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.
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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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