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DOG ARTHRITISDog arthritis (degenerative disk disease) is a disease in which joint cartilage deteriorates, resulting in surfaces that are supposed to glide over each other but become rough whereas lubrication within the joint is decreased. Movement is more difficult and often painful. Dog arthritis is a debilitating disease which profoundly affects the health, well being and happiness of your pet.Dog arthritis is of many different kinds. In order to ascertain what kind of dog arthritis your pet has, you must take him/her for a full examination to a qualified veterinarian. The signs of dog arthritis are- • Difficulty in walking (such as limping or a stiff, slow, or ungainly gait) • Difficulty in getting up from a seated or lying position; • Difficulty climbing stairs; • A creaking, crackling, or "ratcheting" sound in the joints; • An overall decrease in mobility; • An unwillingness to move and dragging the back legs so that the tops of the nails scrape the floor. • Dogs that are experiencing the pain of arthritis also may become "snappish" if they are touched in the wrong place or made to move when they're not ready. • Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play • Limping • Lagging behind on walks • Yelping in pain when touched • A personality change • Resisting touch The different types of dog arthritis are as follows- Osteoarthritis • Degenerative Joint Disease • Hip osteoarthritis - hip dysplasia • Elbow osteoarthritis - elbow dysplasia • Knee osteoarthritis - knee dysplasia • Knee (stifle joint) • Osteochondrosis • Hypertrophic arthritis • Shoulder (degeneration) • Wrist Arthritis (carpi) • Kneecap (dislocation You can help your dog's arthritis in the following ways: • give your dog a reasonable amount of controlled exercise -- that is, the kind of exercise that does not overtax joints, but that helps maintain overall mobility and flexibility • Control your dog's weight... the lighter they weigh, the less strain they will have on their load bearing joints. • Get an early diagnosis and recommended therapy -- which means taking your dog to the vet for a definitive diagnosis and recommendations on exercise program, nutrition and diet, medicinal treatment and therapy. • Make sure your dog has a safe and comfortable place to sleep in. Treatment Dog arthritis can sometimes be halted or prevented by surgery when x-rays indicate joint malformations. If surgery is not indicated or advisable, relief can be achieved with painkillers, exercise, rest, and diet. Supplements like glucosamine are also quite helpful in providing relief. However no medication or alternative supplement should be given to the dog without the advice of a qualified veterinarian. |
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