Dog Arthritis Treatment - The Lay of the Land

When your dog is getting on a little bit and doesn't move as effortlessly as it used to, there is something you can do - there exists dog arthritis treatment that can help your old friend escape all the stiffness and pain. Veterinary science has advanced quite a bit over the last few years; arthritis medicine can now help your devoted friend live a productive life (productive to a dog being all about jumping after a Frisbee, of course).

How do you know that your dog is even having trouble that you might summon dog arthritis treatment for it? You could suspect it when it don't doesn't seem as eager to get up to run and play as it once was. It's all a sign that there is suffering there each time a creaky joint moves. You don't need to actually wait for an evident complaint to know that any of this is happening. A mere unwillingness to get moving needs to be all it takes.

The thing is, a dog doesn't need to be really old to have its joints begin to get a little rusty - any more that humans have to be really old to get arthritis. There are certain breeds of dog - large breeds for instance, just get arthritic as a part of something that goes with their species. The heavier a dog is for instance, the more wear and tear its joints are going to have to put up with. And it begins to get on from there - the more worn and painful a dog's joints get, the more trouble it's going to have moving about. That is only going to make it heavier, and wear its joints out even more. Any time that your dog particularly slow to stand up after having been lying down for a while, any time it seems to hesitate before complying with a command to sit, or any time it seems to try to favor one side when it walks, you can be pretty sure that you need to start thinking about dog arthritis treatment.

Of course, it could be a terrible idea to start your dog out on human medication courses. They can actually be toxic to a dog. About the most that a dog can tolerate it is acetaminophen, ibuprofen and baby aspirin. But you had better be sure that you're very careful how much you give your dog. Be careful to work in close consultation with your vet. Take your dog in to the vet's to have him checked out properly. For a particularly stubborn arthritic condition, the vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that are nonsteroidal.

An arthritic condition in dogs usually comes with advice for dietary restrictions to help your dog cut down on its weight. You'll probably have to switch to better dog food that's meant for dogs with weight problems. You also have do something about all the treats that your dog has gotten used to. About the best dog specific arthritic treatment there is goes by the name of Rimadyl. Dogs like the chewable version of the drug, and it could actually be seen as a treat if you dog takes to it. As soon as the dog gets on it, you can expect nearly instant results. Your dog will be back to its old self, and your household can go back to being a happy home for the dog again.