If you have a large dog, there's a good chance that he or she will develop osteoarthritis to some extent as he or she ages. Canine arthritis is a debilitating joint disease that is extremely prevalent in not only canines but also humans. Although there is no cure for this disease, there are things that pet owners can do to alleviate some of the issues caused by this joint disease.

One of the reasons larger dogs suffer more from joint arthritis is that their joints have to sustain the added weight of their size. Although there is nothing to be done if the breed of the dog is naturally large, pet owners must be aware that proper weight must be maintained in the animal or the arthritis symptoms will be increased by the added pressure caused by the extra weight.

Large breed dogs who are overweight suffer the most from osteoarthritis. As the arthritis progresses in the joints, the dogs become less and less mobile. This causes them to get less and less exercise. If their food intake at this point is not monitored and decreased somewhat they will began gaining weight. This is an unfortunate situation for the dog as his or her joints are already suffering from the joint disease and now must carry the extra load of added weight.

Just like with humans, it's very important to monitor a dogs weight on a regular basis. If possible, what your dog once a month so you can keep a handle on any possible weight gains. It's far easier to notice your dog has gained a few pounds and to cut back a little on his or her food when it is first observed. If the dogs allowed to gain too much weight, it will be an extremely difficult process for both the dog and the pet owner to cut back on the food enough to lose the weight.

If you're not able to way your dog with the scales, simply observe your dog on a regular basis and perhaps take pictures of them along the way so you can remember what they look like when they were more fit. With good observations it's possible to notice even a few pounds of weight gain on those dogs. That is the time to take action in either have the pet with dog arthritis do more exercise or decrease the amount of food he or she eats each day.

Canine arthritis symptoms can be lessened to a great extent by simply giving your dog plenty of exercise and making sure he or she is not required to carry any extra weight. Putting a dog on a diet may be a difficult thing for many pet owners, but they should understand that having the dog a bit on the skinny side is far healthier for the animal been to be overweight.