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Dogs with arthritis need a soft bedGentle regular exerciseWeight control and arthritisControl arthritis pain and InflammationPromote joint healthNutraceuticals for arthritis and joint painOmega 3 fatty acid supplementation
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Dog arthritisMost large dogs develop arthritis as they age. Although there are no miracle cures, much can be done to make old dogs with arthritis more comfortable and improve their lives. Soft comfortable place to sleepYour dog's bed should be as comfortable as your own. An old mattress or soft couch is excellent. Soft foam rubber at least four inches thick is good. Scout around for an old baby mattress. Whatever arrangement you use, it's much easier for large dogs to get up and down if you raise the bed about a foot off the floor. Gentle, regular exerciseProvide limited, gentle exercise. Once around the block two or three times a day is about right. Avoid strenuous activity on the weekends alternating with little or none during the week. Diet and Weight controlOlder large-breed dogs tend to be overweight. This discourages them from getting the exercise they need and aggravates their arthritis. The more weight on those poor old joints, the harder it is to move around. You should be able to easily easily locate each of your dog's ribs when you feel for them. See canine body condition. Any "light" diet is helpful. Most older dogs also tend to have dental problems, so the
ideal diet is one that is low in calories and also promotes dental health.
Three good choices are: All Iam's and Eukanuba dry foods for adult dogs contain an ingredient that helps keep the teeth clean. Iam's foods are generally sold in grocery stores. The same manufacturer markets Eukanuba in pet stores as their premium brand. I'd be surprised if there is very much difference. Science Diet Oral Care and Hill's t/d are both made by Hill's. The food is formulated in large chunks that don't crumble and immediately turn into mush like most other dry dog foods. The extra chewing that's required helps clean the teeth and entertains the dog for a while. Science Diet is sold in pet stores, Rx t/d by veterinarians. Joint DietsBoth Hill's (Rx j/d) and Purina (JM Joint Mobility) make formulas specifically intended for arthritic dogs. Based on the published nutritional information, both look like excellent choices. Neither is particularly low in calories or does anything special for the teeth, but they have added a lot of the most important joint health supplements directly to the food. If you have your dog's weight and dental health under control and don't want to mess with supplements, these are excellent choices. My personal preference is to choose a food appropriate for the dog in other respects and add supplements as needed. Supplements for joint healthThere are hundreds of products for animals and people intended to relieve arthritis by promoting joint and cartilage health. Their active ingredients usually include glucosamine, chondroitin or perna caniculus, sometimes creatine, and often an assortment of miscellaneous vitamins and minerals. Their use has become nearly universal among veterinarians. No safety problems have arisen, and they are generally quite effective. In our opinion, every dog showing even the earliest signs of arthritis should be receiving one of these products, as well as Omega 3 supplementation (fish oil capsules or cod liver oil). Diet changes work best in the early stages of arthritis, while there is still reasonable joint function left to preserve. For more information, see Nutraceuticals for Dog Arthritis and Omega 3 Supplements for Dogs. Relieve pain and inflammationAlthough dogs are often more prone to side effects, some of the same drugs used for arthritis pain control in people can be helpful:
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