Arthritic symptoms in aging dogs is very common, and in fact, when you see your dog struggling to get up from a laying down position or not coming when called, you can expect that this may be canine arthritis. Since the dog cannot tell the owner that their joints are stiff or sore, the owner must watch the dog for signs that arthritis could be happening. The best way to make to know for sure is to take your dog to your veterinarian and he or she can take several x-rays to see if your dog is suffering from arthritis.
What causes Canine Arthritis?
Certain breeds are more prone to develop arthritis than others and some may have a predisposition to the disease based on genetics. Many dogs may injure a hip or some other joint when they are younger and arthritis will then set into the joint as the dog ages, which is very similar to what happens with people. Many times, as the dog ages, he or she may develop arthritis in the spine, which can cause limping when walking and getting up from a laying down position is difficult. Other symptoms of arthritis include reluctance to climb stairs or do the things the dog used to do, he or she may even whine a bit if they are in severe pain.
Of course, just like with humans, when a joint hurts with arthritis, the first way the body wants to deal with it is to not move the joint, but this will only cause the arthritis to worsen, so therefore, moving the joint via some type of light exercise is the best way to keep the joint pain to worsen. However, never overdo any kind of exercise regimen if your dog has arthritis because it could make the symptoms worse.
Another cause for early onset of canine arthritis is if the dog is overweight because the added weight on the joints can wear the cartilage down much faster than it normally would in dogs that do not have weight problems. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your dog at his or her optimal weight because this will keep the excess weight from pressing on the joints and causing excessive wear and tear at an early age.
Most dogs when they get into their senior years will develop some amount of arthritis, but what you do when they are younger will have a direct impact on their older years and how pronounced the arthritis is. For instance, diet plays a huge role in canine arthritis, so if you are feeding your dog whatever is on sale from the grocery store, the food will be filled with fillers, high grains, little meats, and lots of additives, which eaten over several years can directly affect the dog's overall health as well as their joints.
Slowing Down the Incidence of Canine Arthritis
One of the best ways to slow down the incidence and severity of arthritis even in dogs that have a genetic predisposition is feeding them an all-natural meat-based diet and making sure they get daily exercise. If your dog is currently overweight, getting their weight down will significantly reduce current arthritic symptoms or lessen them from developing. Most people grew up hearing, "You are what you eat" and nothing could be further from the true when it comes to canine health. They depend on their owners to get the best nutrition, because if they are given the proper nutrition when they are young, their senior years will be less arthritic than a dog that received poor nutrition throughout his or her lives.
Adding Natural Supplements in Middle Age
Depending on your dog's size, middle age can be 7 years old or younger, since the larger your dog is, the faster they age. Therefore, when your dog is middle age or starts showing some signs of graying around the muzzle, it is an excellent time to being adding some nutritional supplements to their diet such as omega 3 fatty acids, MSM, glucosamine, and green lipped mussel. All can help reduce any current inflammation in the joints or prevent it from occurring in the first place.
