Arthritis Pain in Dogs

Arthritis pain in dogs is one of the most common illnesses that affect your dog's joints. It can happen to any dog, not just in senior dogs. As arthritis takes place, the affected joints will cause pain to your furbaby. 

Arthritis Pain Discomfort: Symptoms

Arthritis pain can lead to many signs of discomfort. The following includes:

According to The Kennel Club, arthritis is usually a problem in older dogs, but the condition can develop from an early age due to problems with bone and joint development. Depending on the cause, arthritis may affect one joint, or any number of your dog's joints. Most cases develop as a result of abnormal rubbing within the joint caused by:

Managing arthritis pain in dogs

As science and medicine continue to evolve, there are many therapy options available today that target joint and arthritis pain. However, there is no single treatment, management or prevention method for arthritis in dogs. To be able to manage arthritis and the pain that comes with it, you should:

Focus on weight control. Weight control greatly depends on what you feed your furbaby and how often. Dogs who are fed in an unlimited manner (feeds whenever the dog wants to eat) are more at risk for obesity. Ideally, you should give your dog two to three meals a day instead of providing food at all times.

According to VCA Hospitals, the most recent scientific data reveals that moderate excess weight alone actually shortens a dog’s life expectancy by as much as two years. Being overweight and obese sets the stage for increased risk of joint damage and subsequent osteoarthritis, leading to chronic pain. As a responsible pet parent, you should be very conscious of your furbaby's feeding time and the quality of food they are eating.

Provide quality dog food. Preventing your furbaby from becoming obese also depends on the type of food they are eating. Provide your dog with high-quality dog food composed of fiber, whole foods, protein, calories, minerals, etc. to fit your furbaby's age, activity level, and weight.

Exercise management. It is always best for your furbaby to get those bones and muscles moving. Expose your dog early to exercises that are easy on the joints, like swimming and walking. These exercises also help to keep the joints healthy and help reduce the chances of cramps, sprains, and muscle injuries in your dog.

Provide a comfortable environment. Give your pup well-padded bedding that will keep the dry, warm and away from the cold. It is not advisable for your dog to lay flat on bare ground or on the hard floor. You may opt to use Pawtect® Pads, a waterproof, leakproof pad. Equipped with StickyPaw® backing, Pawtect® Pads grip the floor providing an anti-slip grip so your furbaby doesn't slide around when on the pad.

It is also important to make sure your furbaby is not laying down on any wet or cold surfaces as this will only worsen arthritis pain. 

Supplements. There are a number of joint supplements available which promote hip, joint and cartilage health, but few are of high-quality from trusted brands. Hip and Joint SoftSupps® for dogs help in maintaining your furbaby's joints and reduce symptoms of arthritic pain.

What makes the hip and joint supplement from Pet Parents® stand out from the others is the active super ingredient, Glucosamine HCL. Glucosamine HCL helps to cushion your furbaby's joints, promote flexibility and relief from pain or discomfort, and aids the repair of the cartilage. It also has one of the purest forms of Methylsulfonylmethan (MSM) in the world, PurforMSM®, providing a variety of health-promoting benefits to mobility support, joint issue prevention, and joint stress improvement.

Arthritis pain in dogs can be avoided by doing a combination of things, such as the ones mentioned above. As pet parents, we all strive to support and raise fit & healthy dogs, for a happier and healthier life.