Steps You Can Take To Help Your Dog With Arthritis
Over the years, the number of dogs kept as pets has increased. These days, there are more than 90 million dogs kept as pets in the United States alone!
Advances in medicine and nutrition also mean that dogs tend to live longer now. As a result, more and more dog owners are having to learn about how to help a dog with arthritis.
Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about helping your dog be as healthy and comfortable as possible!
Does My Dog Have Arthritis?
In some cases, you can tell that your dog is developing arthritis because they start to walk differently. You might also notice that your dog tends to walk less. However, to be really sure, it often helps to visit a veterinarian who can help you diagnose arthritis in your dog.
What Can I Do for a Dog With Arthritis?
Unfortunately, many common treatments for arthritis in humans do not work for dogs. Dogs do not understand their condition well enough to apply some of the more effective interventions. However, there are still many things you can do for your dog to help decrease their symptoms of arthritis.
Treat Arthritis in Dogs With Medication
One of the most potent ways to help your dog with their arthritis is with medication. When you speak with your veterinarian, ask about options for medication for both the source and the symptoms of arthritis in your dog.
The earlier you catch arthritis in a dog, the better treatment for your dog will go. Don't wait until your dog's arthritis gets worse before you talk to a medical expert.
Use Supplemental Dog Arthritis Treatments
Along with medication, you may be able to help treat your dog's arthritis with the right pet supplements. Many people are surprised by how similar the biology of dogs and people is. Many of the joint supplements that work for humans can also help dogs with their arthritis.
You might look for dog supplements with medicinal herbs, omega-3 fatty acids or collagen. These can help provide your dog's body with the resources it needs to maintain healthy joints.
Help Manage Dog Arthritis With the Right Diet
Many health problems come down to diet. Helping your dog enjoy a healthy diet may diminish their symptoms of arthritis.
Make sure that your dog gets plenty of protein and healthy fats in their diet. As much as you can, it is also best to avoid highly processed carbohydrates.
Appropriately Add Exercise
Many people do not realize that exercise can both provoke and alleviate symptoms of arthritis. Done correctly, exercise is essential to keep your dog from becoming stiff and less mobile over time.
However, you want to make sure that your dog can exercise without having to push through the pain of arthritis. It can help to set aside time to take your dog on walks on gentle ground. Grass is much better than concrete or pavement.
You should also watch your dog for signs that they do not want to continue exercising. If your dog starts slowing down or lying down, finish up your exercise and let your dog rest.
Make It Easier for Your Dog to Walk
Sometimes, arthritis is exacerbated by long nails. Long nails can make it so that a dog has to walk with an unnatural posture. This can place extra stress on their already stressed joints.
On top of that, long nails on your dog can make it hard for them to get a good grip on the ground. That can mean that they have to put more effort and finesse into every step.
It is much better for them if they can simply relax and walk normally. Make sure that your dog's nails are kept nice and short.
Consider Getting a Dog Bed
Placing stress on parts of the body can exacerbate arthritis as well. Unfortunately, dogs need to sleep for many hours on end, which necessarily places a certain amount of stress on whichever parts of their body they rest on the floor.
However, you can alleviate a lot of this pressure by getting them a soft bed. The more expensive a dog bed is, the more likely it is to provide your dog with a combination of support and softness. Both can help your dog rest more comfortably.
Make Your Home Easier for Your Dog to Navigate
Long nails aren't the only thing that can make it harder for your dog to walk. Slippery floors require dogs to walk more carefully and effortfully. You can make it a lot easier for your dog to get around your home by putting down rugs or yoga mats.
These can help your dog get a grip as well as provide a little cushion between your dog's feet and the floor. You can also take care to keep water off the floor so that your dog does not slip.
You might want to put down something absorbent around your dog's water bowl. That way, they will not have to worry about slipping on water nearby.
Understand the Most Important Things You Can Do to Help Your Dog With Arthritis
We hope learning about how to help your dog with arthritis has been helpful. Many people slowly develop a system to help their dogs through trial and error. However, taking a little bit of time to learn about tried-and-true principles for helping a dog with arthritis is an investment in your dog's health and comfort.
To learn more about how you can help your dog with arthritis with the right supplements, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!