Signs and Symptoms of Dog Arthritis Pain
Your Pet May Need Dog Arthritis and Joint Pain Relief
Just like humans, dogs become susceptible to certain illnesses like dog arthritis as they get older. Their bones become weak with age and their joints get damaged due to wear and tear. They experience the same kind of joint pain that humans do, but they are obviously unable to tell you how they are feeling.
Natural Joint and Arthritis Pain Relief
This is why, as a dog owner, it is very important for you to know and recognize the signs of dog arthritis so that you can give your dog the proper treatment as soon as possible.
Contrary to general belief, dog arthritis does not occur exclusively in older dogs. Some younger dogs can also develop the condition after sustaining injuries to the joints or bones.
Large breeds are particularly susceptible to arthritis and other bone diseases because their bigger mass puts more pressure on their joints.
Although there is no guarantee that your dog will be free of arthritis all his life, there are certain things you can do to help reduce his chances of developing the illness.
Other Dog Health Problems Similar To Dog Arthritis
Other than dog arthritis, there are a few other similar illnesses that your dog may experience as he gets older, such as dysplasia, hypertrophy, osteochondritis and shoulder degeneration. As with dog arthritis, you can’t really prevent the onset of these more serious conditions but with the right precautionary measures, you can delay their progress and reduce the seriousness of the illness.
Common Signs of Dog Arthritis
Once it advances to the more serious stages, dog arthritis can be excruciatingly painful. To save your dog from this agonizing experience, you should be able to recognize the early symptoms of the illness and give him the correct treatment right away. Here are some signs that you should look out for:
- Sluggish motions
- Limping while walking or running
- Lack of interest in playing and running
- Refuses to jump or exercise
- Refuses to climb stairs or get up on elevated areas.
During the early stages of dog arthritis, the joint pain may not be so intense but it can quickly worsen if you don’t address the issue immediately. So when you start noticing the above-mentioned symptoms, it would be a good idea to bring him to the vet for a diagnosis of his condition.
Manifestations of Joint Pain
When the condition starts to get worse, your dog may begin to experience more intense pain without you realizing it. Your dog may not be able to talk but he does try to communicate what he is feeling through certain behaviors. Here are some of a dog’s behaviors that may indicate pain:
- Lack of enthusiasm when you go for walks. Dogs are normally excited when you take them out for walks. If your dog is uncharacteristically hesitant or listless during these walks, he may be experiencing some kind of pain.
- Yelping or crying, especially when you touch them in certain areas like knees or shoulders. Similarly, pulling away upon touching them can also be a sign of pain.
- Limping without any apparent cause. Dogs will limp when they are wounded or injured but if there is no visible reason for the limping, it may be due to dog arthritis.
- Difficulty in getting up. If you notice that your dog is having a hard time getting up after lying down for a while, then there’s a big possibility he may already be in pain due to arthritis.
These are some of the symptoms of dog arthritis that are easiest to spot. As soon as you notice these symptoms, you should bring your dog to the vet for proper treatment so that will eliminate the pain and make his bones and joints stronger as well.
Dog Arthritis and Understanding Your Dog’s Joint Pain
How To Care For This Painful Dog Health Problem
The first thing that you need to know about dog arthritis is the basic fact that it is a joint disease that can be classed into two main categories – degenerative and inflammatory.
A healthy dog’s bones are coated by a substance called synovial fluid. This gives the dog flexibility and mobility, especially when he is takes part in physical activities like running and playing. When arthritis sets in, this fluid is reduced, making joint damage much more likely.
Degenerative Joint Disease
The first type of dog arthritis — degenerative joint disease — is very similar to osteoarthritis in humans. This condition takes place when the bone sustains damages due to the destruction of cartilage. This can happen either because of injuries, or just because of simple old age.
Inflammatory Joint Disease
On the other hand, the second and rare form of dog arthritis — inflammatory joint disease — is normally triggered by infections due to bacteria, fungus or parasites. It can also be a hereditary disease passed on through generations.
So how would you know if your dog is starting to suffer from arthritis or joint pains?
Some of the most common signs you would want to look out for are swollen joints, lack of mobility, limping or difficulty in moving, licking at the joints and a considerable drop in energy levels.
Treatments For Dog Arthritis
Dog arthritis can come with a lot of pain and discomfort but fortunately, there are several treatment methods you can use to help your pet get relief from their dog joint pain. Among the most common remedies is the use of natural medications. These come in the form or oral medications or topical applications, and can be purchased in practically any veterinary supplies store in the country. You may also be able to purchase them straight from your vet’s clinic. You can of course purchase your dog health supplies online.
For faster results, you might want to consider giving your dog cortisone injections. Such dog arthritis treatments are only available with a vet’s prescription and should only be administered by a qualified individual.
When left untreated, dog arthritis can lead to many other dog health problems. This is why it is very important to get your pet treated as early as possible. For the more severe cases, surgery might even be required but this should only be considered as the very last resort.
Although dog arthritis is a very common problem among old dogs, especially the larger ones, you can still reduce your dog’s chances of sustaining this illness by making sure that he gets adequate exercise. A daily 15-minute walk in the park or just playing in the backyard every afternoon would be more than enough to strengthen your dog’s bones and keep him safe from arthritis and provide them with dog joint pain relief.
