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How to Treat a Dog With Arthritis
by Rhomylly Forbes
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Overview
One of the things our dogs have in common with us is that they can develop painful arthritis when they get older. And like us, their arthritis can worsen in cold weather, at the site of a former joint injury or simply as they continue to age. Fortunately, there is at-home arthritis relief for our canine companions that is very similar--if not identical--to the short and long-term regimen we would follow to alleviate our own joint pain.
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Step 1
Start a daily supplement regimen. Make sure your dog gets glucosamine chondroitin, fish oil, and vitamin C every day for optimum joint health. Most dogs will eat the pills if you mix them and a spoonful or two of plain yogurt into their breakfast. The calcium in the yogurt is also good for aging bones.
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Step 2
Keep the extra pounds off. It's true for us and it's true for our dogs--extra body weight means extra stress (and pain) on arthritic joints. Check with your veterinarian to see if your dog is packing a few too many pounds and mutually agree on a healthy plan to help your dog slim down. Commit to the plan, for the sake of your dog.
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Step 3
Stretch the joints. Unless your dog really cannot move without intense pain, try to take him on at least a short walk around the block daily. Many people--and dogs--note a drop in arthritis pain if their joints are gently stretched every day.
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Step 4
Make her sleeping space comfortable. Warmth makes arthritic bones feel better, so consider buying a heated dog bed for your old friend, especially if the winters are particularly cold where you live. Many dog owners have also reported that Kuranda beds seemed to provide some comfort to their arthritic dogs. Kuranda beds hang from a frame, so the dog is basically sleeping on air--rather like a taut hammock.
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Step 5
Administer aspirin as needed. When your dog is having a really painful day, give him a 325 mg buffered aspirin. You can wrap the aspirin in a piece of cheese or lunchmeat to make it go down easier.
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- Glucosamine chondroitin
Fish oil capsules
Ester-C
Yogurt
Scale
Heated dog bed
Kuranda bed
Buffered aspirin - 325 mg
Cheese (optional)
Lunchmeat (optional)
- Glucosamine chondroitin
- Fish oil capsules
- Ester-C
- Yogurt
- Scale
- Heated dog bed
- Kuranda bed
- Buffered aspirin - 325 mg
- Cheese (optional)
- Lunchmeat (optional)
- Check with your veterinarian to determine proper supplement dosage size for your dog.
- Check with your veterinarian to determine proper supplement dosage size for your dog.
- Citrus fruits are toxic to dogs, so be sure your vitamin C comes from a non-citrus source, like Ester-C.
Check with your veterinarian on how often you can give your dog aspirin without damage to the kidneys or other organs.
Do not ever give your dog other human pain relief products like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve--they can poison him.
- Citrus fruits are toxic to dogs, so be sure your vitamin C comes from a non-citrus source, like Ester-C.
- Check with your veterinarian on how often you can give your dog aspirin without damage to the kidneys or other organs.
- Do not ever give your dog other human pain relief products like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve--they can poison him.
