Arthritis is often just a normal part of every dog’s normal aging process. Not every dog is burdened by lots of arthritis, but most dogs have to contend with at least a little bit of arthritis during their lifetime. For dogs that have really advanced arthritis, daily pain and joint weakness can be hard to grapple with.
Caring for a dog with arthritis can be easier if you use the right blend of medications, physical therapy, and routine adjustments. Dogs with arthritis can be helped to have a great quality of life, especially in the early stages of the disease. The sooner that you recognize and start caring for arthritis, the most likely you will be to offer your dog a comfortable daily experience and continuing enjoyment of their favorite activities.
If you are ready to learn some more about the tips and tricks that you need to be aware of when caring for a dog with arthritis, keep reading.
1. Supplementation
There are various joint supplements and supportive care products that can help your dog to be more comfortable. These products can also stave off the breakdown of joints and help improve the quality of your dog’s synovial fluid. Your dog might benefit from the addition of glucosamine and MSM to their daily diet, and you can also invest in a regimen of injectable joint fluid improvers that are safe for use in every breed of dog. Talk to your veterinarian about these supportive products that can help to improve arthritis discomfort and also prevent further breakdown of joints.
2. Proper Pain Management
Your vet can help you to get your dog onto a pain management protocol, such as laser therapy, that will help them to be comfortable as their arthritis advances. There are many safe pain medications that can help your dog to be able to run, jump, and play for as long as possible. In the later stages of the disease, your dog might still need pain medication to sleep comfortably and be able to get around without being uncomfortable. Pain management can work very well alongside supplementation for joint care and support. Managing your dog’s pain is important to your dog’s well-being, and your pet will thank you for taking the time to find the right pain management protocol for their comfort.
3. Change Their Routine
Dogs that are struggling with arthritis might need some help adjusting their routine. If your dog has always been really high energy and has been able to run, jump, fetch, and go on hikes, you can still enjoy these activities with them. You will just need to make sure that your dog is not overdoing it and that you and your pet respect the limitations of their body as it ages. When you help your dog maintain the right level of activity, it will be much less likely to experience painful arthritis flares.
4. Ramps
If your dog loves to ride in the car, you will want to get them a ramp to help them to get into the vehicle without hurting their sore joints. This might be needed for access to the bed and for getting up and down areas with stairs as well. Ramps can also protect your dog from soft tissue injuries related to aging joints that are taxed with athletic demands that they can no longer meet. Ramps are a small investment that can make it much easier for you to get your pet from place to place, and that can make it much easier for your pet to access places in your home with ease.
5. Massage and Bodywork
Many dogs with arthritis benefit from massage and bodywork that can help to keep sore muscles at bay and that can keep nerve function and muscular health at their optimal levels. Arthritis is a progressive condition, so you need to be sure that you are staying on top of the way that the breakdown of your dog’s joints might impact other parts of their body. When your dog has aging joints, it might be putting strain on other parts of the body, which can lead to injury and generalized soreness.
6. Swimming
Many dogs with arthritis can engage in swim therapy to help improve their strength and well-being. Swimming takes the weight off of sore joints and helps your dog to enjoy exercise like before without pain. There are many locations that offer this kind of swim therapy as its benefits have been made clear, and it is often quite easy to find a swim therapy location for your dog to get treatment. In younger dogs that like to swim, you might be able to supplement some of their normal exercise routines with swimming in natural bodies of water as well.
Talk with Your Veterinarian
Always make sure to work with your veterinarian to create a care plan for your dog that has arthritis. There are many stages of this condition, and it is important to use the right treatment protocol for your dog’s needs. Not every animal will need to be supported by all of these treatment protocols, and your vet can help you to figure out which of these treatment plans is right for your pet.
Dog Arthritis Can be Easy to Manage
The sooner that you get your dog on an arthritis treatment plan, the better overall. Arthritis can progressively damage your dog’s joints, but beginning treatment of this condition in the early stages of the disease can make it much less likely that your dog’s arthritis will progress rapidly. There are new therapies and improved treatment protocols being developed all the time to help make arthritis easier to manage, and your dog can enjoy the benefits of these supportive care items with the help of your vet.
Arthritis can be readily managed in most cases, allowing your dog to enjoy all their favorite activities and to have a great quality of life for years to come. Call (305) 663-3300 or book an appointment online to talk with your Country Club Animal Hospital vet about your dog’s arthritis in Miami!