How to Treat Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis is a degenerative disorder that results in the loss of cartilage in your dog's body. In many cases of canine arthritis, the hips of the animal will suffer the most adverse effects. It is most commonly seen in older dogs or canines that have suffered a serious injury or has been diagnosed with a nutritional disorder. If you suspect your dog may have canine arthritis, you should contact your vet to confirm diagnosis and decide on treatment options.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Manage your dog's weight with weight-control dog food. To treat canine arthritis, your vet will recommend placing your dog on a restricted diet if the animal is overweight. This can include eliminating table foods and serving special-diet dog food.

2. Start a regular exercise routine to treat canine arthritis. Take your dogs on regular walks and allow for swims as well. Exercises should be moderate and not too strenuous for the dog.

3. Receive medications from your vet to treat the symptoms of canine arthritis. Your vet will give you a medication to help control pain and inflammation caused by the disease. Aspirin or the stronger carprofen are commonly prescribed.

4. Use chondroprotective drugs along with the aspirin if the canine arthritis is severe. These drugs protect the cartilage in order to give it adequate time to heal. Examples of these drugs given to affected dogs include Cosequin and Glyco Flex.

5. Ask your vet about canine acupuncture treatments for canine arthritis. Along with traditional treatments, some dog owners have found that their animals find relief by visiting an acupuncturist for dogs.

Tips & Warnings

• If drug and lifestyle treatments are unsuccessful, surgery may be performed on your dog to treat canine arthritis. Different surgeries can be done to stabilize and realign the joints in order to resolve pain experienced by the dog.

References

• ASPCA canine arthritis webpage

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