Is Dog Arthritis Affecting Your Pet?

Symptoms to look for:

• Your dog is moving more slowly
• Less Energy
• Limping or favoring one leg
• Stiffness
• Restlessness, can't get comfortable
• Uncomfortable moving or reluctant to move

Preventing Arthritis

• Laying on concrete, concrete contains alot of moisture which will greatly add to the chances of your dog getting arthritis or aggravating the condition. (this includes interlock walks, driveways etc.)
• Excess Weight, overweight dogs have an increased chance of suffering from arthritis as the additional weight puts more stress on their joints.
• Regular Exercise will keep your dogs muscles toned, joints functioning and help keep their weight in check.

Remedies, Relief's

• If your dog is overweight, slimming him down is one of the best things you can do.
• Regular exercise keeps the muscles toned and retards the progression of arthritis, go on short walks several times a day at your dogs pace.
• If they're outside pets please provide them with excellent shelter, particularly out of the wind and rain in a nice comfortable, warm bed. Better yet let them sleep inside.
• Hard surfaces are hard on the joints, provide a nice soft bed.
• Applying heat provides comfort, a good idea is to use a warmed water bottle twice daily on sore joints. There are also many other 'instant heat' products available from sports stores.
• A gentle massage relieves discomfort, stay a few inches away from the sore joints and you'll see the relief on their faces.
• You can build or purchase stands that will raise the height of their dinner and water bowls, eliminating stressful neck pain.
• Building ramps to avoid unnecessary jumping is imperative, you can purchase ramps for your car as well.
• Give your Dog buffered aspirin, dosage: 1/4 of a 325 mg tablet per 10 pounds of dog, twice daily

I recommend you look at Winston's Joint Formula at DogsHealth.com, it's a terrific alternative, they use Human grade ingredients and it works! It'll get your dog moving again. Dog's Health.Com - Relief for Dog Arthritis, Human quality made for your pets.

Veterinarians can prescribe medicines to help your dog, but often they are temporary relief or don't work.

They can have a negative effect on your dogs energy, appetite and mood.