Millions of Americans suffer from osteoarthritis. Many of our pets also suffer from osteoarthritis, especially as they get older. Some owners aren’t even aware their dog has arthritis, I can’t tell you how often people have said to me, “Oh, he’s slowing down, but he’s just getting older.” This “slowing down” is usually evidence of arthritis. Even though your dog can’t reach for a pill when he is feeling a little sore, there are many options for us as owners, to give to our dogs to make them more comfortable and more importantly, to slow the progression of the disease.
The first thing many of us reach for when we have arthritis pain is an over the counter pain medicine, such as Advil or Tylenol. Although over the counter medications aren’t appropriate or safe for our pets, there are similar medications that are available. Non steroidal anti inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) help decrease pain and inflammation in the joints. There are many veterinary NSAIDs available on the market and similar to people, there is no one perfect drug for every dog and every situation. Your veterinarian can help you decide what the right medication is for your pet. Proper liver and kidney function is necessary for NSAIDs to be metabolized and your veterinarian will recommend appropriate testing necessary to make sure NSAID therapy is safe for your pet.
Many people take joint supplements which contain glucosamine and/or chondroitin. Similar products are available for dogs. These joint supplements are thought to improve the joint fluid and increase lubrication in the joint. There are many orally administered joint supplements on the market, and the quality of these products vary greatly. You should definitely contact your veterinarian prior to choosing an oral joint supplement.
Another product that works directly in the joint is adequan, this is an injection that is given on a regular basis and also increases the quality of the joint fluid. In addition it has been shown to significantly slow the progression of arthritis, so is best used early in the disease. This medication is only available through a veterinarian. Some owners can even learn how to give the injection at home.
Fatty acid supplement has also been shown to decrease inflammation and symptoms of arthritis. There are several new diets available that are high in fatty acids. I like these diets because you are going to feed your dog anyway, and if there is medication in the food, better yet. Also, if you were to try to give oral fatty acid supplement to your pet equal to what they get in these special diets daily, you’d be giving a handful of capsules every day. I know in today’s busy lifestyle, making treatment easier means it’s more likely to get done, that’s why I like the diets so much.
Of course, overweight pets need weight management to help decrease the stress on their joints. There is a new drug available for dogs that when coupled with the appropriate dietary management and exercise has been shown to significantly increase the rate of weight loss. In addition, there aren’t the unfavorable side effects that many of the newer human weight loss products warn about. Your dog will remain socially acceptable when on this medication!
Keeping the joints active is an important part of slowing the progression of arthritis. It is very important to have non concussive exercise, such as leash walks or better yet swimming. In the summer swimming is easy, just go find a lake. For winter swimming, there are local facilities that have pools just for dogs. Physical rehabilitation is an area that is gaining much interest in veterinary medicine. This therapy is appropriate not only for post op patients, but also to keep arthritis patients comfortable and active. There are a few veterinarians in Western Washington that are accredited in physical rehabilitation. However, your veterinarian is able to give you ideas on basic exercises to help maintain your pet.
With all the options available, the first step is to discuss everything with your veterinarian and make a treatment plan that fits your dog’s and your lifestyle. Then stick to it. You will find it’s easy to keep your dog comfortable well into his senior years!
As usual if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at: mcaviness@wildernessvet.com
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