doesn’t discriminate between the young & the elderly…& it certainly doesn’t care whether you’re a person or one of our furry friends. Onset can be caused by injury or age. Actually, arthritis affects 1 in every 5 dogs, for one reason or another! It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but eventually you’ll start to notice changes in energy level & attitude..among other symptoms.
It would be a spotacular thing if we all had the ability to be our own “Dr. Doolittles” & “talk to the animals” to find out what’s wrong…but, unfortunately, that just isn’t possible…yet!! This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to make note of even the smallest changes in your pets.
You’ll then have the information needed to provide your veterinarian for diagnosis & treatment options.
So you ask yourself..”how do I know if Pongo has arthritis?” Some common signs that your best friend may be suffering from this degenerative disease are listed below.
* Favoring a particular area of the body such as legs, paws, spine, or tail
* Has a difficult time standing, walking, or sitting
* Changes in sleep habits
* Stiffness
* Sore joints
* No longer wants to run, play, jump… Climbing stairs, or jumping into a car are an increasing challenge
* Due to the lack of will to exercise, many animals will have weight gain
* Disposition…even the slightest behavioral changes in our pets can be a HUGE indicator that something is not quite right!
* Diminished reflexes & lack of alertness
If you do notice any of these indications, it is best to get your dog to the veterinarian for a physical evaluation. When an exam doesn’t provide any conclusive evidence, x-rays will most likely be taken to determine if arthritis is actually the nature of the problem…& then used to plan for your dog’s treatment. Some of the methods for treating arthritis include:
* Weight management & a healthy diet, appropriate for your breed of dog.
* Health supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, & omega fatty acids may be recommended as part of your first course of action. One particular brand that has had wonderful success, reviews, & being prescribed quite frequently by veterinarians as of late, is a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement called Dasuquin. Made by Nutramax Laboratories, Dasuquin is joint care for dogs that seems to have gone beyond the typical glucosamine supplements out on the market. They’ve added avocado & soybean unsaponifiables (also called ASU) & decaffeinated tea. Studies have shown that the combination of glucosamine/chondroitin plus ASU works better than just glucosamine/chondroitin alone. The decaff tea is included for additional wellness & anti-oxidant benefits. As a side note, we (SCDR) have actually tried Dasuquin, which was prescribed for a few of our Dalmatians diagnosed with arthritis, & improvements in mobility & energy were quite noticeable. Dasuquin is also available in a formula with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). MSM has been said to act as a pain reliever & anti-inflammatory.
* Exercise, Massage, & Physical Therapy…also, another alternative is HEALING TOUCH! Our Adoptions Coordinator, Tami White, is a HT Practitioner. Consider giving her services a try if you are in her area…she can do wonders for your animals!!
* Providing warmth ….just like most people with arthritis…keeping your pets warm during wet or cold weather will provide relief from some of the aches & pains. Consider using a pet sweater & leg warmers & try moving dog beds closer to baseboard heat ducts if you have them in your home
* Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( also called NSAIDS), may be prescribed to your pet. Some NSAIDS commonly used by vets across the country are:
Carprofen (Rimadyl®, Novox®) Deracoxib (Deramaxx®, Celebrex®)Etodolac (EtoGesic®) Flunixin (Banamine®) Ketoprofen Meclofenamic Acid (Arquel®) Meloxicam (Metacam®) Naproxen (Naprosyn®) Phenylbutazone Piroxicam (Feldene®)
In conjunction with the use of NSAIDs for treatment, be aware that there can be some negative side-effects, including… vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of appetite, stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, plus liver or kidney failure…sIf your dog is taking any of these medications, your should do regular bloodwork to make sure the liver and kidney are functioning properly.
Please, never give your dog “human medications” without first checking with your veterinarian!! Certain ones, particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen, are toxic to canines and can cause death.
So while there still isn’t a cure for arthritis, there is so much we can do to help manage the pain, make your pet comfortable, and perhaps slow down the advancement of the condition.
In conclusion, each dog will need to have disease management plans specifically designed for their needs. What helps one pooch… may not help another!! But if you work closely with your vet & watch your dog’s responses, you should be able to figure out what is right for your spotted..or non-spotted…best friend. Realize, too, that as your pet continues to age, you may need to reassess the situation, & make changes as necessary!
****Information taken from various online articles
