Your Choices For Safe Pain Relief
Arthritis medicine for dogs can be broken down into three different types. Anti-inflammatory drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal or homeopathic medicines.
Recommendations…
A highly effective option is homeopathic arthritis medicine that uses all-natural ingredients to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis. There are no side effects and it is very effective.
Another option is all-natural glucosamine in liquid and treat form. This will support your dog’s joints and can be easy to administer, just hand over the treat or squirt the drops in the mouth.
You may also want to look into the dramatic effects of this patented ingredient for promoting joint health.
Lastly, you can consider high quality, chemical free, made in the USA glucosamine in tablet and powder form. A chewable tablet can be easy to administer, just like a treat. Powder can be sprinkled right over the dog food.
No one likes to see their pet in pain and we would certainly do anything we could to stop discomfort in our furry friends. Unfortunately what is good for humans is not always good for our pets. When considering arthritis medicine be sure you are finding a safe arthritis medicine for dogs. Here at Arthritis Medicine For Dogs we are dedicated to helping you understand more about dog arthritis and safe ways you can help alleviate the pain of arthritis without drugs and their side effects.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a chronic conditions and what we may not realize is that chronic pain can be just as stressful as sudden injury and pain. Anyone who has experienced chronic, ongoing pain will understand how taxing it can be. Unfortunately our loving dogs are subject to the chronic pain of arthritis but are unable to talk to us about it. They are also likely to have a higher pain threshold than us so by the time we notice subtle symptoms they could be in significant pain and in need of our help.
If you suspect something is just not right with your pet you may want to consider 
these symptoms of arthritis:
~slow to rise from resting, especially in the morning
~reluctant to go on walks, navigate up stairs or jump up on furniture or you
~licking joints excessively
~walking with a stiff gait
~pain when pressure is applied to joints
~visible swelling or heat around a joint
~change in activity level or general happy-go-lucky attitude
It is not just the older dog that is victim to arthritis. Arthritis, or inflammation in a joint, can be caused by a number of factors:
- Old age is of course a common factor in many cases of arthritis with changes in the joints occurring over time.
- Some dogs may be born with conditions such as hip dysplasis which, because of the unstable condition of the joints may eventually lead to arthritis.
- Obesity puts added force on the joints which increases the chances of developing arthritis.
- Some young dogs have abnormal development of the bones leading to arthritic changes.
- And of course traumatic injuries to a joint can quickly lead to arthritis, such is the case with my jack russell, Buzz.
By the young age of 3 Buzz had developed arthritis in his right front “wrist”. He sustained an injury when he was only 3 months old. That joint is now enlarged and he limps quite markedly if he is not on any arthritis medicine. In the winter months, if left untreated, it will progress to the point of muscle spasms that will make his whole foot cramp and curl up. It is quite a sad sight.
For these reasons I have considered several different arthritis medicines for dogs and would like to share with you what I have learned and experienced. I also have the added advantage of fifteen years of experience as a Licensed Veterinary Nurse. Those years have allowed me to develop a keen sense for monitoring dog behavior and symptoms of pain as well as exposure to the effects of different medications.
As you can imagine, I have to be aware of the long term effects of any medicine I choose since my young dog has a long road ahead of him. Getting the medication into the dog can also be a challenge but these days there are options such as liquid drops and even flavored chew treats for those of you that have a finicky dog! I hope I can provide you with some helpful information that will allow you to bring back that happy-go-lucky puppy you love so much.
Before considering arthritis medicine for dogs you should of course get a diagnosis from your veterinarian. Also address the factors that can be controlled such as excess weight, regular exercise to keep the joints moving, and corrective surgery if necessary. In addition to supplements you can try massage and accupressure to help even further – as demonstrated in this video…
Simple Things You Can Do At Home To Help Your Arthritic Dog
Arthritis medicine for dogs can be broken down into three different types. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements and herbal or homeopathic medicines.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or dog-specific NSAIDs can be obtained from your veterinarian and require monitoring. These drugs can be very effective at quickly relieving pain and inflammation associated with arthritis but like any other drug they come with inherent side effects. Your vet may need to run bloodwork before starting and periodically over time while your dog is taking these drugs in order to monitor liver function and other values that may indicate a problem from the medication.
I use rimadyl for my dog on an occassional basis when he is having a bad day. It is not my primary means of keeping him comfortable however if he spends all day running and jumping up and down biting at the water from the sprinkler he is likely to have some pain that night. Other than that I do not rely on drugs for myself, my family or my dogs.
The most well known nutritional supplement for arthritis is glucosamine. Glucosamine is a compound that is naturally found in the body. It is used to produce the molecule that forms and repairs cartilage. Glucosamine supports the joints directly as opposed to a general anti-inflammatory that masks the pain. Glucosamine may reduce pain symptoms and slow the progression of arthritis but keep in mind that it may take about one to four weeks to see results.
Glucosamine coupled with chondroitin may give you a double whamy. The glucosamine provides the building blocks for repair while the chondroitin stops a certain enzyme that destroys cartilage.
I have had hit and miss results with glucosamine possibly dependent on what, if anything, the glucosamine was paired with (chondroitin, MSM). However, even if it does not completely control the pain it is still essential to support the joints by giving them what they need to repair themselves with this natural product. It is generally considered safe for long term use. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs you should make sure you are giving it with food and/or possibly lower the dose.
Glucosamine for dogs can be obtained from your vet at premium prices or easily found online at more affordable prices. You can also find quality products online that are designed specifically for dogs, such as beef flavored treats!
Check with your vet on the dosage and the proper way to administer glucosamine – that is, glucosamine requires a loading period to be most effective. You will start out with a high dose and slowly lower it.
Herbal or homeopathic medicines can be very effective and safe in relieving the pain associated with any type of arthritis. You should use products that are specifically designed for use in dogs to be sure of its safety. Just like chocolate, not all things good for humans are good for dogs!
Homeopathy has been used for hundreds of years and its medicines are especially known for having no side effects while being highly effective. They are best known for treating chronic conditions (such as arthritis) and under some conditions may even offer some curative treatment.
I have been very happy with homeopathic medicines for everything from anxiety to teething pain for my whole family. Herbal and homeopathic medicines are certainly an outstanding option for long term pain relief for our dogs. Animals in the wild instinctively seek out healing plants when they are sick. It is only recently that modern medicine has opened its mind to what animals have always instinctively known.
When considering a chronic condition like arthritis, homeopathic medicine for dogs is a very attractive option because of its safety. Homeopathic medicines act by stimulating the body’s own defense mechanism and healing powers. They do not have any chemical action, so they do not have the potential to cause any damage. For that reason alone, homeopathic medicines are always my first choice and always produce excellent results. As an added bonus they are very affordable, especially compared to drugs or supplements purchased from a vet hospital.
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Hi,
This is an excellent and comprehensive information about dog arthritis and its treatment.I am a dog owner who have visited the vet many times and have tried many medication to relief my dog of arthritis. Apart from being very expensive. It was not effective.I found Pet Bounce the all-natural homeopathic joint pain relief for dogs and cats, to be very effective and resonably priced.
thank you very much, guys, for sharing this useful information that many people do really need to know. Arthritis is very painful diseases which most of dogs have to suffer from, and it is very important to find the safest and the most effective treatments for your dog.thanks.
Great info thanks. I am all in favour of natural remedies and the homoeopathic option is always favourite in my eyes.
Hi, I think your way of thinking is very good. I agree with the previos post and will look for a homeopathic treatment for my dog. Thanks for the informative post.
Dogs are our best friends and we don’t want to settle for anything less when it comes to arthritis treatments, do we? It’s also great that herbal medicines are now expanding not just for human medicine but for pets too.
Hey Karen! We are crossing paths quite a bit. You left a comment on my organic dog treats site the other day and my dog ornament site today. It’s nice to meet other dog lovers – even if just online
Thank you for your insightful comments, and for providing such great information about caring for dogs with arthritis!
Hi Julie,
I agree, I like finding other dog lovers out there! If you are looking for some more links I have a sister website… http://glucosaminefordogsonline.com
It’s brand new and could use some dog lovers like you in its comments section!!
Keep in touch!
Karen
Great Information on dog arthritis and make your dog fit and fine!! Using your tips we avoid this dog arthritis and now it is est to deal with this disease.it is good to know about the medicines.thanks.
I tried the drugs suggested by the vet on my dog but after reading about the side effects I quit using them. I didn;’t realize that Glucosamine was used with animals. I don’t think there are bad side effects associated with it.
This is very helpful post.I am very much conscious about dog s health.I think we all should follow your ways for our dogs.this disease is very common among dogs and now it is the time to follow these suggestions.
As a Chinese medicine practitioner, I ever treated many people with Chronic arthritis. Anyway it never occurs to me that herbal medicine can be used in relieving the dogs’ pain associated with any type of arthritis.That is very different from humans I think. Thanks for your great post.
Your site ius really fascinating and has so much so much information on dog arthritis. I have a 14 yaer old schnauzer who really struggles with her joints. Rimadyl works for her and she also waesr a magnetic dog collar that seems to help. Thanks for all your info, it’s a very informative site.
Has anyone read up on giving your dog some salt water in order to help with arthritis. Ive read that it can really help.
Hi Tom,
I found the salt idea very interesting so I looked into it. Unprocessed sea salt, which contains 80 minerals, can provide benefits to dogs and humans alike. Sea salt is the only salt I use but I had not thought to give it to my dogs. Thanks for the tip! I may even write a post on the idea!
I was using vet prescribed medicine but want to switch to over the counter. Need suggestions of which is best.
I have added some recommended products to my home page…
http://arthritismedicinefordogs.net
They are all very good at supporting the joints while alleviating pain.
Wow, I hadn’t realized that dogs can require arthritis medicine too. I guess that sort of knowledge comes with actually having a dog. Regarding the sea salt, I do agree with that. The reason it’s good for humans is the same as the reason it’s good for other animals.
I vote for homeopathic medicines by my two hands! It´s because I´ve tried such kinds of medicines on me and they just made a miracle! I am not sure how they will influence the dog arthritis and generally health of animals but I prefer everything to pure chemicals.
I’ve come back to your site for more info. One of my Burmese cats is having difficulty jumping up onto the sofa. She’s 15 years old so I guess in human years at the age of 75 not many people would be jumping up onto the sofa anyway!
I want to read more on homeopathic medication for her and I remembered that your site has some information on that.
Many thanks!
Hi Kate,
I’m so glad we could help you and your Burmese out. Even though our site focuses on dogs, homeopathic medicines can help cats out as well.
If you take a look under our recommendations at the top of the home page and click on the link for the homeopathic medicine you will see a good example of something that is designed to help cats as well as dogs. In fact I think I will point that out to people in the post.
Thank you for bringing cats to my attention.
I wish you and your kitty the best.
Thanks for thinking of us.
I read this post at the perfect time! I just adopted a 6 year old Weim who’s joints weren’t cracking, but she was a little slow and licked her joints so much that she has sores on them! Even my vet told me that she thought the sores were from her laying on the concrete too much (her previous owner kept her in a kennel 20 hours a day). I’m going to start her on one of the products you recommend here and I bet that fixes 90% of her problems. Thanks for this great post!
Hi Kerry,
That’s awesome – I’m so glad that what you found here might help!!
I’m also very glad that it sounds like your Weim found a good home with you!
Best of luck and let us know how things turn out for you and your pooch!
I would love to hear!
There are many non steroidal anti inflammatory medications that you can use. However many can be harsh on the liver so be sure to have blood work done before putting your dog on any arthritis medication.
I do not have pets, so this is the first time I read that dogs suffer from arthritis. Now, I realize why some dogs of certain breeds, have difficulty walking when they are old
Arthritis can really be an extreme health concern for humans, I hope my dogs never have the issue. They do have alot of stomach issues already. Don’t need another issue to worry about.
My best friend is Karl, a 14-year-old German Shorthair. Poor guy hurts a lot of the time, I can tell, but an aspirin in the morning seems to help a great deal. (And sometimes we split an Osteo-biplex ;^))
Great tips on how to deal with dog arthritis! Homeopathic medicines can be effective, and they don’t have harmful side effects like anti-inflammatory medicines. Nutritional supplements can provide relief and help to slow down the progress of the disease. Weight control can be very beneficial to dogs with arthritis, as it is to humans suffering from pain in the joints. Stronger nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids may be necessary if the pain is severe and if mobility is restricted. Your veterinarian will diagnose the problem and provide advice about your options. A little care can make life much easier for your pet!
I put a half teaspoon or so of peanut butter on a bread knife, press the pill into it and sort of slide it across my dog’s front teeth when he opens his mouth. My dog LOVES peanut butter.
I had heard of Glucosamine years ago for human use but didnot know of it being used for dogs.When our 8 year old Border Collie started to limp I checked with our vet.He suggested using the flavored jerky type treats.It worked like a charm.Now she doesn’t limp anymore and can keep up with our 3 year old mixed breed.Good Stuff!
I have got to say, as a veterinarian I really can’t see any benefit from homeopathic remedies. While they may have some benefit in humans (due to the placebo effect), in pets I think the only response we see is an imagined one.
Fish oils, glucosamine, pentosan and anti-inflammatories are the only medications that I have seen which provide any real benefit to my patients.
I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who is starting to get old and I suspect arthritis is setting in. She used to be so fit and I always went running with her. Now I think I might have over done the distances with her. Anyway, we are where we are. I have found your site of real use and I am particularly interested in the homeopathic remedy. I am a great believer in natural ingredients. Thank you for the advice.
I think there are a lot of people who would argue that point with you.
Have you used homeopathic remedies on yourself or your dogs?
I have seen absolutely, unarguable results from homeopathy myself.
This is a subject very close to my heart. I have two black labradors and they have both got arthritis. I think they developed it at quite a young age. I have been trying to deal with this through nutritional supplements but think I might change over to homeopathic medcines.