Natural Treatments for Dog Arthritis
Dog Arthritis
Between twenty and thirty percent of dogs will develop arthritis during the course of their lifetimes. Arthritis is a painful condition that results from the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage protects the bones in the joints. When it begins to wear thin, the bones start rubbing against one another. This results in pain and stiffness, and if left untreated, can lead to muscular atrophy and increasing immobility.
Treatments for Dog Arthritis
The most common treatments for arthritis in dogs are steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the inflammation and buffered aspirin for the pain. Unfortunately, all these treatments have side effects ranging from mild to lethal. Because of this, many concerned pet owners are opting for more natural treatments.
Lifestyle Changes
Most dogs that develop arthritis are also overweight. If such is the case, the first step to successful treatment must be weight control. Any extra weight just puts more demands on already aching joints. A well-balanced diet and moderate exercise can usually bring a dog’s weight under control relatively quickly. Consult with your veterinarian about how best to achieve this.
Even if your dog’s weight is normal, exercise is always a good idea. Dogs with an arthritic joint will often attempt to take weight off that joint. This can lead to the muscles around the joint becoming atrophied. As the muscles atrophy, they shorten and cause more pain. Exercise can help prevent this. Stronger muscles also provide better support for inflamed joint, holding the bones properly aligned and preventing secondary damage.
Many dogs with arthritis no longer move around much and resist going out for walks and the like because it is very painful for them. Gently playing with your dog for a while or doing some other form of warm-up can make exercise easier. Exercise should not be too strenuous, since this can further damage the joints. Instead, go for short walks with your dog, keeping her on the leash the entire time. Swimming is another good activity. Swimming will allow your dog to stretch out and use her muscles while the water buoys her up so that she doesn’t have to put weight on her aching joints.
Natural Supplements
Nowadays, it is common to give dogs natural supplements to help treat and prevent arthritis. The most effective, and therefore most common, are glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine is a precursor to many of the proteins used to make cartilage, and chondroitin helps in cartilage formation. Chondroitin also blocks certain enzymes that destroy cartilage from reaching their target. This gives the body time to heal itself, and many dogs improve dramatically when they are put on glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. When taken throughout life, these supplements may prevent dogs from developing arthritis.
Massage Therapy and Acupuncture
Massage therapy has been shown to be effective in alleviating the pain of arthritis in dogs. There are licensed massage therapist for dogs that can help, or, if there are none nearby, you can ask your veterinarian about showing you some basic techniques to use at home. The internet is a good place to find free instructional videos as well.
Acupuncture has never been clinically studied in dogs, but many people claim to see positive results. Acupuncture is not harmful, so if it’s within your means, it’s certainly worth trying. Just make sure that the acupuncturist has experience working on dogs.
