Almost all dogs will suffer some form of dog joint disease as they age
. In most cases, the disease manifests itself as canine arthritis. Osteoarthritis in dogs is a degenerative disease that attacks the joints. The process and the condition is exactly the same as with human arthritis.
Although there are no cures for this dog joint arthritis disease, there are things that dog owners can do to help alleviate some of the pain and suffering it causes in their pets. In this article we will outline some of the steps owners can take to ensure there animals are as healthy and happy as possible as they age.
Some breeds of canines suffer from osteoarthritis in their joints to a greater degree than others. This is a hereditary process and there's nothing to be done concerning how severe the disease occurs in a given dog. However, all dogs can benefit if there owners understand some of the simple steps that can be taken to ease the pain of joint arthritis. One of the first steps in minimizing the effects of osteoarthritis in canines is to make sure the animal is not overweight. Having to carry around too much weight causes undue stress upon the joints of the dog and aggravates the issue of joint arthritis.
Just as with humans, dogs tend to gain weight as they age. Not only is there normal exercise decreased due to their older age, but they also tend to have a slower metabolism later in life. These two factors usually cause increases in weight in a dog's later years. Pet owners must do whatever is necessary to ensure this overweight condition does not occur in their pet. It may be difficult to withhold food from your dog, but it is vital to their overall well-being and health but they remain slightly on the thin side versus being overweight. Besides adding stress to their joints, being overweight has other cardiovascular issues in dogs just as it does in humans.
A second consideration for minimizing the effects of dog arthritis is the amount of exercise the canine gets. Proper exercise ensures good muscle tone which in turn add stability to the joints. When the joints have good stability there is less lateral movement and thus less pain due to the degeneration of the cartilage.
Again, all dogs will suffer from arthritis to some degree in their later years of life. You as a dog owner can help him through this problem by making sure they are under proper weight and get plenty of exercise.