Does your dog or cat have arthritis? We think of arthritis and joint pain as being human conditions, but they are common for canines as well. Did you know that 60 million American dogs suffer from arthritis? If you notice something is off with your dog, but aren’t exactly sure what might be the cause, here are some common signs of animal joint pain:
* Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play
* Limping
* Lagging behind on walks
* Difficulty rising from a resting position
* Yelping in pain when touched & resisting being touched
* A personality change because of the pain
There are various medical conditions that can account for Fido’s joint pain. Take a look at some of these descriptions to identify which one best describes your pet’s illness.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, slowly progressing condition that is caused by the breakdown and destruction of your pet's cartilage. As that occurs, the bony structures begin to rub against one another causing pain and discomfort.
Degenerative Joint Disease involves a breakdown or destruction in portions of the joint, usually cartilage. Just as in the case of osteoarthritis, this condition does not necessarily mean that your pet is experiencing any inflammation.
Hip Dysplasia is characterized by a malformed "ball and joint" socket in your animal. As you might expect, this ill-fitting combination causes a series of complications. Here, chronic inflammation is common; calcium build-ups occur; there is muscle pain; and the tissue in the surrounding areas begins to break down.
Elbow Dysplasia is a like condition that is typically hereditary and most generally found in larger breeds of dogs. Bones become malformed and usually results in "bonechips" that are very painful. Typically, your pet will exhibit some lameness when suffering from this condition.
Knee Dysplasia is also characterized by malformed bones and bone "chips." It is painful and often obviates itself since the pet is lame and/or limping as the condition progresses.
Knee Stifle Joint typically involves torn ligaments, which cause instability in the joint. Dislocation of the (knee) joint is also a problem. Inflammation is common since this is a joint that is subjected to a lot of stress and strain. In most cases it is a result of poor breeding.
Osteochondrosis is a condition where you are contending with a medical condition that results from poor breeding. Improper or inadequate diet can also cause this condition (both factors may be at play). It is characterized by cartilage deterioration and tissue is generally both inflamed and painful.
Hypertrophic involves excessive bone growth and/or "spurs" on the joints themselves. In such situations, the pet is typically experiencing a lot of pain.
Shoulder degeneration is usually a multi-factorial situation making a clear-cut cause difficult to isolate. An unstable joint, Osteochondrosis or even trauma may be the cause or perhaps a combination of factors.
Wrist Carpi might be compared to "carpal tunnel syndrome" seen in humans. Usually, this area of the pet's body is affected more frequently with pets that are very active.
Knee Cap Dislocation is usually caused by poorly formed leg bones, which secondarily allows the knee cap to move or "pop" out of its normal position. Usually, this is either an inherited condition or results from poor breeding.
If one or more of these conditions looks to be affecting your dog, make sure to see your veterinarian. Conventional dog & cat joint pain care involves a routine that is very similar to those suggested for humans, including changing the diet, incorporating regular exercise and taking an anti-inflammatory to ease swelling and pain.
Over the counter drugs such as aspirin may dampen pain, but do nothing to treat your pet's arthritis. Possible side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and cramps. Traditional veterinarians might recommend steroidal medicine prescriptions. However, due to the many potential side effects of these drugs, including liver and kidney problems, vomiting, ulcers and excessive urination, more and more pet owners are turning to natural dog joint care. Studies show that natural remedies can be as effective as prescription drugs in alleviating joint and muscle pain, without the potential adverse reactions of these chemical-based drugs.
FlexPet�" is an all-natural Joint Pain Supplement. The primary component of FlexPet is CM8�", which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It has been helpful for many canine sufferers of arthritis and joint pain.
