How Exercise Affects Canines With Joint Disease

Unfortunately, almost all dogs will suffer from canine arthritis to some extent in their later years of life. Although there is no cure for this joint disease, there are things pet owners can do to ease the pain and suffering experienced by the animals.

There are prescription medications that some veterinarians prescribe to treat osteoarthritis in dogs. Many of these have extremely severe side effects in some animals. In fact, there have been many reported cases of dogs who died from taking these prescription drugs to treat arthritis disease.

A safer alternative for treating the arthritis is a supplement product called glucosamine. There are virtually no side effects associated with this form of supplementation, plus the product provides the body with the building blocks to repair the damage in a natural way.

Pet owners should also be aware that exercise can play a very important part improving the quality of life in their arthritic canines. Many times, it is during exercise that dog owners first witness the symptoms and the onset of dog arthritis. Occasional limping is one of the first symptoms associated with the onset of the joint disease.

Unfortunately, many pet owners believe their animals should be exercised less because they have the disease. Nothing could be further from the truth. Exercise is a very important part in treating arthritis disease in dogs because it helps maintain proper muscle tone. If muscle tone is not maintained, the joints in the animal become less stable and thus this causes more pain when arthritis is present.

Of course canine owners need to be aware that too much exercise of course is harmful to dogs suffering from dog arthritis disease. There is no set amount of exercise that is prescribed for any given animal. Owners must get to know their own specific pet's needs and limitations. For example, if taking three-mile walks usually results in the dog limping afterwards, that is too much exercise. As pet owners, we do not want to aggravate the condition and cause the animal more pain.

Instead, it's important to find just the right amount of exercise that the dog can benefit from without going too far and thus stressing his or her joints to the point of pain. In most cases, once that amount of exercise is determined, it can be gradually increased without causing undue stress on the animal. Basically, as much and for as long as the dog can exercise without appearing in pain or injured, is good for the animal.

Also, be aware that osteoarthritis in canines will continue to progress for the rest of their lives once the condition manifests itself. Therefore, the quality and quantity of exercise usually decreases as the dog ages, depending on the severity of their condition.

We have more information on our website about how pet owners can use liquid glucosamine to treat dog arthritis safely and without side effects. Our product, Flexicose, offers pet lovers an easy way to treat their dog's joint disease safely.