Education
So Your Dog Has Arthritis. Now What?
Medicines and health alternatives to help your pet thrive
Arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that affects many of the world's pets. Generally affecting the more senior patients. Diagnosis is only the beginning of the story; What options are there for you and your little companion?
Medical pain management
Arthritis can be quite painful for your pet. Luckily, there are many different painkillers available to help manage this;
The big guns of the pain medicines for canine arthritis are Metacam (meloxicam alternatives are also used in place of this name brand) or Galliprant. Both of these drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
It is important to not forget that the arthritis is still present even when the pain is being masked by the medicine. Therefore, when going for a walk it is critical not to overdo it.
As with most drugs, these require a prescription that can be obtained from your vet, who can also further discuss which would work best for your pet.
Supplements
Next up there are supplements. There has been new research that suggests biomarkers for the later onset of arthritis can be present for many years before clinical signs are present.
Anecdotally, I have seen many pets who have grown from strength to strength with just supplementation and lifestyle management during the early stages of lameness.
The juggernaut of this area would be YuMOVE (other alternatives are available, of course). The key active ingredients to look for are glucosamine and hyaluronic acid, which are key in aiding the existing collagen in the joint.
Exercises
The easiest form of physio is walking your pet on the lead. Great for after an operation and gently building function back in the joint gradually over time.
There are many more different exercises available including balance exercises on a wobble board, 3 leg standing, and adding resistance bands to other physiotherapies.
Even something as simple as moving from sit to stand back to sit can really work the muscle around the joints to improve the range of motion.
Always undertake the advice from your vet, but this is definitely an area worth exploring.
Hydrotherapy
Some establishments are able to provide hydrotherapy. Either a swimming pool or an underwater treadmill can provide the buoyancy to take the weight off the joints and being able to increase the effort required to move through the water.
The temperature of the water can help the muscles relax which can reduce the pain.
Again worth mentioning; Hydrotherapy can only be undertaken if the pet has been checked by a vet to ensure they are suitable.
Diet
The world of pet food can be so overwhelming and one of the questions you may have is; Why the heck do you need so many different diets for your dog?
Now to completely answer that will require a lot of free time and a lot of research. Fortunately for me, I intend to discuss medical diets.
Similar to the supplement they contain glucosamine and some omega fatty acids that aim to improve your pet's mobility.
Another step could be for the animal to lose a little bit of weight, from the literature it has been highlighted that a 5–10% reduction in body weight can have a significant improvement in the clinical signs.
Alternatives
From laser therapy to acupuncture. there is an array of alternative modalities to help with pain, healing, and swelling.
Low-level laser therapy aids in oxygen and collagen production which can reduce pain and cartilage healing.
There is also the option of electrical stimulation that could be used to help with inflammation, arthritic pain, and nerve injuries. This modality can also be helpful for wounds and other injuries
These alternatives are specialist so will need to be seen by a licensed practitioner
Hopefully, this is a good superficial insight into the many options out there for your pet. As always, any major concern with your companion, be sure to take them to your vet as soon as possible.
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