I have had many canines in my life and every one of them has suffered to some degree the effects of arthritis in dogs. In fact, almost all dogs will suffer from this disease to some degree in their later years of life. There are no cures for it. All a dog owner can do is to help is four-legged friend by minimizing the effects and symptoms of the joint disease.

Smaller breed dogs suffer from osteoarthritis to a lesser extent than larger dogs. The reason for this is quite simple; larger dogs carry more weight and therefore have more stress placed on their diseased joints then do smaller breed dogs. There is really nothing that can be done about this fact except to make sure that whether your dog is small or large that they do not carry any extra body weight. In other words, if your dog is fat, put him or her on a diet immediately. This excess weight can dramatically increase the pain suffered from arthritis in dogs.

Another important thing to remember for people with older dogs is to ensure they get the proper amount of exercise. If an older dog gets too little exercise, his muscles will deteriorate and they won't be able to support the joints properly. When the joints are not supported, the effects of arthritis are again magnified as the joint is loose and allowed too much freedom to move in directions it should not.

If the dog gets too much exercise as it gets older, this too will simply aggravate the condition of osteoarthritis and cause more suffering and pain for the animal. There is no set amount of exercise that can be stated to be proper for all breeds and all dogs. One must get to know their own pet and understand what is the correct amount for him or her. One simple guide for knowing too much exercise is taking place is that the animal begins limping after exercise on a regular basis. If this happens consistently, then you know probably there is too much exercise going on and the animal needs to work up to that level a slower pace.

And let's go back to the issue of being overweight. It may be extremely difficult to withhold food from your loved pet as he or she gets older, but it is vital for his well-being that he not be overweight even in a small amount. Besides the issues of joint arthritis, which is aggravated with the extra weight, there are other cardiovascular reasons for maintaining a lower body weight in your canine. Basically, the more proper your pet's body weight is, the longer he or she will live.

Also remember to make your dog as comfortable around the house as possible if he is suffering from arthritis in dogs. We have built a handicapped ramp for our older dogs in order that they can go up and down the porch steps easier. Steps and stairs are very difficult for dogs suffering from dog arthritis. A simple ramp made out of plywood and then covered with an old rug is a very good ramp for the older dogs to use. Another thing to remember is that older dogs enjoy sleeping much more than younger dogs. Allow them plenty of quiet time where they can sleep as much as they like. Also remember that old bones enjoy something soft to sleep on. Find your dog some cushioning material where he or she can nap and sleep at night.

And lastly, if your dog is suffering from arthritis disease, always provide a warm place in the wintertime. Cold winter days are no place for old dogs suffering from joint arthritis. The cold weather aggravates the disease tremendously and makes the dog very uncomfortable. If your dog simply can't come in the house for some reason, make sure that he or she has a very well protected and warm area outside. They even make heated dog beds the you may look into for your arthritic dog.