When your dog’s favourite run becomes a stiff walk, getting up from the comfy bed is now accompanied by a groan and a growl and running up the stairs is just too big of a mountain to climb. These will all be familiar scenarios for senior dog owners. You want nothing more then to be able to take away the pain and see your canine companion bound around once again. Whilst there is no miracle cure for aging or arthritic joints, there are few things you can do to relieve some of the discomfort your dog may feel.
It’s important to take regular trips to the vets and to maintain any treatment plan your vet puts in place. Whilst speaking with your vet ask if your dog would be a suitable candidate for hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is the use of water to exercise and mobilise joints, proven to relieve and even halt the symptoms of arthritis. Also, it’s worth discussing the prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to help if you feel your dog is in pain.
Glucosamine assists your dogs body to produce cartilage in the joints. As dogs get older their body breaks down cartilage quicker than it can be produced. Loss of cartilage is what leads to arthritis and joint pain. You can buy glucosamine supplements from most pet health stores. Lastly, making sure your dog maintains a healthy weight relieves the pressure on the joints, this can offer an instant pain relief, also allowing them to increase their mobility. If you have worries your dog is significantly over weight, for effective weight loss, speak to your veterinary surgery. Most practices run free weight clinics to support owners with pet obesity.
