It comes as a surprise to many people to discover that dogs are not immune to the arthritis problems which so many humans are familiar with. However, when you think about it, dogs have almost the same muscular and tissue structure in their joint areas as humans do, so arthritis can rear its ugly head for them as well.
Just like humans, Dogs can suffer and develop limping problems and pain when arthritis strikes. But what exactly is it that causes the arthritis to hit them? You may not be surprised to discover that one of the main causes for arthritis in dogs is a weight problem.
Again like humans, excess weight can cause stress on their joints and if it continues, can lead to arthritis. If you keep your dog at a healthy weight, you can decrease their chances for developing arthritis later on in their life.
Injuries and accidents to their limbs are another cause of arthritis in dogs. When an injury occurs to their limbs, some underlying damage can happen to the muscles and tissues around their joints, causing undue stress.
It's also possible that some joint misplacement could happen with an injury or accident - also causing stress and rubbing of bone on tissues, making arthritis inevitable in dogs.
Poor nutrition can be another cause to their arthritic problems. Dogs need a well-balanced diet with the proper amounts of nutrients to keep their bones, muscles and tissues strong and healthy.
Prolonged poor nutrition can cause their bones and muscles to get weak and they can start to degenerate, causing inflammation in their joints. Too much physical activity without a balance of rest is another cause of arthritis.
Most dogs are very active animals and will have bursts of activities that are healthy for them. However, they still need proper rest for their muscles, just like humans do. Overworking of their muscles can cause strain on the joints and if they don't receive proper rest, can eventually lead to arthritis.
Sometimes arthritis can be caused by diseases or tumors that simply cannot be helped. There are some diseases that come upon them without warning and wreak havoc with a dog's body, causing many ailments - including arthritis. Do be aware that proper veterinary care to help alleviate some of the symptoms may lessen the pain brought on by arthritis.
Sometimes old age itself causes arthritis. Your dog has led an active, robust life and now that he's older, ailments common with old age will set in. Old age has slowed him down and he's not as active as he once was. Dogs tend to rest, but too much rest can cause their muscles to stiffen a little. Try to keep them a little active to lessen the effects that arthritis can have on them.
Arthritis might be inevitable for them, but if you keep them comfortable and give them the proper treatments prescribed by the veterinarian, they can live out their last years in happiness.
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