Similar to the osteoarthritis that occurs in humans, arthritis in dogs (or canine osteoarthritis) also means an inflammation of one or more joints, which causes a lot of pain to your dogs and may cause disability. A joint is the site where bones meet and when it gets damaged by trauma, swelling due to inflammation occurs. The hips, elbows, and knees are the most common sites of arthritis.
Arthritis is very common in dogs, occurring in one out of five adult dogs in the United States. It occurs in dogs of different breeds, sizes, and ages, but the risk of developing arthritis is particularly high in senior dogs and large-breed or obese dogs. Improper nutrition and injuries are other causes that would put your dogs in the risk of having arthritis.
Some indications may be manifested by your dog if it suffers from arthritis. Most dogs may feel lazy from time to time. If your dog, which is normally active, starts to sleep all day and remains sulky for a long period of time, your dog may be experiencing pain. Decreased activity and difficulty in sitting and standing are positive indications that your dog may be suffering from arthritis. Some dogs suffering from severe arthritis also develop fever as an inflammatory response. Loss of appetite is also one indication that there is something wrong with your pet.
There are ways in which one can control pain and inflammation brought about by arthritis in dogs. Managing your dog's weight by giving it a balanced diet may help lessen the pressure on his joints. Regular exercise such as a 20-minute walk may also help reduce your dog's joint pain. Being observant about your dog's actions and feelings, as well as regular trips to the veterinarian can also help you detect and manage your dog's arthritis pain. When dogs are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, veterinarians commonly prescribe NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Deramaxx is an NSAID specially formulated for dogs. It is introduced to control pain and reduce inflammation, as well as to hinder the progression of the disease. Every pet owner should be wary of the symptoms of arthritis for it is very hard to treat arthritis in dogs especially when it has reached its advanced stages.
Deramaxx is a type of NSAID that belongs to the coxib family. NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and naproxen control pain by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. These enzymes produce chemicals called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins produced by COX-1 enzymes play an important role in our normal bodily functions. On the other hand, prostaglandins produced by COX-2 enzymes are responsible for activating inflammatory reactions such as swelling and pain. The difference of Deramaxx from other NSAIDS lies on its ability to select the COX-2 enzymes that produce prostaglandins responsible for pain and not COX-1 enzymes that produce prostaglandins which are necessary in performing important bodily functions such as blood clotting and increasing blood flow in the kidneys.
Deramaxx is the most commonly prescribed NSAID to manage pain and treat arthritis in dogs. It is only dispensed upon a veterinarian's prescription. If your dog shows some indications that it has arthritis, it is best to consult your veterinarian to provide your pet with immediate relief.
