10 ways to help keep Your Arthritic canine Comfortable
Last updated on July 30, 2021 By Puppy Leaks 8 comments
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When you think of arthritis you probably think of old dogs. but the truth is, arthritis doesn’t just affect old dogs. It’s estimated that one in five dogs will show signs of arthritis by the time they’re one, and that number increases to 80% by the time they’re eight.
So sadly many of our dogs will experience arthritis during their lifetime. That doesn’t imply they can’t play or exercise anymore, in fact keeping your arthritic canine fit is the most essential part of keeping them comfortable.
While it may seem counter intuitive to exercise a canine with arthritis, it’s an essential part of keeping them mobile. The trick is finding what exercise works well for your dog. regular low impact exercise will help them maintain muscle, decrease stiffness and improve flexibility.
Dogs with arthritis also need to maintain a healthy weight. any extra weight adds much more pressure and pain to your dogs achy joints, and that makes getting regular exercise much more of a challenge.
The essential to medical management of arthritis is weight control and exercise management. – Orthopedic foundation for animals (OFA)
Unfortunately there isn’t a cure for arthritis, but there are ways to manage it and keep your canine fit. In this short article we’ll review some ways to help keep your arthritic canine fit and healthy. Here’s 10 suggestions to help keep your arthritic canine comfortable.
1. speak with Your Veterinarian For the appropriate Diagnosis
While this may seem like a no brainer you’d be amazed at the amount of self diagnosing that goes on when it concerns our pets.
If your canine is limping or getting stiff it’s normal to assume it may be arthritis, but it’s essential to get the appropriate diagnosis from a professional. There are a lot of conditions that cause stiffness & limping, and each of them requires a different management plan. The exercises that are recommended for arthritis can cause much more problems for a canine with an ACL inury.
My canine was showing signs of arthritis long before she got the official diagnosis. because it’s a progressive disease it’s easy to write off a little stiffness now and then as just normal aging. It’s not something that just all of a sudden appears one day, and it’s not always easy to notice the subtle changes.
It’s not just arthritis that can cause limping & lameness either, there are numerous conditions that have similar symptoms so it’s essential to make sure you know what’s causing issues for your dog.
Consult your veterinarian if your canine is showing any signs of lameness, pain, limping, jumping or difficulty getting up. Your veterinarian will be able to guideline out any injuries or other conditions that may be contributing to your dogs discomfort.
When my canine Laika began showing signs of lameness we took her in for a checkup. because she’s a German Shepherd mix our veterinarian ruled out a couple of genetic disorders & diseases such as hip dysplasia & degenerative myelopathy before making the official diagnosis of arthritis.
Because arthritis symptoms imitate those of numerous other conditions it’s not always easy to diagnose best away. Your veterinarian will do a physical examination, often including a neurological assessment to guideline out other joint problems. They may do a series of blood tests and run x-rays. Your dogs age, breed and complete history will be taken into consideration.
Managing arthritis includes maintaining a healthy weight, staying fit with low impact exercises and managing pain. That regimen can make other conditions worse, so it’s essential to speak with your veterinarian for the best diagnosis before you start any treatment plan.
Once your canine is diagnosed with arthritis your veterinarian will be able to help you come up with a management plan that’s best for your dog.
Arthritis symptoms imitate those of numerous other conditions. speak with your veterinarian for the appropriate diagnosis and to come up with a management plan that’s best for your dog.
2. find the best balance of exercise & rest For Your Dog
When it concerns keeping your arthritic canine comfortable you’re going to need to start keeping track of how much exercise is too much. After my canine over exerts herself she gets stiff in her hind legs, many notably in the evening.
For months I kept notes detailing what activities Laika did throughout the day. I wrote out what exercises we did, for how long, and whether or not she showed any signs of stiffness or limping at the end of the day.
I did this with a pen and paper because I’m old school. I assume you’re much more digitally advanced than me and can track your activities on your phone. Whether you keep track with a pen & paper or do it on your phone doesn’t matter – the essential thing is keeping track of how your canine does afnullnull