Like human beings, dogs are prone to suffer from arthritis as they get older. Arthritis is essentially inflammation or swelling of the joints, which causes pain and makes movement difficult. It affects a dog's everyday activities such as running and jumping, and in severe cases can even make walking extremely strenuous.

There is no easy cure for arthritis. It is a chronic condition which is brought on by the regular wear and tear of a dog's daily activity, and once diagnosed it requires continual care and medication to relieve the symptoms.

Arthritis is believed to affect as many as one in every five dogs, so dog owners need to always be on the lookout for the signs of the condition in their own pet. Owners of large dogs such as Labradors, Retrievers, and German Shepherds should be particularly vigilant, as arthritis is most common in these larger breeds. Some signals that your dog may be suffering include favouring one limb over the others, gaining weight, being less alert than normal, and becoming disinterested in play and outdoor activity. If you start to see these signs over several weeks, it would be wise to have your dog checked by a vet, who will be able to tell you for sure whether arthritis is the cause.

Herbal medicines have been shown to be effective at treating many ailments in dogs, and there are several licensed herbal treatments for arthritis, including garlic and fenugreek tablets. These treatments rarely have any side effects, and can be given in conjunction with any conventional medicines your dog may already be taking.

When you begin treating your dog for arthritis, it may take a while for them to respond to the medicine, but you should start to see a gradual improvement over time. A higher daily dosage may be needed to start with, particularly over the winter months, and you can then bring this down as you begin to see improvement.

The inflammation caused by arthritis is often accompanied by the additional problem of loss of cartilage in the joint and in the synovial fluid, which nourishes it and acts as a lubricant. An effective supplement to combat this is a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. This is easily absorbed and will help to maintain the health of your dog's燾artilage.

As well as the daily medication, frequent light exercise will be vital in helping your pet to regain its mobility, although this shouldn't be overdone. Doing more than your dog is comfortable with is likely to cause more harm than good in the long run.

The most important thing is not to underestimate the seriousness of the impact arthritis can have on a dog. It might not kill them directly, but it can be so debilitating for a dog that the animal might have to be put down in order to spare its suffering. Thus, it is crucial that arthritis is treated regularly and effectively, in order to make your dog's life as long and comfortable as possible.