canine arthritis very often happens to older dogs. Different diseases or illnesses can bring about arthritis too, even before they become old. These causes can be obesity, degenerative joints, cancer or inflammatory disease. It’s common for pet owners not to notice their pets in pain. Some dogs can be quite stoic! Obvious signs are limited mobility, stiffness, reluctance to climb or jump, weight gain or just generally not move as much. Your vet can diagnose arthritis either by an examination or X-rays, and sometimes both and may suggest drugs or glucosamine for treating the disease.
Canine arthritis occurs because cartilage which has broken down hasn’t been replaced. A multi-faceted relief treatment including pain relief, weight loss, increased movement and joint repair is usually prescribed. Treatment for the relief of pain may include anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain medication. A warm, soft pet- bed should be provided at home. Just like people with joint pain, being warm is helpful. Extra blankets can help and so can a pet sweater.
Installing ramps or providing small steps is an excellent idea so that your dog can reach its favorite spot. Short, frequent walks on smooth pavements are a good idea too, but not uphill or on rocky ground. Any strenuous exercises should be avoided as this will increase joint pain.
We make the mistake of feeding our dogs too much. Obesity can be one of the causes of arthritis and this adds stress on the joints.”
Caring for a senior dog with osteoarthritis can sometimes break your heart as you remember how playful she was when she was young. But if you take the time to understand osteoarthritis and apply these treatments, you can make your senior dog much more comfortable. Because older dogs tend to need more water than younger dogs, another suggestion that worked for my Golden in his senior years was to have water bowls in each room. That way he didn’t need to go very far for a drink.
Karl
May 17, 2016 at 9:28 am
This is a good article with simple information to get a general understanding of what arthritis is. My dog has hip dysplasia which over time has progressed to arthritis, and I found this article to be helpful in understanding the two types of arthritis (in my case, the arthritis was secondary to a trigger, the dysplasia) Here’s the article for anyone interested – ortocanis.com/en/content/120-canine-osteoarthritis