Monday, November 30, 2009

Symptoms of Dog Arthritis

By Jennefer Poultson

Dog arthritis can be due to a number of causes, chief among them congenital abnormalities, injuries and of course, the effects of the aging process. Even minor injuries can result in arthritis in dogs. Certain conditions, such as hip dysplasia are more common in some dogs than others and this predisposition can also indicate a higher likelihood of arthritis in dogs. Of course, older dogs who have never suffered an injury may develop the ailment as they get older.

Dog arthritis comes in various forms. Just as in humans, arthritis is an inflammation in the joints. A dog may develop arthritis anywhere that they have a joint. The cartilage in the joint may be inflamed or it may be synovial fluid which is at issue in some cases. The most common types of dog arthritis are osteoarthritis, infective, immune mediated and idiopathic arthritis.

Arthritis in dogs is usually fist manifested as a slow and gradual limpness in the limbs. Lameness will be the result and may reach the point where the dog has a hard time walking. This will lead in most cases to the dog being less active in play, walks and even moving about the home. Stiffness is likely to be more severe in the morning or after a nap; the stiffness is often minimal in the daytime, however.

To understand the treatments for arthritis in dogs you must also understand the causes. The causes are normally because of injury to the affected area, obesity, or a result of a genetic or other disease such as hip dysplasia. Most of the younger dogs have issues with failure in the bone development causing the inflammation.

Dogs with arthritis can be treated with medications which are available to help manage the inflammation. However, a lot of dog owners prefer to take a more natural route for the treatment of their pet's dog arthritis. In a lot of cases, these treatments are more effective for the animal. The most popular natural remedies for arthritis in dogs are Glucosamine and MSM. Many experts believe MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin to be the three essential ingredients in a dog arthritis treatment regimen.

Depending on the cause of the arthritis in dogs you may need to have medication for your pet. Some types of arthritis can be taken care of with a healthy diet and exercise. Obesity in dogs is one cause of arthritis. By helping the dog to maintain a natural weight for their size and eating a healthy diet you can eliminate the pain of arthritis. The joints may still experience some lasting effects; however this is minimal damage that can be treated with more glucosamine in the diet as well as other herbs.

In many cases, a change in diet may be sufficient to alleviate arthritis in dogs. Some arthritic conditions will respond to this step in conjunction with exercise. Obesity can be a factor in the development of arthritis; by keeping the animal at a healthy weight, the aches and pains of arthritis can be taken away, as well as keeping the dog in a better overall state of health.

However, arthritis remedies of various sorts may be needed along with a change of diet in order to manage the pain and other symptoms of dog arthritis.

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