Your Dog’s Arthritis or Hip Dysplasia Can be Managed

I’ve been very fortunate, even blessed, with my dogs because most of them have lived very long lives. It’s wonderful to have a dog from the time he’s a puppy until he becomes an old dog. You feel like you’ve shared a long, wonderful life with him. But, as your dog becomes older he can often develop some common aches and pains. Older dogs often have a touch of arthritis. It may be a little harder for them to get up and down from a dog bed. They may need some help getting up on a sofa or your bed.

If your dog has a degenerative problem like hip dysplasia then it will usually worsen with age. Both hip dysplasia and luxating patellas, which can be common with some smaller breeds, can lead to arthritis as your dog ages.

I once had a dog that I found in a parking lot late at night. This poor old guy that I named Andy wasn’t a young dog when I found him. It wasn’t easy to coax him into my car at midnight in the rain but I finally got him in. My heart went out to him in particular because he seemed like he had been hit by a car at some point. I took him to the vet the next morning and the vet confirmed what I thought. At some time in the past Andy had been hit by a car and probably hobbled away without treatment. His hips were semi-crippled. He could walk with a definite limp but he had a lot of arthritis . The good news was that Andy was otherwise in pretty good health. I ran an ad trying to find Andy’s owners but no one answered. Andy became part of my family and lived out the next few years with us. Over that time we tried several different treatments for his arthritis. Here are some things that helped Andy:

Say No To Second Helpings

Dogs with arthritis and other joint problems typically do much better if you keep their weight down. Obesity and being overweight put unnecessary stress on joints that are already compromised and cause your dog pain. Carefully monitor how much food you give your dog to eat and watch his weight. Remember to count the calories in treats and table scraps, too.

No Marathons!

Watch your dog’s exercise. Arthritis is usually self-limiting but canine hip dysplasia and even luxating patellas are not always evident, particularly at a young age. If your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia or luxating patellas, don’t let your dog overdo the exercise. Regular, moderate exercise is better than one all-out race in a blue moon. Your dog is less likely to injure himself if you pace his exercise. However, don’t cut out exercise altogether. Exercise is good for keeping muscle tone and that helps your dog in the long run.

Remember that one key to long term health and fitness is to start young. DO let your puppy play and have fun. DON’T make your puppy jog two miles with you or run races. Putting too much stress on a puppy is one way to develop joint problems later.

Live In The Lap of Luxury

As your dog gets older it’s okay to pamper him a little. Think about providing your dog with a comfy dog bed. Some pets with joint problems may appreciate an orthopedic dog bed or even a heated dog bed. If your pet sleeps on the sofa you may want to get him a heating pad. Applying heat to his aching joints can help them feel better.

Everybody In The Pool!

Hydrotherapy and swimming have proven beneficial for many dogs with aches and pains related to joint problems. Swimming is one of the best treatments for arthritis, hip dysplasia and even for post surgical rehabilitation of dogs. If your dog likes to swim he should find swimming easier than doing exercises like walking or running and you can swim with him. If your dog doesn’t know how to swim it’s not hard to teach most dogs. Just be sure that you carefully teach your dog where the steps are in any pool and show him how to get out of the pool. You can ask your vet for more information about hydrotherapy.

Medicate Me

If your dog is experiencing spikes in pain or ongoing pain then you should talk to your veterinarian about anti-inflammatory medications. There are a number of Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) medications that are being used to treat chronic arthritis and other pain in dogs. There are some side effects with some of these medications so be sure to thoroughly discuss them with your vet before using them for your dog.

You should not try to medicate your dog yourself without talking to your veterinarian. Many over-the-counter drugs are not safe for dogs. Drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be very bad for dogs.

These are all things that we tried with Andy. Many of them worked. Since we had him for several years before he finally passed away we were able to try different things depending on how he felt. We also tried glucosamine-chondroitin tablets which helped his joints.

Herbal Is The Way To Go

There’s one treatment today that we didn’t have when Andy lived with us and that’s Joint Resolution . I wish we’d had it because I think it might have helped him a lot. Joint Resolution is an herbal blend that works synergistically with BioCell Collagen II. It includes Boswellia, devil’s claw and licorice to reduce inflammation and pain. It also has dandelion to eliminate toxins from the body. Just a few drops of Joint Resolution on a treat or in your dog’s mouth can bring relief and make him feel more comfortable.

The BioCell Collagen II in Joint Resolution also contains Hyaluronic Acid and chondroitin which have both been shown to promote healing and tissue rejuvenation. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Expert opinions support the use of chondroitin for improving the symptoms and arresting (or possibly reversing) the degenerative process of osteoarthritis.” So, Joint Resolution has exactly what your dog needs.

Joint Resolution promotes active joints and helps improve your dog’s mobility and flexibility. It promotes strong, healthy connective tissue. And, it’s easy to administer. Since it’s liquid the body absorbs it faster than tablets or pills. .

If your dog has arthritis or is suffering pain from canine hip dysplasia or luxating patellas, Joint Resolution can help.

I know that none of us want to see our dogs with any aches or pain but sometimes they go along with getting older. We do want our dogs to get older so we just have to find ways to help our dogs cope with the little aches and pains that go along with age. Many dogs live for years after they begin experiencing some arthritis or having a few problems from hip dysplasia or luxating patellas. There’s no reason why your dog can’t lead a fairly normal life, especially if you follow some of the tips offered here.