Many older dogs fall victim to arthritis, the same as older humans. This can be due to many things such as breed, age, lack of use of the limbs, weight and birth defects. Treating your dog at home seems like the easiest treatment, but without your veterinarian, you are unable to obtain the medications that are essential to the dogs' overall joint health.
Administer the recommended dosage of aspirin made for dogs. This can be found at local pet stores, vet offices, and superstores in the pet sections. Dogs under 10 pounds are given one tablet, dogs 11 to 20 pounds get 2 tablets and so forth. Always follow the directions on your specific package for dosing instructions.
Contact your vet and ask for a prescription of steroids and painkillers. This helps to bring down the inflammation in the joints, and helps your dog to sleep so the healing can begin. Methocarbomol and prednisone are the recommended drugs to enable the dog to sleep and relax. Administer the medications as prescribed; this is imperative to keeping your dog healthy. If you find that the medication is not working as it should, ask for another prescription called Rimadyl. This is specifically for arthritis, and can be the key to your animal getting back to a normal life.
Prepare a soft bed for your pet, as the sleeping area must be cushioned to keep the joints from flexing while sleeping. Dogs have some of the same characteristics as humans when it comes to sleeping. If we are uncomfortable while asleep, we move until we are comfortable. They will do the same thing as well. So use an extra blanket, or possibly a padded foam bed for your pet to sleep on.
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