Understanding Canine Arthritis: Malady To Man's Best Friend

It's heart-breaking to see older dogs get sick, especially when they become debilitated. Normally, people love dogs who are active , playful, and alert. However, dogs also get old too and begin to experience certain illness that may prohibit them from doing the things that they enjoyed before with their master.



Any breed, size or class of dog can acquire canine arthritis or osteoarthritis in dogs. Like human beings, canine arthritis is a progressive disease that involves the joints which can lead to permanent debilitation. When a dog is young, it can run and play the whole day since cartilage is very much present in the joints. As the dog gets older, cartilage breaks down and the dog begins to limp, walk slower than usual, refrain from playing and find it hard to get up from a resting position. If the mentioned symptoms have manifested in an older dog, it's more probable that arthritis has begun.



According to some veterinarians, the onset of canine arthritis is brought about by infections, malnutrition or trauma that the dog has experienced. A dog that has been injured at some point in its younger years is a candidate for canine arthritis. There are some infections that can cause damage to bones of the dog. Once canine arthritis symptoms are seen in your dog, schedule a visit to the vet clinic. A physical examination of the dog is helpful in assessing the extent of the arthritis. Upon concluding that the dog has indeed canine arthritis, certain medications are prescribed. Indeed, the medications lessen the pain, adds to the range of motion and hinders the progress of the ailment making the dog still active. Normally, medications such as non-steroidal inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) need to be given to dogs. Dog owners must encourage their canine friends to regularly walk or swim so their mobility would not be impaired as long as the activity is not too hard.



Canine arthritis is not really difficult to manage, the key is finding the appropriate treatment through a good veterinarian.