Canine Arthritis

As we have discussed on our main page, lyme disease in dogs can have a serious effect on the joints of your animal and this can subsequently contribute towards a more serious and long term condition in canine arthritis. Although canine arthritis is not curable there are pain relieving methods of canine arthritis treatment that we will talk about further on.

What is canine arthritis?

Canine arthritis or osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease as it is commonly known is a progressive, debilitating illness that sees the degradation of cartilage and the cells that form it. It is most common in dogs that are of middle to old age but younger dogs who already suffer from hip dysplasia have also been found to develop the disease. Cartilage is found around joints and this condition can take place in any cartilage in the body however it is most frequently diagnosed in the hip. Over time the function of the joint can become less and less prominent and eventual disablement is a possible and unfortunately likely outcome.

Commonly canine arthritis, as in this case with lyme disease, comes as a result of an other infection, illness of some form of trauma suffered by the dog.

What are the methods of canine arthritis treatment?

Unfortunately it is not possible to cure canine arthritis just as it is not possible to cure arthritis in humans. Canine arthritis treatment is given in order to slow down the damage caused to the cartilage and also help it to repair. The treatment will help to eleviate the pain and aid in mobility of the animal. The earlier canine arthritis treatment is implemented the more successful that it is likely to be. If a dog has developed symptoms at a younger age or has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia then canine arthritis treatment can help prevent the onset of the disease and will give them a chance to lead a more pain free and normal life for longer.

The drugs that are most commonly prescribed to aid the onset of canine arthritis are drugs that are known as 'nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' or 'NSAIDs' for short.

There are a variety of different drugs that are recommended as canine arthritis treatment and these have been listed below:

Aspirin (NSAID)
Carprofen (NSAID)
Etodolac (NSAID)
Adequan
Cosequin
Glyco-flex

It can be beneficial for canine arthritis treatment to be more than just conventional medication. Giving your dog appropriate exercise and a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight are two easy ways of doing this. If your dog has been diagnosed with canine arthritis then strenuous exercise should be avoided and replaced with simply walking or swimming as this is easier on their joints. Upon diagnosis of canine arthritis both over and underweight dogs should have their diets changed although with less weight to carry and therefore less strain on the joints it may be beneficial for dogs to be slightly underweight.

As with the treatment of dog lyme disease it can be beneficial to keep up your dogs strength to prevent the onset of such illnesses as lyme disease and canine arthritis through the use of vitamins and herbal remedies. Herbal and homeopathic remedies can be bought on-line or in stores.

We hope that this page has been beneficial in some way, if your dog is diagnosed with canine arthritis then the vet will be able to advise which is the best course of canine arthritis treatment as some drugs do have side effects that could be harmful to your dog.