When going about how to treat dog arthritis, you have to take several factors into consideration. Arthritis is a disease that affects animals and humans alike – and many solutions work on both, but that does not mean that you have to treat a dog with arthritis in the same way you would treat a human with arthritis. Also, please note that not all dogs are the same and, sometimes, what has helped your best friend’s dog will not help yours.
Before deciding what to give dog for arthritis, see a doctor. Whether or not we like the idea of giving our dog actual pharmaceuticals, a vet will always know better than you what works or not, and you will at least find some good advice on home remedies (if that will be your treatment choice). A completely effective natural remedy for dog arthritis does not exist, because, unfortunately, arthritis is one of those diseases where you can ease the pain, but which you can never truly extinguish. So, when wondering how to treat dog arthritis, the short answer is with patience and care.
Like with almost any other disease out there, what we feed our dog is as essential as what medicines we give him. Dog food is good – or at least it can be if properly controlled. Cheap and bad food, however, exists for both dogs and humans, and if your dog develops arthritis, it’s a good time to get rid of it. Go back to the basics (cooked meat, bones, etc) – it may be much better than all the pompously looking dog food you find in a supermarket.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease, so, obviously, anti-inflammatory medicine will be a good start when trying to figure out how to treat dog arthritis. If you are not comfortable with offering your dog medicine, please note that some types of food have anti-inflammatory effects, so take that into consideration when picking your dog’s food. Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as food containing chondroitin and glucosamine, will also help a lot.
Another fact that is occasionally ignored is the importance of the dog’s weight in the treatment of arthritis. Arthritis increases the pressure on the joints and the more weight the dog’s feet have to carry, the more difficult it is. It may be painful at first, but exercise will help and it’s important to cut all fattening foods from the diet. Learning how to treat dog arthritis may occasionally be a hit and miss process – pay attention to all the signs so that you know what is working and what is not.
Remember to not offer the dog medication recommended for humans, unless specifically recommended by the doctor. Medication has side effects and, sometimes, they can be pretty nasty in dogs. Dogs are different from each other (not to mention from humans), and if you truly care and want to give your dog the best treatment possible, a specialist must see him. Going to the vet before deciding how to treat dog arthritis is an important aspect that cannot be emphasized enough.
