Five Tips on How to Prevent Dog Arthritis
No dog owner likes to see their pet in pain. You would do anything for your dog, but it can feel helpless when you see them suffering and don’t know what to do about it. While taking the dog to the Vet promptly if something is wrong is obviously the best course of action, you can also think ahead and put strategies into place to hopefully prevent issues from coming up in the future.
Given the prevalence of arthritis in dogs, taking some steps to reduce the chances of arthritis issues is a great idea.
Below, we have collected five simple tips that can help you cut down on the chances that your dog will have to deal with painful arthritis moving forward.
Understanding Arthritis in Dogs
As it is in humans, arthritis in dogs is a degenerative joint disease that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. There are a number of different factors that can lead to arthritis, including the age of the dog, going through an injury, being overweight, or simply genetic predisposition. Specifically, there are breeds that are known to be at a higher risk than others for arthritis, including German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers. While it’s not always possible to prevent arthritis, it can be managed effectively to provide your dog with the most comfortable, enjoyable life experience possible.
Tip #1 – Provide Your Dog a Healthy Diet
Without a doubt, one of the best things you can do for your dog’s overall health is to provide her or him with a healthy diet day after day. This will not only help with arthritis issues but will also help to maintain positive overall health and make a long list of unwanted conditions less likely to occur.
The best way to be sure you are providing your dog with a healthy diet is to work with a veterinary nutritionist to align the foods that you are providing with the needs of the dog. It’s not only about the composition of the diet but also the quantity of food that is being provided. A quality diet for your pet will deliver all of the necessary nutrients to support health and will maintain a healthy weight moving forward. Austin Canine Rehab can help connect you with a qualified veterinary nutritionist to dial in your dog’s diet just right for sustained health.
Tip #2 – Monitor Early Warning Signs of Arthritis and Take Swift Action
No one knows your dog as well as you. By spending time together each day, you understand the dog’s patterns and behaviors, and you know when something is out of the ordinary. If the dog starts to exhibit a behavior that seems out of character, don’t write it off – that could be an indication that something is wrong and medical attention is required.
These changes in their normal movements and activities may be gradual at first. It could simply be a reluctance to play in their normal way, or maybe just not quite running and jumping as freely as before. Or, it could be a more obvious sign, such as limping while walking or struggling to get up from a lying position.
Acting quickly when you observe something to be wrong is the best way to get ahead of the situation and hopefully achieve a positive outcome. Feel free to reach out to Austin Canine Rehab in this situation to learn more about our services. We’ll be happy to take the time to get to know you and your dog so a rehab plan can be established that will properly address your pet’s needs.
Tip #3 – Seek Regular Exercise
When you read a list of tips regarding anything about health and wellness – whether it’s for people or dogs – exercise is sure to come up. Moving our human or canine bodies is simply good for us in about a million different ways. Ideally, you’ll be active with your dog right from the start and it will stay that way for as long as you two are together.
It is important to note that dogs who are already experiencing some degree of arthritis should be given opportunities to exercise in a manner that won’t put additional, unnecessary strain on their joints. This could be as simple as going for a walk, or perhaps finding some water for the dog to swim. Also, exercise sessions might need to be shorter than they were previously to avoid discomfort. Rather than going for a single long walk during the day, for example, you could break it up into a few shorter walks to keep your dog more comfortable.
Tip #4 – Modify the Environment to Limit Joint Pain
Shortening your exercise outings isn’t the only way you can modify things to help improve your dog’s health. You can also work to modify their living environment to account for the realities of arthritis if it is already setting in.
For starters, make sure your dog has a supportive, comfortable place to lie down in your home. Many dogs will just lay on the floor and be perfectly happy for most of their lives – but that might not work as well for a dog in the early stages of arthritis. Adding a dog bed that is easily accessible and will support the joints during rest can make your furry friend far more comfortable while sleeping and resting.
It also might be helpful to add a ramp or some pet stairs in places of your home where the dog would normally jump. Even if the dog can still technically make the jump required to get up onto something, that experience might be painful and could accelerate their arthritis issues. Making the house more accessible and easier to get around will lessen the burden that the dog’s joints have to bear.
Tip #5 – Schedule Regular Checkups with a Veterinarian
You don’t want to allow too much time to pass between veterinary visits for your dog, especially as the years pass and issues like arthritis start to pop up. Having regular check-ups completed will ensure that any issues the dog is facing are caught early and can be treated as effectively and successfully as possible.
In addition to vet visits, you can also have your pet seen by Austin Canine Rehab to receive customized advice about how to move forward and maintain as much mobility and freedom as possible for the years ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, it’s not possible to prevent all types of arthritis. However, using preventive measures can make arthritis less likely and can less its severity if it does occur.
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It’s never too early to start preventive measures with regard to keeping arthritis away. Things like regular exercise and helping your dog maintain a healthy weight are great starting points.
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Yes, some breeds are more likely to deal with arthritis than others, including German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers.
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Just spending time with your dog and paying attention to his or her behaviors and responses will be enough to notice when he or she is in pain and needs medical help.
Get in Touch for Personalized Advice
While the tips listed above are all great starting points for preventing arthritis in your dog, personalized, custom care is always the best approach. Take a moment today to get in touch with Austin Canine Rehab to learn more about what we offer. Our approach to canine rehab aims to build lasting strength and stability to help your best friend thrive for years to come. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
