Canine Arthritis

Most dogs can be affected by canine arthritis or canine osteoarthritis.  This happens when the cartilage within a joint wears down until it becomes painful to walk or bear weight on the limb.  Dogs with canine arthritis can suffer from pain and joint stiffness.  Depending on how the canine arthritis has progressed, in its acute stage the dog will exhibit whining and yelping when the joint is touched or bared down on.  Once the arthritis has reached chronic proportions it is complete bone-to-bone contact and very painful for the animal to walk.

As with any type of canine arthritis there is no immediate cure or fix for the disease. 

Surgery can be performed on the animal should it be unable to walk one of the best things you can do for the animal is make its life as comfortable as possible by practicing pain management.   Some lotions that you can use on your dog contain aspirins and pain relievers that will help with the inflammation and tenderness.  Bone-to-bone contact can only be corrected with surgery. 

Some topical ointments contain ingredient that aid in the reduction of swelling and pain.  Another popular mixture is Glucosamine and Chondroitin as both have been key in reducing the effects of inflammation and bone degeneration.  These two medications also help reduce the viruses and bacteria that destroy the cartilage inside of the joint itself.

By keeping your dog mobile will help reduce the effects of arthritis by keeping the joints moving the enzymes away from the joint.  It also helps keep the dog suffering from canine arthritis happy and healthier.