Doggie
As you know if you read my blog regularly, I am a real dog lover. My dogs are a big part of me and my hubby’s life and we always do our very best for them.
My dogs Gio and Vinny are young and full of energy and it’s good to incorporate exercise everyday to increase bone strength.
No matter what age your dog may be, whether they are young or seasoned, with proper care they can have an enjoyable life.
One thing to think about is illness-preventative tips and doggies having a long happy fun-filled life.
One of the most common diseases in older dogs is osteoarthritis. This can be quite sore and painful and can restrict your dogs range of movement.
However, there are plenty of treatments for this condition that will allow your dog to live a happy, pain-free life.
Take your dog to the vet
If you think your dog is suffering from osteoarthritis but he has not yet been diagnosed; the first step is to do is make an appointment to see your vet.
To properly diagnose your dog, your vet may want to take radiographs to see how severe your dog’s condition is. If your dog is diagnosed with osteoarthritis, your vet may suggest starting them on an anti-inflammatory drug, like Metacam. This will help to ease the pain and reduce long-term discomfort, as well as a form of painkillers.
If your dog has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, I feel for you, I really do. It must be incredibly difficult knowing a member of your family is in pain. To help you deal with your dogs condition, I have put together some simple tips below:
Do research
Of course, in most cases your vet does know best. However, vets are often hesitant to suggest trying anything non-medically tested, which is why doing research into your dog’s condition is vital.
As you research treatments for osteoarthritis in dogs, you will notice that there are many natural treatments you could try. One natural treatment option for osteoarthritis in pets is pure aloe vera gel. This is used by people with osteoarthritis, with some amazing results.
Keep your dog active
It might sound strange, seeing as your dog has a painful joint condition, but keeping him exercising is important. Keeping your dog’s muscles strong is important, as good muscle mass can help to make the condition less painful. Just like people who are dealing with arthritis are advised to exercise to keep the bones active.
Obviously, you don’t want to overdo it – running long distances and jumping should be avoided, but taking your dog for a walk or swim is ideal. Instead of taking your dog to the lake, why not book him into a local dog rehabilitation center for a swim? These rehabilitation pools are amazing for helping to keep your dog fit and healthy, without causing problems for the joints. Gently massaging you dog’s legs or back is another good tip that eases the muscles.
With the right care, a dog dealing with osteoarthritis can live a happy, healthy and most importantly, pain-free life.
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