Canine Arthritis

I know how hard it is to see your dog suffering from a health problem and disease so without further delay here is an article about canine arthritis, one of the health problems of dogs.

What is Canine Arthritis?

It is a debilitating disorder in dogs that can be characterized by a loss and death of cartilage. In medical term canine arthritis is called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD). The DJD can occur in any joint but often affects the hip of the dogs. This canine health problem can lead to the affected joint permanent loss of function.

Dogs age and breed prone to arthritis

Arthritis are commonly found on middle aged large breed and mixed breed though it can be seen in dogs with hip dysplasia, a hip joint disorder.

Canine arthritis symptoms

Dogs that are suffering from arthritis will show signs and you as dog owner should be wary in any unusual way your dog is acting. Canine arthritis symptoms are listed below should you observed any of these arthritis symptoms in your dog; consult a vet as soon as possible.  Your dog may undergo X-Ray procedure in order to diagnose if arthritis is present.

•    Difficulty sitting or standing
•    Sleeping more
•    Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
•    Weight gain
•    Decreased activity or less interest in play
•    Attitude or behavior changes
•    Diminished muscle tone

Canine arthritis treatment

Arthritis in dogs if found in advanced stage is hard to reverse so it is important to diagnose and treat it early. Like human arthritis the approach in treating canine arthritis is similar.

Canine arthritis treatment using drugs main goal is to control the pain thus increase mobility and repair the cartilage. NSAIDs or non-steroid anti inflammatory drugs are the most common pharmaceutical treatment for arthritis in dogs.

But the best of all is to for your dog to have healthy diet and maintain a proper weight. Whatever you choose in treating your dog arthritis, consult first a veterinarian and don’t ever give your dog medicines intended for humans.