Arthritis is a common condition that affects dogs of all ages. It can affect your dog’s joints and decrease mobility, leading to pain and difficulty walking. A dog with arthritis may also experience other symptoms like fever, stiffness, and decreased appetite. While there are many things you can do to help your arthritic dog feel better, the best treatment will be determined by your veterinarian.
What is Arthritis, and How Does It Affect Your Dog’s Life?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness in your dog’s joints. This can make it difficult for your dog to move around, but there are things you can do to help them stay active and comfortable.
Arthritis is caused by an accumulation of proteins in the body called inflammatory cytokines. The immune system attacks these proteins, causing inflammation (redness) in the joints—arthritic inflammation. When this often happens over time, it will cause damage to nerves and other tissues inside your dog’s body, leading to her pain because she doesn’t feel well anymore when she tries moving around like usual!
How to Make an Arthritic Dog Comfortable and Prolong its Life
Weight and Diet Management
Weight loss can help with arthritis, but it’s not the only thing you can do to manage your dog’s pain. If you want to lose weight, consider taking your pet on a regular walk and ensuring they get plenty of exercises daily. This will help keep their joints moving and allow them to burn off some extra energy that might otherwise be stored as fat around the body.
Lifestyle and Comfort
If you want to lengthen the life of your arthritic dog, you should prioritize his comfort. For a dog to be comfortable, it may be necessary to make lifestyle adjustments, such as purchasing bedding designed expressly for dogs with a condition such as arthritis.
Orthopedic dog beds, for instance, are meant to promote joint ease. A dog wheelchair is a valuable addition to your arthritic dog’s lifestyle. A dog wheelchair will substantially increase your dog’s movement.
Keep your dog warm during the winter and other cold months. As the cold can exacerbate the pain of hurting joints. Invest in a quality heating pad, as heat has been shown to alleviate joint pain.
Supplements
You can help your dog with arthritis by supplementing with the right vitamins, minerals, and herbs. Some supplements may also help with pain and inflammation, which are common symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Some supplements have been shown to improve joint health and mobility, so they may be worth trying if you’re concerned that your pet will slow down or become more sedentary due to its condition.
Surgery
Surgery is an option for some dogs with arthritis, but it’s not a cure. Surgery can help relieve pain and stiffness, but it won’t stop the progression of the disease or reverse any damage already done by arthritis.
Conclusion
Arthritis in dogs can be lethal, especially in dogs who are neglected. A dog’s arthritis can shorten its lifespan. However, by providing your arthritic dog with quality care, you can extend its lifespan. Either by learning how to do the care above techniques or by employing a professional in that field. A dog with arthritis can have an everyday, active life with proper care and therapy.
