Natural Remedies For Treating Arthritis in Dogs

Introduction

Arthritis is one of the most common afflictions for dogs; it affects one in five dogs in the United States. Arthritis is a debilitating condition which causes inflammation and pain in a dog's joints, and usually affects elbows, hips, shoulders, back and neck. It can affect one or more joints and can be present in both young and old dogs alike. Because of their great size and weight large/giant breeds are the most prone to developing arthritis.

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Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs

The most common symptoms for arthritis in dogs are:

1. Favoring a limb/limping
2. Difficulty sitting or standing
3. Sleeping more or restless sleep
4. Stiff or sore joints
5. Unwilling to get up, run, jump, or climb stairs
6. Weight gain
7. Less interest in play/not alert
8. Irritable, crying or whimpering
9. Lack of appetite

If one or more of these symptoms are present, make an appointment to see your dog's veterinarian. Your dog's veterinarian can perform an arthritis evaluation consisting of a physical exam and x-rays. Additionally, if your vet doesn't suggest it, request a blood panel. The blood panel might detect a disease such as Lyme disease, which has some arthritis-like symptoms.

Natural Therapies

If your dog is suffering from arthritis, first evaluate his weight and diet. Fido's extra pounds are adding to the stress on his joints and many dog foods contain ingredients, which will make the arthritis worse. Start, by cutting back on those table scraps and unnecessary treats and taking a short daily walk. Even just ten minutes a day will shed pounds and improve circulation.

Now let's take a closer look at what you're feeding your dog. Are you feeding a high quality chemical-free food? I recommend Canine Caviar. No matter what you feed your dog make certain it doesn't contain preservatives, food colorings, wheat, corn, or soy products. These ingredients are not good for dogs. Furthermore, avoid feeding your dog grains; grains tend to increase joint inflammation.

While we're on the subject of food, celery is a vegetable that can help with your dog's joints. If you give this a try, you'll probably have to be sneaky. Try using a food processor and chopping it into very small pieces before mixing it with your dog's food.

Over the counter supplements can also help with a dog's arthritis. Studies have shown that glucosamine, chondrotin sulfate and omega three fatty acids are all helpful in treating the symptoms of arthritis. Glucosamin and chondrotin sulfate can be purchased in powdered form and fish oil capsules are a good source of omega three fatty acids.

Non-traditional Therapies

Exercise and Physical therapy have also been shown to alleviate many arthritic symptoms. Swimming is a great exercise for your dog, and it doesn't put a strain on their joints. If you have a small dog you can use a bath tub as a therapy pool, but be vigilant and for safety don't leave your small dog unattended. If your dog isn't fond of water don't force them to swim, regular walks are still a good source of exercise.

Another effective means to combat canine arthritis is acupuncture. Utilized for centuries in Eastern Medicine, acupuncture is starting to become a widely accepted practice in Western Society. It has been shown to dramatically improve a variety of health concerns in dogs. Talk to your veterinarian to learn if acupuncture is right for your pet.

To help maintain joints and connective tissues add a powdered Vitamin C supplement to your dog's food. Not only does Vitamin C maintain joints it will also combat further degradation of joints already plagued by arthritis. Avoid plain ascorbic acid, because it can cause your dog to have an upset stomach, instead use sodium ascorbate. If you notice loose stool after starting a regimen of Vitamin C cut back the dosage.

Dosage recommendations based on breed size.
Small= 500-1000mg
Med-Large= 1000-2000mg
Giant = 2000-4000mg

What to avoid?

Never try to home medicate your dog with medications meant for humans. Certain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be toxic to a dog. If your veterinarian prescribes a prescription medication for your dog strictly follow their dosage suggestion. Remember, that regardless of the treatment option(s) you choose, it could take weeks for any remedy to make a difference. Be diligent and make caring for your dog's arthritis a habit.

How to make your arthritic dog's life better?

There are also several environmental changes you can make to your dog's lifestyle. Here are some things you can do almost immediately to help alleviate arthritis pain. Avoid activities that strain your pet's joints. Purchase or build a dog ramp to assist your pet in getting access to those difficult to reach places like cars/trucks, beds, and stairs. Help to reduce the strain on your dog's neck and back when they eat and drink by raising or purchasing a stand to elevate your dog's food and water dishes.

Keep your dog warm. Cold and damp air aggravates arthritic joints. Purchase a high quality pet bed that will help to keep your dog sleeping warm and comfortable while reducing stiffness, aches, and pains after sleeping. If you usually keep your dog outdoors consider purchasing an insulated dog house or better yet welcome them inside. Even just petting your dog can help your dog to feel better. Be a friend to your best friend.

Natural Remedies For Treating Arthritis in Dogs

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Metacam, Rimadyl and Previcox - Are These Drugs Safe to Use for Arthritis in Dogs?

Drug treatments for osteoarthritis have one of two primary objectives: Firstly, to make the patient more comfortable i.e. reduce the symptoms and signs of the condition. Secondly, and this is one of the major goals of osteoarthritis research, to slow or even reverse the osteoarthritis process that is causing progressive deterioration and loss of articular cartilage. Compounds that can slow the osteoarthritis process down are referred to as Disease (or structure) Modifying Drugs (DMOADs).

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In clinical practice for both humans and dogs, the concept of disease modification is still rather theoretical with no treatment proven to have this effect. The main second line treatments in small animal veterinary practice are anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Anti-inflammatory drugs

Most canine patients with some lameness associated with osteoarthritis will be best treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.When we talk about anti-inflammatories and OSTEOarthritis we are virtually always referring to the Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or the NSAIDs (pronounced as 'en-sayds').

The NSAIDs are a group of quite different drugs but they all work in a similar way. They all act to block the production of prostaglandins in body tissues. Prostaglandins are a family of chemicals produced by the body that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. As well as making the local blood capillaries more leaky (causing local swelling) they will make nerve fibres more sensitive and hence make us feel pain.

Anti-inflammatory drugs act to reduce prostaglandin production in the tissues and hence reduce inflammation and discomfort. Prostaglandins also have some beneficial and important protective effects in the body. These include regulating blood flow to the kidneys and maintaining a protective mucus barrier in the lining of the stomach. It is in blocking these actions as well as the 'bad' effects of prostaglandins that NSAIDs can cause some nasty and potentially fatal side effects.

NSAIDs act by blocking the action of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), which is vital to the production of prostaglandins in the tissues. There are at least two forms of this enzyme referred to as COX-1 and COX-2.  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) block the COX enzymes and reduce prostaglandins throughout the body. As a consequence, ongoing inflammation, pain, and fever are reduced.

Since the prostaglandins protect the stomach and maintain a healthy blood flow to the kidneys, NSAIDs can cause stomach inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcers and cause kidney damage by reducing renal blood flow. The risk of serious kidney damage is magnified in dehydrated patients or patients in circulatory shock from blood loss.  COX-1 is particularly important in housekeeping functions and COX-2 is increased in the presence of inflammation. NSAIDs that preferentially block COX-2 seem to cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

COX-2 selective NSAIDs have become available for use in the dog. Three of the newer and most widely used agents, Metacam, Rimadyl and Previcox are licensed for use in a number of countries. They show preferential inhibition of COX-2 and show a lower incidence of side effects compared to drugs such as aspirin.

Generally anti-inflammatories alone seem to work well in the dog with arthritis. There are some drawbacks, mainly vomiting and diarrhoea, which can limit their usefulness in some patients and, lead to very serious complications in some. Their effects on reducing blood flow to the kidneys can be devastating in certain situations, typically those where there is some form of circulatory system problem such as shock or dehydration.

Play it Safe

Although NSAIDs have been associated with some serious side effects and adverse reactions, they provide safe, effective pain relief in the vast majority of patients. However, they are potentially very dangerous drugs and should be respected. I would advise the following rules are adhered to in order to minimize the chances of adverse reactions:

1.    Only use a veterinary licensed product provided/recommended by your veterinarian. Some human preparations have a much narrower safety profile in dogs than in people. Don't do it!

2.    Stop using any NSAID immediately if your dog develops inappetance, vomiting and or diarrhoea. Consult your veterinary professional straightaway.

3.    Always consult your veterinarian before administering any other medications alongside NSAIDs.

4.    If at a veterinary visit you see a different person at the clinic, always remind them that your dog is on NSAIDs - It should be on your pet's clinical notes but better to play it safe and mention it.

The NSAIDs are an important component of your pet's arthritis treatment plan but they should be used with care and under the strict guidance of your vet. They are just one factor in successfully managing canine osteoarthritis.

Metacam, Rimadyl and Previcox - Are These Drugs Safe to Use for Arthritis in Dogs?

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