Painless daily activities for our dog with arthritis
Jimmy joined us every day on our morning and evening jogs, which is why we adored him so much. Additionally, he was quite helpful with deliveries around our home. He led an active lifestyle and played with our children anytime they weren't in school. However, we noticed a shift in his behavior when he was 12 years old, which was brought on by a problem with one of his hind knees. Jimmy later suffered from arthritis as a result of the knee injury!
Jimmy found it challenging to participate in routine activities that he had previously done with us or accompanied us on, such running and playing around the house. After a while, he began to hobble, avoid using the affected limb, and occasionally bit the affected joint area. Whenever he attempted to walk on the ground around the house, it resulted in muscle soreness around the affected knee. That was when we reached out to Pet Lab Joint Care for help.
When the specialists from Pet Lab Joint Care showed up, they took their time inspecting Jimmy's complete body in addition to the knee that was bothering him. We later learned that they sought to determine if the arthritis in the wounded knee had affected every part of the knee joint.
The vets found that the cartilage in the affected knee was the most affected. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the arthritis, so we decided that the best course of action would be to reduce pain, increase comfort, and enhance the dog's quality of life.
Effective treatments for a dog suffering from arthritis
The veterinarians told us that surgical options existed to enable the dog’s joint to be replaced, but due to Jimmy’s age and general appearance, the condition could be successfully managed through a combination of pain relief approaches, including weight management, exercise, use of joint and muscle supplements, use of dog arthritis pain over the counter prescription anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), and physical therapy.
- Weight management
The vets told us that controlling a dog's weight si a fantastic method for alleviating an arthritic dog's pain. They warned us that pets tend to gain weight in the form of body fat while losing some muscular mass when they aren't as active. That can increase the pressure on the painful joint and result in discomfort. The dog might lose weight by reducing some of its treats and watching how many calories it consumes. This would ease the pain the dog feels from the weight's pressure on the damaged joint.
- Exercise
According to the veterinarians, exercise helps to maintain the dog’s joints as well as keep the dog’s weight under control. They advised us to engage the dog in low-impact exercises such as swimming and light running and ensure that the dog does not overdo these exercises.
- Dog arthritis supplements
The veterinarians introduced us to dog arthritis supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which they said provided nutrients and building blocks for healthy joint functioning in dogs. They also introduced us to omega-3 fatty acids, which they said helped prevent some inflammation in dogs with arthritis.
- NSAIDs
Due to obvious evidence of severe joint discomfort in the dog, the veterinarians prescribed several NSAIDs. They claimed that although the medications could significantly lessen the dog's discomfort, they should only be taken under a veterinarian's watchful supervision due to their side effects, which include liver and kidney damage.
- Physical therapy
The veterinarians provided us with contacts for dog rehabilitation and physical therapy specialists who work with dogs suffering from arthritis to improve limb functioning, rebuild muscles, and assist in weight management.
As part of our efforts to increase comfort and enhance Jimmy's quality of life, we hired one of the recommended specialists to give the dog particular workouts, which included little jumps. He also contributed to the dog's greater mobility, which enhanced its muscular tone and promoted weight loss.
Talk to a trusted vet about pain relief for your arthritic dog
Don't experience the twin tragedy of watching your beloved dog endure agonizing arthritic pain while also being unhappy over it. To avoid feeling stressed out by your dog's situation, you may always find out how to make them feel better. The best place to begin is by speaking with a reputable veterinarian near you. Do it right away to spare your dog the discomfort.
