Arthritis In Dogs

Arthritis can strike a dog at anytime during it's life.  While most cases occur later in life, some dogs exhibit arthritic symptoms at a much earlier age.  Arthritis in dogs occurs in their joints causing the joints cartilage to deteriorate.  When this happens the surfaces in the joint that would normally glide over one another become rough, and the lubrication in the joint is diminished, thus causing swelling and pain.

For many people the first step in treating canine arthritis is preventative.  Glucosamine and Chondroitin are used to help keep a dog's joints healthy longer.  Glucosamine provides for the production of new cartilage and has been long accepted as an effective treatment for arthritis in dogs.  Glucosamine is naturally found in the synovial fluid of joints as well as in the cartilage.  Chondroitin on the other hand, helps block destructive enzymes that break down joint cartilage.  Used in tandem these two supplements can help your dog's joints stay healthy longer.  This same perventive therapy is also beneficial to humans.

In it's early stages arthritis in animals is difficult to diagnose.  Veterinarians, in order to discover early stages of arthritis must look for subtle signs in their patients.  By the time your pet is limping or vocalizing pain they will have progresses well into long-term joint degeneration.  It is imperative to diagnose and treat in the early stages of canine arthritis to help mitigate the damage.

When a dog is diagnosed with arthritis weight management may be an issue.  Overweight pets produce more stress on joints which causes the disease to progress more rapidly.  Moderate excerise is recommended for all arthritic pets, but excessive exercise should be avoided due to the extra stress and strain on the animal leading to pain and discomfort.

Another product that has shown good results is Hyaluronic Acid.  This too helps in increasing synovial fluid and helps keep the joints hydrated.  This product hasn't shown any side effects as has the prescription medication Rimadyl.

Canine Pain Relief Treatments For Arthritis

There are two main medications that Veterinarians usually prescribe for the inflammation and pain of arthritis and hip dysplasia.  These two canine pain relief treatments are Rimadyl and Metacam.  Both of these medications may have moderate to severe side effects for your pet.  These are controlled medicines that can only be purchased with a prescription.

Rimadyl - Rimadyl (Carprofen), is produced by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and was introduced into the market in January 1997.  It has proven to be an effective means of relieving arthritis pain in dogs. Since it's introduction there has been serious concern about the side effects of the medication.  Many pet owners have reported death of their pets due to adverse reactions to Rimadyl.

When my dog needed relief from her arthritis my Vet suggested that we use Metacam instead of Rimadyl due specifically to the large number of side effects with Rimadyl.

Metacam - Or Meloxicam is an NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and is closely related to ibuprofen.  My Vet likened it to ibuprofen on steroids (although there are no steroids in it).  It was suggested that Metacam was a far safer (yet more expensive) choice than Rimadyl.  I found my Lab Brandy tolerated it very well and could not identify any side effects from it.  The only downside I could see was the cost.  It should be noted that Metacam can be used to treat other painful conditions including injuries, surgery and cancer.

ArthroIonX - ArthroIonX is a mineral complex that has been formulated to help repair damaged joints and tissue in pets caused by arthritis.  This pain relief therapy for dogs is not known to have any side effects for pets and is available without a prescription. The all-natural ingredients used in ArthroIonX can dramatically reduce the symptoms of arthritis in pets.  ArthroIonX contains no artificial additives or chemically generated compounds.  Learn more about ArthroIonX.