Canine Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis in dogs is usually a disease that's age related and is recognized to be one of the most common diseases in dogs. No matter what the age of your pet it can be affected, especially if they are over weight. Arthritis is more common in dog breeds that grow to more than 60 pounds, like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Rottweilers and German Shepherds.

It is the breakdown of cartilage between the joints that causes your dog pain during movement. This is the is almost identical pain people feel when they have arthritis.

Many pet owners have taken a preventative approach to try and fend off these age related issues of movement and pain. If you want to start your pet on such a treatment program it should be done before the age of five. The primary supplements that you would give your dog would include Chondroitin and Glucosamine. They have been proven to help promote healthy joints in not only dogs, but humans too.

If your pet starts exhibiting signs of painful joints you need to get an opinion of a Vet to give a professional diagnosis. If arthritis is diagnosed then you need to take steps to relieve your pets pain as soon as possible.

The first thing you need to do is identify any symptoms of pain in your dog. These signs can range from sleeping more, walking instead of running, not wanting to play, or showing stiffness when getting up. Anything that is not normal can be a sign of pain and stiffness and should be evaluated as soon as possible by your Vet. Dogs don't generally show pain unless it's severe. If they are experiencing moderate pain they can mask it by moving slower, looking stiff and not moving as much. Be on the lookout.

If arthritis is the diagnosis of your Veterinarian then the usual means of treatment is with an NSAID, which is a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs are available only with a prescription and can be pricey. Each individual NSAID may have different degrees of effectiveness and side effects on individual animals. To find the best drug for your dog you may have to try several different individual drugs to find the right level of relief and tolerance of the drug.

The potential side effects of these prescription medications will vary with each individual animal. It could take some time to find just the most appropriate treatment for your pet. Many pet owners are concerned about using these medications and have turned to using safe natural supplements that have no adverse side effects and are more easily tolerated.

My Lab Brandy was eleven when she started taking an NSAID. Other than the very high cost it was an effective treatment and relieved her pain. Due to the dosage required for my 75 pound dog it was costing me over $100 a month to keep her medicated. This very pricey treatment prompted me to try and find an alternative treatment that was less expensive, but still provided pain relief with better mobility. I discovered that in a natural supplement that was both effective and affordable.

Don't think that high priced prescription medicines are the only answer. You also can find an effective and affordable natural arthritis canine treatment. I did and I was extremely happy with the results!