Arthritis in older dogs is a condition responsible for joint pain. And, it’s the one that affects dogs as they age.
Watching your furry friend age is never fun. However, there are some things that you can modify around your home, which are in collaboration with your vet. These minor changes help dogs with arthritis manage their pain. What’s even better is that it helps in the improvement of their joint health.
Now that arthritis seems to worry your wagging tail, you look across several ways for aiding their health. Fortunately, you come across tips for relieving your dog’s pain and reducing inflammation simultaneously.
Let’s get going with discovering what these are:
Modify your Home to Make Room for Dogs with Arthritis
Practising veterinarians suggest making a few modifications to your home to relieve your dog’s pain and alleviate their anxiety. Some changes that can go a long way in helping them are:
- Non-Slip Rugs:
Dogs experiencing joint pain and arthritis usually encounter fear of walking on slippery surfaces like tiles or hardwood. It is because of their limited mobility, and they’re afraid of feeling pain if they fall.
Using non-slip carpets, rugs, and rugs on slippery floors may aid your dog to get around the house without even the fear of slipping. You can place these rugs at the base or the top of staircases. By doing so, you decrease their joint pain, which lowers the impact on their joints.
- Orthopaedic Dog Beds:
It is always worth investing in comfortable dog beds that are too low to the ground and have orthopaedic support. It is because these help in easing your dog’s joint pain and helps them get back without much struggle.
All you’ve to do is figure out your dog’s favourite resting spots and place their thick bedding. Also, please put on the non-slip mats to prevent pain and injury while making efforts to stand up.
- Blocked-off Stairways:
As a responsible dog owner, make sure that you block off the stairs with a pet gate. By doing so, you’ll be able to ensure your dog’s safety, especially when they aren’t under direct supervision.
Inquire your Vet about Medications and Joint Supplements
Adopting a multimodal approach or combining several types of medications and joint supplements works wonders in treating arthritis in dogs.
Know that it is the best way of ensuring a quality of life for your furry friend. Also, it is an excellent way of promising a successful treatment.
Some medications that help your dog address pain and inflammation are:
- NSAIDS:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a pivotal role in controlling joint pain in dogs. Medical professionals suggest taking medications like Galliprant, Meloxicam, Carprofen, among others, as safe options.
Dog health experts at https://wccannabis.co/ also suggest turning to natural products like cannabis for catering to ailments that disturb dogs. Yes, you heard that right! Cannabinoid products swear to relieve dogs of seizures, pain, inflammation, anxiety, cancer, and others.
All you’ve to do is reach out to your vet and inquire about dosage quantities.
- Adequan Injections:
Adequan, an FDA-approved injection series, shows promising results for problems like inflammation and increased joint lubrication. Know that these help in having healthy pets and mentally peaceful dog owners.
Consider Secondary Therapies:
These treatments work in coherence with primary remedies for relieving dog joint pain. These usually include acupuncture, managing your dog’s weight, and practicing moderate physical therapy and exercise.
The Bottom Line
Arthritis is a painful condition, which becomes even more severe in dogs. But, the good news is that you can manage it.
Maintaining a healthy weight and identifying early signs of joint pain are the first steps of enhancing your dog’s mobility. Joint supplements, cannabis, and other medications are also great ways of managing pain and inflammation in dogs.
After all, it’s about taking steps for relieving pain, restoring function, and renewing hope for your dog!
