Tips to help our older arthritis symptom dogsThese days, the average life span of all dog breeds is 13 years. If your pet has received excellent health care since it was a puppy, it stands a good chance of longevity. Still, growing old is a natural (and inevitable) process that we all must face. And as your pet ages, a number of physical and behavioral changes occur.
Older dogs may not respond as quickly to commands as they once did. Obedient dogs will still be obedient, but they may not "snap to it" as they did in their younger days. This slowdown may be due to the pain and stiffness of arthritis.
Arthritis is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat. It is a painful, degenerative joint disease that often results from canine hip dysplasia. Some arthritis dog symptoms are limping, trouble getting up, restlessness while trying to sleep (a pain indicator), difficulty going up and down stairs or getting in and out of the car.
If you notice any of these symptoms, see your veterinarian. The sooner the condition is recognized, the sooner your pet will feel less pain and become active again. There’s no reason for any dog to suffer from the pain of arthritis.
If your dog has arthritis symptoms avoid activities that stress those old arthritic joints.
Swimming and walking can be very good exercises for the older dogs, as well as young.
Swimming is a good aerobic exercise and is especially good for arthritis symptom dogs because there is no jarring impact. As swimming is a non-weight bearing activity.
It exercises every muscle of the body without any stress. When swimming, muscles and joints are able to move through a complete range of motion without bearing any weight.
Swimming in warm water has the added benefit of relaxing muscles (specially important for arthritis symptom dogs) and increasing overall blood circulation. Warm water relaxes muscles so the dog will not feel pain when exercising, thus improving joint lubrication. Older dogs have the added benefit of cardiovascular strengthening and weight loss, improving general fitness.
Your dog should use all four legs to doggie paddle. If he paddles with just his front paws, lift his rear legs to help him float. He’ll quickly understand that he needs all four of his legs to swim.
Daily, low-impact exercise helps to improve strength and stamina, joint mobility, and stimulates joint cartilage metabolism.
While helping maintain your dog's weight, it also decreases the need for pain-relieving medications.
You may also find introducing a Glucosamine supplement,
Extra Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin Tablets 75 Ct Btl
Glucosamine helps retain water in the joints, this acts like a lubricant which keeps bones floating in the joint without actually making contact.
Taking extra Glucosamine HCl helps your dog's body restore cartilage production and results in more flexible, nourished joints.
Most pet owners that supplement their dog's diet with the right Glucosamine supplement see an improvement within a short period of time.
Make sure all arthritis symptom dogs have a warm and soft place to
sleep, and avoid activities that stress those old arthritic
joints.
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