Dealing with canine arthritis
Ever wonder why your dog has been becoming less active or yelping as it walked? A possible cause of that is Canine Arthritis. It was bad enough that it could happen to us people, now it’s happening to our pets as well. It’s happening now as you read this article, and it won’t be long before it could happen to your pooch. The disorder is that similar to that which occurs in people. Just how common is this thing? Very – the fact is that it there is a good chance of certain breeds, especially some tall and big ones, will develop the ailment sometime in their lives.
The disease doesn’t just pick on the old, but on the young as well. Canine arthritis is an inflammation of tissues near the joints of a pet, causing difficulty in movement and pain – which can be extreme if left untreated. The disease can come in three types, the 1st one being Septic Arthritis. This comes in the form of bacteria and other germs where it attacks the joints of your pet, causing pain and giving it a hard time to move. The treatment of this type usually involves antibiotics and other medicines that a veterinarian would prescribe. The 2nd type would be Osteoarthritis – this type occurs more naturally than the first.
The cartilage in your pets wears down slowly but gradually as it keeps rubbing against the bone. The treatment of this form will be drugs that help deal with the inflammation inside and other doggy drugs. The 3rd type is Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is basically damage by its own immune system. It produces antibodies which attacks protein and others inside the body, causing the development of arthritis. This is a more serious form, and will require special medication immediately. Canine Arthritis is something that we don’t want happening to our pets. We, as responsible pet owners, should prevent this disorder by all means necessary.
Heavy or too fat dogs are more prone to this disease. Having an obese pooch can be cute but the price to pay for that isn’t something you want to shoulder. You must consider changing its diet, dividing its meals equally into three instead of the common “3 in one meal” daily. This will increase its metabolic rate and help it digest faster. Make sure that each meal packs the nutritional values needed daily; lazy pets are also at risk. Get it off the floor and take it out for a walk or jog. Exercising daily would be great for it, but remember not to push it too far.
You don’t want it putting too much pressure on its joints. Blunt force trauma, such as damage done by getting hit by a car or a baseball bat, can most definitely lead to the development of Canine Arthritis. When outdoors keep a leash on it. You shouldn’t let it run around open areas with vehicles going around. If you suspect your pet to have developed the disorder, have a veterinarian take a look at it. The earlier the treatment the better – admitting your dog too late usually leaves surgery as the only option left for treatment.
