Preventing Osteoarthritis Joint Disease In Older Canines

Many pet owners will have to face the fact that their older dogs can often be suffering from joint arthritis as they age. It's unfortunate, but there is actually no prevention and no way to cure dog arthritis once it occurs. Mostly, arthritis is caused by genetics. Many breeds and specific dogs are more vulnerable to the disease than are others.

However, there are some things that pet owners can do to ease the pain and discomfort that the disease causes in their pets. Oftentimes, the onset of arthritis in dogs exhibits itself as the dog begins having trouble negotiating steps and stairs, and may give up occasionally for no apparent reason. Also, it's very common for older dogs with arthritis to sometimes have extreme difficulty in rising or laying down. Although there is no cure or any way to stop the progression of the dog arthritis disease, pet owners can do a few things to make their pets lives more comfortable with the disease as they age.

First and foremost, make absolutely sure that your older pet is not overweight at all. Having to carry extra weight is an added burden to the joints and will aggravate the condition of joint osteoarthritis in canines. It may be difficult to shed the pounds on older dogs, just as it is with older humans, but pet owners must realize that cutting back on the daily calorie intake and increasing the amount of exercise the canine receives is important.

The difference in how much the dog suffers from the joint disease can be tremendous, depending on how much extra weight the joints are having to carry. Always consult with your veterinarian about what your dog's proper weight should be and perhaps he or she can also offer tips and perhaps different dog foods that will allow your pet to lose the unnecessary weight. Be wary of trying to increase exercise too fast for older dogs as this could make their sore joints worse. Plus, with increased exercise, it is advised to provide glucosamine supplementation too.

Additionally, dog owners should be aware of the issues their pets have when moving about the house and yard. If steps become a problem, pet owners can easily install makeshift handicapped ramps which will allow the animals to traverse the steps to and from the home easier. Also, large local retail stores and online websites offer bed steps and other furniture devices which enable the animal to jump onto and off of indoor furniture more easily and safely.

Visit our online website where we offer more tips and information about using glucosamine to treat osteoarthritis in older canines. We offer Synflex glucosamine which is a safe and all-natural product for treating dog arthritis without side effects.