07/25/2020
Great article from the WHOLE DOG JOURNAL
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/natural-dog-arthritis-treatments/
ARTHRITIS IN DOGS: HOW TO HELP
1. Start your dog on glucosamine-type supplements at the first sign of arthritis, or even before.
2. Keep your dog lean to reduce wear and tear on her joints, and encourage moderate exercise that doesn’t make lameness worse.
3. Use an anti-inflammatory diet and natural supplements to control arthritis pain before resorting to drugs.
4. Maintain a health journal for your dog to record which treatments you try, at what dosages, and how well they work for your dog.
Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of chronic pain in dogs, affecting one in five adult dogs, with the incidence more than doubling in dogs seven years and older. It is a degenerative disease that causes pain, loss of mobility, and a decreased quality of life. Dogs can develop other types of arthritis too: rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylitis, or spondylosis. Signs of arthritis in dogs include stiffness when getting up or lying down, limping, slowing down on walks, pain after exercise, or reluctance to jump or climb steps. It’s important to recognize the signs of arthritis in dogs and begin treatment early, to slow the progression and help preserve your dog’s quality of life. Find a complete list of dog arthritis symptoms and risk factors by reading “Identifying Arthritis in Dogs,” by CJ Puotinen.
So, your dog has just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Now what? To start things off, here are the do’s and don’t’s.
How to Treat Arthritis in Dogs
DO:
Get a definitive diagnosis.
Use diet and exercise to take extra weight off your dog. Want a complete list of anti-inflammatory foods? We like this one. Just make sure you’re not feeding your dog anything that’s potentially toxic, like large amounts of garlic or onions.
Maintain exercise but change long walks to more frequent, shorter walks.
Consider nutrition. The best dog foods for arthritis are papaya, alfalfa, celery, and ginger.
Raising water and food bowls can reduce strain in the neck or back of an arthritic dog; some arthritic dogs may not eat or drink as much as they should without this sort of accommodation. Note, however, that raised bowls are contraindicated for dogs who are prone to bloat. Ask your veterinarian whether your dog is at risk for bloat.
Put carpet runners on hardwood floors. Try to prevent your dog from slipping, as this creates unwanted stress on the entire body.
Provide a soft, supportive bed.
Keep nails trimmed. If nails are too long they can change the gait on the dog, causing skeletal changes and arthritis in the foot/toes.
Use a ramp where needed (for helping your dog get in and out of the car, on to your bed or sofa, etc.). This will reduce strain on his knees and hips.
If your dog is having trouble getting up or walking on his own, check out slings, rear-end harnesses, wheelchairs, or carts to help keep him moving.
Consider physical, laser, and massage therapy, acu-puncture, and dog arthritis supplements. All or a combination of these will improve the quality of your arthritic dog’s life.
DON’T:
Self-diagnose your dog with arthritis.
Force an exercise regimen that your dog is not comfortable with.
Try any stretching of limbs without being properly trained.
Discontinue exercise. A certain amount of exercise remains important for your arthritic dog; it is necessary to help maintain muscle strength and mobility.
Ignore your dog’s extra weight. Your dog will feel so much better after taking that extra burden off sore joints.
Ignore sliding or falling. Don’t underestimate how damaging continual sliding and falling can be on the arthritic dog’s body.
Give any medication without veterinary approval.
Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of chronic pain in dogs, affecting one in five adult dogs, with the incidence more than doubling in dogs seven years and older. It is a degenerative disease that causes pain, loss of mobility, and a decreased quality of life. Signs of arthritis include stiffnes...