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Suzi Sevcik

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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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Dog Arthritis... Do They Really Need a Dog Bed? When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we were concerned about her comfort. She would have a hard time getting up in the morning. Her legs would shake and she would take five minutes just to get up, where once she could pounce up in a second. Her hips were really thin and her muscle mass was decreasing rapidly. What we found out was that we could help her by getting an orthopedic dog bed. The sad part is, we probably could have helped her avoid this by getting it for her when she was younger. See, dogs can develop calluses and arthritis from laying on hard floors or rocks in the ground. Naturally we did what we could to make her more comfortable during her last days. That dog was a mighty powerhouse in her time, and it was so hard to see her deteriorate like this. Now, all five of our dogs have warm dog beds to keep them comfortable, warm, and most importantly, healthier. About the Author Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines...