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Articles > Allergies > FoodThe 10 Great Favors You Can Do an Arthritic Senior Dog An arthritic senior dog presents inflammation or swelling in its joints caused by abnormal bone or joint development, instability of the surrounding ligaments and tendons, injury to the joint, infection, or injury produced by the immune system. Even though it is very common to treat arthritis with inflammatory medication, it can also be taken care of by protecting the cartilage in the joint and by nurturing it. Following is a list of the top 10 great favors you can do your arthritic senior dog to make its life more comfortable and to treat its illness in the best way possible:
A soft bed will support your pal’s bones and joints, making it feel more comfortable. This is very important, especially for thin dogs, whose bones tend to rub on hard surfaces. There are beds especially made for arthritic dogs: waterbeds, hammock beds, and extra cushion beds.
It is difficult for senior dogs to deal with stairs and furniture. There are ramps and cubes designed to help your pal climb stairs, climb up or down sofas, get in or out of bed, or in or out of your car.
It is hard for senior dogs with arthritis to walk on hardwood and tile floors because these are very slippery. You can solve this by placing rugs or carpets over these materials to help your dog stand firm.
A senior dog is not as tolerant and patient as a young pal, and if its joints are sore, it will find it difficult to enjoy having playful children around. Be attentive and keep your senior dog away from small children. An arthritic dog may find parties and holidays upsetting, even if it wants to join the fun; thus, restrict the time your pal spends with groups of people.
There are several medicines that can help your dog feel better. Deramaxx®, Rimadyl®, and Etogesic® are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that restrain inflammation and pain by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins. The drug called Cosequin® is also good because it gives the body the necessary nutrients to repair cartilage and stimulate its function. Your vet has the last word as to what drugs are best for your senior dog.
This therapy can increase flexibility, mobility, circulation, relaxation, and will provide a general sense of wellbeing. There are professional dog massage therapists that will give your friend a royal treatment.
Even if gently, your senior dog should exercise every day. You must talk to your vet to learn what kind of exercise will benefit your pal and which kind can harm it. Exercising will strengthen its muscles and ligaments, reducing the risk of injury.
Arthritis gets worse in dogs that are fat. Loosing weight can really help your dog ease the workload of its bones and joints, and trying a special diet can really help relieve arthritic symptoms. This diet will include Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate, which have proven very effective in maintaining an arthritic dog’s ideal weight, reducing pain, and improving motion.
A senior dog must be groomed even more than a young one. Arthritic dogs are not able to clean themselves very well, especially in those areas that are hard to reach; thus, help it by trimming its hair regularly around the rear end. Brush its hair regularly to get rid of mats and tangles that could injure delicate older skin.
Give your pal time to walk or climb at its own pace. Do not rush it, but instead, be there to support it and help it if necessary, or just wait patiently until your friend is able to get around. ~ Staff, SeniorDogs.com If you would like to include this article on your site please include the following information with the article:
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