Arthritis in Pets
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Just like people, our pets can suffer from the pain and stiffness of arthritis, as they grow older. There are several different types of arthritis that can attack your pets.
• Osteo Arthritis – This is a slow, progressive disease that happens when the cartilage in your pet’s joints breaks down. Without cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain and immobility. It’s the most common type of pet arthritis, and glucosamine and chondroitin are especially helpful for treating this type of arthritis.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – This type of arthritis is very similar to human rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis occurs when the body mistakenly attacks joints in your pet’s body. Researchers don’t know why this occurs, and it can be difficult to treat
• Traumatic Arthritis – This type of arthritis occurs after your pet suffers some kind of trauma to their joints. It can lead to the development of osteoarthritis.
Some of the symptoms of arthritis include swelling and inflammation, difficulty in walking or moving, and stiffness. Your pet will probably experience growing pain as the disease progresses, as well. You should always check with your vet for a formal diagnosis of arthritis in your pet, before you start any treatment options. However, the good news is, there are many treatments available to help your pet regain their mobility, and keep them relatively pain free.
Your vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug for your pet, to reduce the swelling and pain of arthritis. If your pet is overweight, they may prescribe a weight-loss diet as well, because obesity can add to the pain and stress of the disease. In some severe cases, the vet may recommend surgery, such as a hip or knee replacement, to bring relief from the disease.
There are also many supplements you can add to your dog’s food, or your dog can chew, so they are easy to administer. Many of these supplements include glucosamine and chrondroitin, two ingredients that are thought to help reduce the swelling, inflammation, and pain of the disease. These are natural ingredients that help reduce the breakdown of cartilage, and help form new cartilage, according to several medical studies.
One of the products, Dasuquin Joint Health for dogs, includes soybean and avocado in the supplement, two more natural ingredients that help improve joint function and help prevent pain. When you choose an arthritis supplement for your pet, make sure it’s easy to administer, or your pet won’t get the full value of the medication. Tablets that taste good and are chewable are the easiest way to administer arthritis medications, so look for them when you shop for arthritis medications.
Look for high quality ingredients that are backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee, as well. Unfortunately, some supplements are made with poor quality, inferior ingredients, so always purchase your medications from a reputable pet pharmacy too.
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