Dog Arthritis | Dog Sickness
13 Sep 2008
We’ve talked quite a bit about dog sickness in prior posts, but nothing about dog arthritis. Dog arthritis (often misspelled, dog arthritus) is a major problem among older dogs, especially big dogs. And quite often the condition goes undiagnosed.
Here’s a good example of that.
One night my phone rang about 1:30 AM.
An injured dog dragged himself into the “human” emergency department at our local hospital. They suspected he got hit by a car.
They called me in as he was in need of veterinary care, and none of the staff could tend to him as they were too busy.
He had no form of identification.
I originally examined him at the “human” hospital.
He was an older Lab cross, who was already severely arthritic, and could not stand on his right rear foot. I took him with me.
X-rays at my practice, the “animal” hospital, showed no fractures, but did show severe arthritis. Dog arthritis looked to be the real culprit here and not a car accident.
I gave him some pain medication, a big comfy bed, and monitored him for any signs of internal bleeding or other internal injuries.
He responded well to the pain meds and soon went to sleep.
I suspect that whoever his owners are, they had never given him anything for his arthritis. Dogs should be given one of the following holistic treatments, even if you suspect arthritis.
Arthritis is in the cartilage - Glucosamine Hydrochloride is the most important supplement to add to your dog’s diet. The dose is ¼ of a 500mg tablet once daily per 10 lbs of body weight. It helps to rebuild the cartilage and delay further cartilage breakdown. It can come in a variety of combinations. An effective one I have used is called K-9 MX.
Keep them moving - Moving the joints produces joint fluid. This lubricates the joints which leads to less pain. If your pet is at first reluctant to move, manually flex the sore joint for 5 minutes. Gradually increase daily exercise.
Fatty Acids - Omega 3 fatty acids are critical for every arthritic pet. A great source for your dog is ground flax. You can add 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food.
As for the old dog, he recovered and is doing well. I know he would have had a much happier life if his owners would have treated his arthritis. Dog health care includes watching for any signs of arthritis. If you see any, start supplementing right away.
Its Your Pet - Learn How to Heal Them At Home!
Author: Dr Andrew Jones
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