Arthritis in Your Dog

Arthritis in Your Dog

If you’re concerned about senior dog health, you’re probably concerned about dog arthritis.  It’s a condition which plagues the older dog population more than any other.  Mind you, arthritis is not unknown even in quite young dogs.  It’s just less common.

And it can be both treated and prevented, naturally.

The following is my summary of an informative article written by J. R. Rogers – “Arthritis in Family Pets”, with my own commentary included here and there, based on my own knowledge, and information gathered from various sources which I acknowledge at the bottom of the page.

Do You Think Your Dog Has Arthritis?  Or Do You Want to Make Sure S/he Doesn’t Develop This Debilitating Disease?

Apparently some 25-30% of our dogs suffer from degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis.  Arthritis in pets is just as painful and debilitating as it is in humans, (and most of us know people who suffer terribly from arthritic pain). Well, it’s the same with our dogs.  Following is a list of the different types of arthritis your dog can develop:

• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Knee Dysplasia
• Knee (stifle joint)
• Osteochondrosis
• Hypertrophic Arthritis
• Shoulder Degeneration
• Wrist Arthritis (carpi)
• Kneecap Dislocation

The physiological changes that occur in pets are virtually identical to those of the human body. Essentially, it is the “breakdown” of the (protective) cartilage that covers or protects the ends of bones at the joint.

Primary or Secondary Arthritis?

Primary arthritis is a degenerative condition, while secondary arthritis develops as a result of injury / trauma.

Since our dogs are naturally very active, it goes without saying that they are constantly sustaining trauma to parts of their bodies.  No surprises there.

But what I didn’t know was that if trauma causes the onset of one of arthritis, dysplasia or the like, development of the disease is extremely rapid in animals. Arthritis in pets often develops almost immediately after trauma to their body occurs – it often happens within weeks of even a relatively minor injury, whereas with humans, degenerative disease as the result of an injury generally takes many years to manifest.

Trauma-related arthritis is referred to as secondary arthritis.  It is very common in our dogs, as compared to primary arthritis (being the hereditary type).  My Rottweiler, Kara, has hereditary hip dysplasia and spinal arthritis, but for all I know, she may have developed secondary arthritis from trauma as well.  She and my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Jet, are always “play fighting” and pushing each other into things!

Your Dog Can’t Tell You S/he is in Pain

Because our dogs cannot tell us that they have pain, I wondered whether arthritis supplements should be used as a preventive measure, just as we humans take supplements in an effort to stay healthy and to discourage or prevent certain ailments from developing. In other words, should an arthritis supplement be used even without a diagnosis of arthritis, hip dysplasia, and the like, from your veterinarian?

And the answer is YES!  You certainly can give preventative arthritis supplements for your dog.

If you haven’t been giving a preventative treatment, though, there are tell-tale signs which should alert you to the fact that your dog is at risk of, or has already succumbed to, arthritis or its related conditions, particularly:

• Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play
• Limping
• Lagging behind on walks
• Difficulty rising from a resting position
• Yelping in pain when touched
• Personality change
• Resisting being touched 

Does Your Dog Show Any of These Signs?

If your dog shows any of these signs, I highly recommend Syn-Flex is a product which appears to be superior in quality and effectiveness to almost anything else.

Click here for more information on Syn-Flex natural arthritis treatment for dogs.

Or to order Syn-Flex, click here.

(C) 2004, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs

Information sourced from Syn-flex product information, Activex America Inc., and Glucosamine Resource Center.  You can see J. R. Rogers’ article here.

For information on arthritis dog beds, click here.  If your dog is suffering from arthritis, s/he deserves a plush, comfortable healthy dog bed.

And if your dog prefers a chewable tablet to a liquid, ARTHRIX for Dogs and Cats contains the most powerful nutrients on the market today kown to improve joint mobility and reduce age-related joint discomforts, in a yummy, chewable tablet your dog will think is a treat!  ARTHRIX contains a potent natural, anti-inflammatory product which allows your pet to better use its own healing system.  Your dog will cope better as s/he ages!  Just click on the bottles below for further info:

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