Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in dogs, especially aging ones. It causes swelling and inflammation that makes it painful for dogs to walk or even get up from sleep.
Even though some old dogs might suffer from arthritis because of an active and happy life, other dogs suffer from the disease due to obesity, diabetes, and injuries. Reports suggest that one in every five dogs suffers from arthritis.
However, dog owners can take care of their dogs, treating them and helping ease the pain. They (dog owners) can check for the symptoms before things get worse and work with their veterinarians to get advice on the best ways to care for their dogs. This will ensure that the dogs live a healthy and stress-free life. So how can dog owners treat their dogs and ease pain caused by arthritis?
Dog Supplements and Diet
The food given to a dog is quite important especially for those with arthritis because of the need for weight management. This is because dogs with excessive weight strain their body and joints when walking.
Even though you can try exercising the dog, it gets difficult for those with severe arthritis. In such a situation, you can consult your veterinarian to find the suitable activities that the dog can handle.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that your dog gets the right food and meets its nutritional requirements. You can get food supplements from your veterinarian to ease the pain caused by arthritis. These supplements have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients that are important when getting rid of arthritis.
CBD Oil
Dog CBD for arthritis has become very popular today. CBD is found in hemp and cannabis and dog owners have been using it to treat different conditions in dogs, as well as humans. If your dog has been diagnosed with arthritis, you can use CBD oil to ease the pain.
CBD oil also helps your dog deal with other things such as anxiety, seizures, pain, and inflammation. Even though there lacks enough scientific research on what CBD oil does for dogs, talking to your veterinarian will help you understand everything you need to know before administering the oil to your dog.
Soft Bed
Arthritis causes pain in a dog’s bones and joints. This means that they find it difficult to sleep on hard surfaces. To help ease the pain caused by arthritis, you need to ensure that the dog sleeps on a soft bed.
You can easily find orthopedic beds for your dog. These beds play a very important role in supporting the dog’s bones and joints. This way, you will help ease the pain caused by arthritis.
Exercise and Massage
Exercising is important in treating and easing the pain caused by arthritis. However, as discussed above, dogs with severe arthritis might find it difficult to exercise, to begin with, and may require low-impact activities such as swimming and underwater treadmill therapy instead.
You can also massage your dog to increase its flexibility and mobility. This also helps it to relax and improve blood circulation in its body. However, you should be careful when massaging the dog since it could be painful when excess pressure is directly applied to its joints. If you do not know how to effectively massage your dog, you can consult a massage therapist for pets.
Easy Movement
Dogs with arthritis find it difficult to navigate through tiled and hardwood floors as well as through staircases. You need to make it easy for them to keep the arthritis pain under control. This can be done through the use of cubes and ramps that help when the dog is getting to and from sofas as well as when climbing staircases.
In addition, you can use carpets and rugs on slippery floors to make sure that your dog finds it steady when walking over the floor. This will make your dog comfortable, walk easily, and ease the pain caused by arthritis.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy for dogs has gained popularity in recent years. It is also known as photobiomodulation (PBMT) therapy, red-light therapy, or low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This form of therapy is not only important when helping ease the pain in dogs with arthritis but also when reducing inflammation and promoting healing. It works by stimulating the flow of blood in the dog’s body and tissues, something that is important when reducing arthritic pain and fastening the healing process.
Pharmaceuticals
There are different medications that you can use to ease the pain in your dog. For instance, tramadol is one of the most common drugs recommended by veterinarians. Tramadol is not anti-inflammatory but plays an important role in relieving pain. It is also safe to be used in a dog and quite affordable. Tramadol works by targeting the nervous system and changing the strength and transmission of pain signals to the brain.
Warm and Dry Conditions
You need to make sure that your dog is staying in warm and dry conditions. This is because a damp and cold environment is known to make arthritis worse. To make it easier for the dog and ease the pain, ensure that you gently compress the painful joints with warm and soft substances.
Surgery
Sometimes, your dog might have severe arthritis. You might have tried most of the recommendations discussed here in vain. This does not mean that you should wait for the dog to die. With the help of your veterinarian, you can discuss the options you have for surgery. This can go a long way in helping your dog recover from arthritis completely.
Conclusion
Dog owners might find it frightening when helping their dogs get through arthritis. However, this should not be a serious concern since there are various treatments available and ways through which they can ease the pain caused by the disease.
Even though the methods discussed above will help in treating arthritis and easing its pain, it is important to consult your veterinarian to get the right treatment for your dog.
Nadine Westwood is a health coach and writer who helps her clients achieve phenomenal and sustainable results by combining nutrition, fitness, and fun! She believes primarily in living a happy life, and that the backbone of any lifestyle is that it must be sustainable and enjoyable.
