Arthritis in Dogs

Do you like to begin the day when your dog pal is standing near your bed, sniffing you and wagging is/her like you haven抰 met for two months? And that happens every morning, without fail! It won抰 happen if your dog is suffering and is in pain, even though it抯 his/her nature to be a people pleaser.

A common reason for your dog to be in pain is Arthritis, or joint pain. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. We抣l soon discuss the causes and methods of treatment, but let抯 begin with this great piece of advice: A quality orthopedic dog bed can help tremendously, when incorporated along with the appropriate treatment.

There are various reasons for Arthritis in dogs ?of the common is ware and tear, which results from excessive activity (e.g. running sport dogs, hunting dogs, etc.). Overweight is another possible reason for your dog to get arthritis. An inactive lifestyle can be another reason. If your dog rests all day, without being walked and is not getting a minimum amount of exercise, he or she will have to pay for the lifestyle that you choose for him/her.

There are two ways to determine if a dog has arthritis: A physical exam and an x-ray, which both are preformed by your vet.

In order to be effective when treating Arthritis in dogs, several treatment methods must be used since only one may not be effective enough. Normally, a vet will first recommend administering a painkiller, which immediately helps to ease the pain. (NOTE: Never use human painkillers to treat a dog, as this could be fatal for the dog!! - Always ask a vet for his/her recommendation). The best way to treat arthritis is to eliminate it, and this can be done in two different ways: administering steroids and fatty acids.

Another way to ease the pain is by using an orthopedic dog bed, which distributes the body weight evenly, which reduces stress on the joints. Orthopedic dog beds are made just like a human bed mattress. Orthopedic dog beds retain their shape and can provide your dog with the support and comfort that he/she needs in order to live a happier, pain-free life. Along with the medical treatment, your dog can revive and become lively again. My aging dog, Zo? was treated with all of the above mentioned treatments: Pain killers, steroids, fatty acids along with an orthopedic bed - and her quality of life changed significantly. It was awesome when she got back to her morning greeting routine!