Things You'll Need:
- Scale Glucosamine chondroitin Fish oil capsules Vitamin C Buffered aspirin Soft bed Swimming pool Yogurt (optional) Cheese (optional)
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Step 1
Keep the weight down. Having to carry extra weight can make an old dog's joints feel worse. If your dog is seriously overweight, create a safe, healthy canine weight-loss program with your veterinarian. Check your dog's progress with regular weighing.
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Step 2
Gently exercise your dog. Exercising old joints can help keep them healthy and pain-free. Exercising your older dog in a swimming pool is ideal because the water will support her weight with no impact or jarring of the joints. If you don't have a swimming pool, see if a canine physical therapist is in your area. They often have hydrotherapy facilities for their doggy clients.
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Step 3
Supplement the joints. Glucosamine chondroitin, taken with fish oil and vitamin C (not citrus -- Ester C is good) every day, has been found to actually help joint cartridge heal and reduce arthritis pain in humans and in dogs as well. Mix the pills with some yogurt into your dog's food or feed them to him directly, hidden in a piece of cheese. The calcium in the yogurt and cheese are also good for bone health.
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Step 4
Give your dog one aspirin (buffered, 325 mg) if you notice your dog's pain is particularly bad on a particular day. Aspirin can give temporary relief, but should not be used long-term. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any dosage questions.
