Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The cause can be abnormal bone or joint development, instability of the surrounding ligaments and tendons, damage or injury to the joint, an infection, or injury caused by the immune system. While anti-inflammatory medicines are popular treatments for arthritis, another approach involves protecting the cartilage in the joint and "nourishing" the joint.
Here are tips that may help your arthritic dog.
Slip-free Flooring. Hardwood and tile are slippery and can be very difficult for dogs with arthritis to navigate. Placing carpet or area rugs will help secure your dog's footing. This can help prevent him from slipping and injuring himself. Glucosamine for dogs
Swimming is a good aerobic exercise and is especially good for arthritis symptom dogs because there is no jarring impact. As swimming is a non-weight bearing activity.
It exercises every muscle of the body without any stress. When swimming, muscles and joints are able to move through a complete range of motion without bearing any weight.
Swimming in warm water has the added benefit of relaxing muscles (specially important for arthritis symptom dogs) and increasing overall blood circulation. Warm water relaxes muscles so the dog will not feel pain when exercising, thus improving joint lubrication. Older dogs have the added benefit of cardiovascular strengthening and weight loss, improving general fitness.
Your dog should use all four legs to doggie paddle. If he paddles with just his front paws, lift his rear legs to help him float. He'll quickly understand that he needs all four of his legs to swim.
Daily, low-impact exercise helps to improve strength and stamina, joint mobility, and stimulates joint cartilage metabolism.
While helping maintain your dog's weight, it also decreases the need for pain-relieving medications.
A Soft Bed. Soft bedding and heated beds can help support the bones and joints, making your pet more comfortable. This can be especially important in thin dogs in which bony prominences are likely to rub on hard surfaces. Some beds are made especially for dogs with arthritis, such as waterbeds, hammock beds, and beds with plenty of extra cushion. Our new Durabed may be right for your older do.
Grooming should not be neglected, especially in the older dog. Arthritic dogs have a difficult time keeping themselves clean, especially in those hard to reach areas. Help your dog stay clean by trimming the hair around the rear end. Brushing will help remove mats and tangles, which can injure delicate older skin. Keep eyes & ears clean, also.
Peace & Quiet. As your dog ages, he may not be as tolerant or patient as he used to be. Sore joints make it difficult for your pet to enjoy rambunctious playful children. Supervise playtime and consider keeping your dog away from very young children. Even parties and holiday time can be distressing for an arthritic dog. He may want to join in the festivities regardless of the discomfort. To reduce joint pain and inflammation, you may want to limit his time as the center of attention.
Massage. Massage can increase flexibility, circulation, calmness and a general sense of wellness. Professional animal massage therapists are available to provide your pet a more thorough treatment.
Weight Loss. Arthritis is more of a problem in obese pets. Weight loss can be beneficial by helping to reduce the workload on the bones and joints.
Exercise. Modest daily exercise can help some dogs. Special care is needed, so it is important to first see your veterinarian, who can recommend an appropriate exercise program. Exercise can strengthen the muscles and ligaments thus reducing the potential and risk of injury.
Supplements. There are many products on the market that can be used in addition to a good diet.
Extra Time. Don't rush a dog with arthritis. It often takes them extra time to walk, climb stairs or get in and out of the car. Support and help them if needed or just give them extra time to get around.
Mary E. Joyce http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com
![]() Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:08:09 GMT EA's big bet on Spore - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Steve Johnson In unveiling their much-anticipated and long-delayed video game "Spore" in North America today, executives at Electronic Arts hope to counter critics who have faulted the Redwood City company for becoming fat and happy in recent years ... In the Beginning, Finally Sims creator hopes to soar with Spore Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:07:31 GMT In the neighborhood of a title once again - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Bud Collins Or should I say Herr Roger, as he is addressed in his hometown, Basel. He does better in this sector, the Flushing section of the New York borough of Queens, than he ever did in Switzerland, and Roger Federer says he feels "a little bit ... Video: Federer Beats Djokovic to Reach US Open Final Federer Storms Into Final Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:28:11 GMT Hurricane Ike Strengthens to Category 4, Raises Fears From ... - FOXNews
FOXNews - Sept. 6: This satellite image taken at 3:45 pm EDT shows a swirl of clouds north of Hispaniola associated with Hurricane Ike. Sept. Video: 'Dangerous' Ike Aims for Turks and Caicos Ike hits Turks and Caicos islands as Category 4 hurricane with ... Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:13:03 GMT Tracing TV's bloodlines - Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod Times - By CAPE COD TIMES Vampires are big business, whether dominating the best-seller list in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series of books for three years or starring in an endless stream of movies that portray the mysterious bloodsuckers as scary, ... 'True Blood': Undead On Arrival 'True Blood' offers edgy inspection of tolerance Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:14:40 GMT Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline - InformationWeek
InformationWeek - After 10 years as a company, Google is making the Chrome browser key to the coming of age of cloud computing, or software as a service. Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha Mozilla updates Firefox 3.1 with Alpha 2 build Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:46:03 GMT Couric getting a kick out of Web freedom - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - By Matea Gold | Tribune Newspapers NEW YORK—Katie Couric was listening to Declan McCullagh, CNet's chief political correspondent, explain Barack Obama's and John McCain's stances on Net neutrality. Survivors Enjoy Watching 'Stand Up To Cancer' Katie Couric teams with rival anchors to 'Stand Up to Cancer' Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:04:17 GMT Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88 - FOXSports.com FOXSports.com - by Elias Cepeda, InsideFighting.com Rashad Evans shot himself straight to the top of the long list of challengers in the UFC's light heavyweight division with a devastating knockout win over the sport of MMA's top name and former champion, ... Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell Liddell in need of a fresh approach Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:18:30 GMT Earn Money At Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The term applehead Chihuahua refers to the shape of a... Read More What is Canine Hip Dysplasia?Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a... Read More If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several... Read More Thunder storms affected pets differently. Some hardly notice them, others... Read More Cats need only be provided with decent shelter, food and... Read More Let's take a look at the different stages, but before... Read More The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is... Read More If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More Keeping your dog safe is similar to keeping a child... Read More Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty,... Read More If your feline friend could speak your language, here a... Read More Fleas have plagued dogs, cats, and their owners since time... Read More Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More Flowerhorn Cichlids Flowerhorn cichlids is a hybrid cichlid that was... Read More You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of... Read More Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid.... Read More Here's a simple way... to help your horse learn twice... Read More The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail... Read More Let's say you've made up your mind on the breed... Read More
Adsense
websites
Applehead Chihuahua
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
7 Simple Ways To Safe Guard Your Dog This Summer!
Picking Up A Horses Hoof
Dog Obedience Training
Get Your Dog Safely Through a Storm
Keeping Your Cat Healthy
The 7 Stages of Puppy Development
Heartworm Treatment for Cats and Dogs
Are Westhighland Terriers the Right Dogs for You?
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Practical Advice for Adopting a Dog
Aquarium Supplies Part 2 -- My First Experience With Goldfish
Three Important Safety Products for Your Dog this Summer
How To Save Money By Testing For Feline UTI Yourself
What Your Cat Wants You To Know
Old Fashioned Flea Control
Acclimating New Birds
A Short Introduction To Flowerhorn Cichlids
Chinchillas As Pets
Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs
6 Common Dog Emergencies
How I Get More Training Done On My Horses In 1/2 The Time
How To Stop Your Cat Spraying
Westie Puppies For Sale ? 7 Important Questions To Ask Your West Highland Terrier Breeder
More and more folks are looking to the Internet to... Read More
Over the past couple of years, animal rescues have been... Read More
Dog SupplementsA good nutritional program of dog supplements is just... Read More
This is an old saying that many of us have... Read More
Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at... Read More
This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam,... Read More
Of course, we humans use shoes to protect our feet.... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
The trick of "sitting up" is easily taught to small... Read More
Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs... Read More
Cockatiels are one of the most lovable pets in the... Read More
When you get a puppy, one of the first things... Read More
Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh... Read More
Doggie day care is becoming more and more prevalent in... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More
If you're looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it's hard... Read More
A couple of years ago a Japanese electronics company came... Read More
Puppy CarePuppy care can be a lot of work, but... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
Newer doesn't always mean better.Adopting an older dog may be... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
Getting a new pet can be a lot of fun.... Read More
When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
Pet |