Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes to a joint. Arthritis can occur when joint tissue is damaged from an infection, from congenital defects that affect the structural integrity and from stress and trauma to joint surfaces and supporting structures.
Typical signs are dogs that are more careful getting up & laying down, walking up & down stairs more gingerly or at a more advanced state, limping. Arthritis affects larger breed dogs more than smaller breeds.
While it’s impossible to completely prevent this disease, there are steps you can take to keep your dog from being completely debilitated by it. The first step is to keep your dog fit and healthy. This means keeping them at a healthy weight with the correct amount of exercise. Extra weight on dogs increases the pressure on their joints & causes damage. A moderate level of exercise has the same benefits for dogs that it has for humans. It keeps their bones strong, their muscles conditioned, and their joints proper lubricated.
In addition to keeping your dog fit & healthy, there are many types of supplements you can feed your dog to increase their joint cartilage. Glucosamine & Chrondtirin are two of the more popular choices. Consult with your vet on what products they recommend for your dog.
Arthritis doesn’t have to slow your dog down, take steps when they’re younger to prevent the irreversible damaged caused by arthritis.
Suzi Sevcik is the creator of http://www.dogvetcare.com a site dedicated to providing dog owners with expert advice on care for their four legged member of the family. For more articles on care for your dog, see http://www.dogvetcare.com/articles/
You can reach Suzi by email at: suzi@dogvetcare.com
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