Tips to Lessen the Impact of Arthritis in Dogs

According to a recent survey, it has been found that arthritis affects approximately 30% of Australian dogs. This is a very significant number and showcases the need for preventing this disorder in aging and large breed dogs. It should be noted that older and obese dogs can even die due to arthritis. It has an adverse effect on the mobility of the dog.

So what exactly is arthritis? Arthritis is a fatal disease that is caused due to wear and tear of different structures of dog joints. It is most common in specific dog breeds like German Shepherds, Labradors, Retrievers, etc. If you find that your dog is suffering from this disease take them to a veterinary physician and provide joint care treatment to them.

There are different treatments that are available to treat arthritis. However, it is important that the dog maintains a healthy and active lifestyle so that its joints function properly. The effect of arthritis can be lessened by following the three tips given below:

Weight Management

The excessive weight of the dog can cause pressure on the joints, which can worsen arthritis conditions. Hence, it is better to consult your vet and provide recommended diet as suggested for your dog. You may find it tempting to provide treats to your dog, but that too can prolong their recovery process. The first thing to do in such a scenario is to cut down on the treats and give special diets as prescribed by the vet which can reduce the weight of the dog and ensure minimal joint damage. You can feed your pooch with Canine R/D Weight Loss-Low Calorie or Eukanuba Healthy Extras Adult Weight Control Dog Food to manage his weight.

Exercise Regime

To ensure that your dog has a healthy, active, and long life, it is important to have frequent exercise sessions for them. This will help in reducing pain and preventing further damage to the joint. You can also apply Rapigel, a powerful muscle, and joint relieving gel, or give them Sasha’s blend powder, an effective supplement for treating arthritic symptoms in all dog breeds.

The positive thing about having an exercise session is that it will enable your pet to gain healthy weight levels. Some of the activities that will help in achieving this encompass: walking, swimming, going up and downstairs, and leash walking. These activities will have an excellent impact on the health of your dog. You can even customize the exercise regime, according to the severity of arthritis, body weight, and condition of your pet. Understand that a wrong exercise regime will not fulfill the health needs of your dog.

If you do not follow the daily exercise regime and only conduct exercise sessions on the weekend, then it may do more harm to the overall health of your dog as the joints of your dog sore throughout the week except the weekend due to weekly exercise. Another thing that will have a positive impact on the disease is conducting a warm-up session before beginning the exercise regimen. This will give a warm-down period for the dog which will be highly beneficial for recovering from arthritis. You can take the tips of the exercise regime from your veterinary physician. He/she will provide you with the right exercise regime, according to the body condition and age of your dog.

Keeping dogs in warm areas

It has generally been observed that dogs with arthritis experience more pain when they are in colder areas. Hence, it is recommended to keep the dog in warmer areas. You can even buy a pet sweater or heat pad like a Snugglesafe Microwave Heatpad for your pet. This will keep their joints warmer. It is also advisable to keep the temperature of the house a bit higher than normal. This will provide comfort to the dog. You can buy a firm, orthopedic foam bed which works wonders for dogs having arthritis. Place the bed in a warm spot.

There are other ways to reduce the impact of arthritis in dogs: including special diets and acupuncture. Every dog will have a different arthritis management program to follow depending on its weight and age. Hence, it is always recommended to take advice from a vet to devise a customized program according to the needs of your dog.