What Options Do Pet Owners Have For Treating Dog Arthritis?

One of the most common reasons that canines visit the vet is for the treatment of dog arthritis symptoms. Vets see more animals with this condition than for any other disease. Although there are treatments available for treating this dog arthritis disease, there are no cures that will rid the animal of the joint problems and pain completely.

Many time veterinarians will prescribe medicine and drugs for easing the pain of osteoarthritis. These drugs can be highly effective for lowering the pain experienced by the animal. However, there have been significant side effects in some animals who take these prescriptions drugs. Also, there have even been deaths reported in some dogs with arthritis because of these products.

In the past few years, many vets have been suggesting to pet owners that their dogs can benefit from the product called glucosamine. It is an all natural product that the body actually uses for building the tissues inside the joints. It is this tissue that the arthritic disease attacks and degrades. When cartilage tissue is diseased and becomes thin, the bones in the joint are allowed to rub together. This in turn causes the animal great pain as the joint moves and the rubbing takes place. There are significant numbers of nerve endings in the living bone tissue and it is this that causes the discomfort associated with dog joint arthritis.

Glucosamine sulfate can provide the pet with the building blocks its body needs to rebuild the damaged tissues in the joint. Because this supplement contains all natural ingredients, there are virtually no side effects or negative aspects at all when given to pets.

The only negative aspect for using the product to treat canine arthritis is that there are no immediate benefits experienced by the one suffering from the disease. It can take several weeks or even several months of daily doses before any significant relief is offered for the animal.

Additionally, the supplement does not stop the progression of the disease. Once the arthritis begins affecting the joints, it will continue to progress at some rate for the rest of the animal's life. However, the glucosamine can help slow down the progression and minimize the effects and symptoms of the painful diseased joints.

Pet owners who have their dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis should consider using glucosamine supplements for treating their animals before trying the possibly dangerous and expensive prescribed medications. Only in very severe cases should the prescription meds be given as a first line of attach for the disease. If that is the course of action the vet suggests, it is important that pet owners know what the symptoms of the side effects are and what to do if they are observed.

We offer more tips and suggestions to pet owners about treating joint arthritis in canines safely and effectively using glucosamine supplements