Canine Arthritis

As dog owners, we do our best to give the proper care for our dogs. We share with them the comforts and necessities we have in life like shelter and food so that they will become active and healthy as they age. But aside from all the needed necessities, we also worry when we notice a change in our dog’s usual behavior such as when your dog limps. You may notice that your dog, once an active and playful pet, is now reluctant to do any vigorous activities that involve jumping, running or any outdoor game that involves the active use of its limbs. A change like this can mean an early sign of canine arthritis.

So what is canine arthritis? It is a condition, most common in aging dogs, where the joint cartilage weakens with age, injury or infection. Dogs who suffer from this condition go through a great amount of pain, since canine arthritis is accompanied by an inflammation caused by a declining lubrication in the joint affected. Thus, the bones that should be moving smoothly over each other become jagged affecting the joint cartilage, the joint fluid, the bones attached to the joint and the actual joint capsule.

A common case of canine arthritis is osteoarthritis. Found frequently in less active and overweight dogs, osteoarthritis is associated with the normal deterioration of cartilage due to age and overuse. With the degeneration of the cartilage occurring, dogs suffering from this type of arthritis could be experiencing pain intermittently or throughout the day. However, canine arthritis is not specifically evident in older dogs alone. Canine arthritis may occur at any age in a dog’s life. Younger dogs are not exempt from experiencing this kind of condition, especially when there is a history of such disease in its family tree. Such condition can be passed on to later generations, like inheriting a weak bone structure in some puppies. Other than genetic heredity, canine arthritis can be caused by bacteria and infection. Insect bites and tick-borne diseases can result to canine arthritis if not given the proper medication and care from a veterinarian.

Another condition that results to canine arthritis especially in younger dogs is hip dysplasia. Though this can be noticed at first as a mild limp in a dog, this disease can cause traumatic results in a dog’s life. A degenerative disease like this can leave a dog crippled for life. In order to address this issue, it is important for dog owners to seek help from a veterinarian who is an expert in giving advice on how to provide the proper care for the dog in need.Glucosamine works very well for dog arthritis also.A suitable amount of exercise, like a stroll in the park, can allow your dog to stretch its muscles and joints. It is important to note, however, that the exercise should be kept to a minimum. This means that there should not be any strenuous activities involved since you wouldn’t want to leave your dog suffering much greater than it already is going through. Moreover, by making it a point to offer a right and balanced diet, your dog will be well on its way to a gradual recovery, thus be able to create a safety net against canine arthritis.