How can I ease the Pain in my Arthritic Dog?
Arthritis is a very dangerous disease in dogs, especially older and obese ones. There are different types of arthritis in pets, but the major focus of this write-up is on osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis generally happens in the hip, elbow, knee, wrist, and spine of the pooch, but it can also happen in any body part of the dog where there is a joint and cartilage. There are different reasons for arthritis to occur in dogs:
- Abnormal loads on joints
- Dysplasia
- Trauma
This happens due to the wear and tear of cartilage within the joints. This is the very reason for this disease to get affected in older dogs more often. Cats are also found to be affected by this disease, but they are masters of disguising their discomfort. Let us now discuss cats and arthritis, and it will be covered in a different blog post later on.
Let us now look at some of the signs of arthritis in dogs:
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Lameness
- Reluctance to walk
- Trouble getting into the car
- Spending less time playing
- Difficulty getting onto the furniture
- Stiffness
- Withdrawal symptoms
So what can be done to relieve this pain from arthritic dogs? Let us look at some of the tips given below:
Maintain the bodyweight of the pooch
It is very important to keep your pooch healthy and fit. The greater the load on the joints, the harder it will take them to work and so there will be more pain for the arthritic dogs. Hence, it is important to weigh the dog and check whether they have the ideal body weight or not. If the answer is negative, then try to achieve that weight by providing a weight loss diet to your pooch like Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine r/d Weight Reduction Cans, Advance Dog Food Adult Weight Control with Chicken, and Royal Canin Canine Obesity Management Food. The important thing is to ensure that they get the right food that will assist in weight reduction.
Take your pooch on a walk on a regular basis
If your pooch is suffering from arthritis lying around the entire day will only make their joints more sore and stiff. Hence, it is important to start with moderate exercise. The moderate exercise here depends on the dog breed. For a border collie, a brisk 40-minute walk every day is enough to keep away from the stiffness of joints.
Likewise, you need to look out for more activities for active breeds, thereby ensuring that they receive ample workouts to keep them fit and healthy. The key here is to look for activities that your pooch enjoys and then carry out the activities on a daily basis. It can be a walk on a treadmill or swimming. The key is to give adequate exercise to the joints of the pooch.
Protect your four-legged friend from wind, cold, and rain by providing adequate shelter
Since your pooch is suffering from arthritis, it is very important to protect them from extreme weather. In a cold climate, ensure that your four-legged friend is provided with adequate shelter to protect them from extreme weather conditions like too much cold, rain or wind. The best thing to do in such a scenario is to prepare a dog house inside the house where the pooch can get adequate sleep. It is very important for you to ensure that they get the warmth during colder seasons. Also ensure on a regular basis that the kennel of the dog is clean, dry, and comfortable during all the seasons.
A comfy, protected place for your pooch to lie down and sleep
It is very important that the sleeping place of your pooch is very comfortable. It should also have a bit of padding under stiff, sore joints to make the pet feel more comfortable. You can even get memory foam beds for your little furry friend since they can mold and contour according to the body of your dog thereby lessening the pressure on the arthritic joints. The bed should be very easy for the pet to get in and out of. It should not be too high, too soft, or contain sides that make it difficult for the pooch to climb.
So once you follow these tips it would definitely reduce the joint pain in arthritic dogs. So what are you waiting for? Start acting now and give relief to the sore joints of your arthritic pooch.
