When joint pain is a problem for your older dog, arthritis treatment will provide relief from stiffness and aching. Improved veterinary care and dog arthritis medicine can help your pup live a long, healthy life.

An unwillingness to run and play or difficulty rising after a nap can be signals your dog is hurting. He may not visibly limp and he can't tell you where the pain is.

Injury to a joint can lead to arthritis pain in younger animals as well and joint problems are common for some breeds. The weight large dogs must carry is a frequent cause of pain that can be relieved with dog arthritis medicine. Slowing down in old age may be common but pain is not necessary for senior dogs.

Your dog may seem slow to stand after lying down or be reluctant to jump or fetch or to climb stairs. He may show a decrease in activity and tend to remain in one place rather than follow you from room to room. The dog may be reluctant to sit on command or seem to favor one leg when he walks.

Weight gain is common for arthritic dogs as they are no longer expending calories through play and exercise. Canines may sleep more and seem less alert. Dogs in severe pain may even show behavioral changes.

A mild injury may cause joint pain for a few days but if your pet is favoring one leg for longer than a week, it's time to visit your veterinarian for a checkup. When dog arthritis is diagnosed early treatment will slow the progression of the disease and provide many more years of comfort for the animal.

Dogs may not tolerate human meds for pain and aspirin or other over the counter meds should be used only when recommended by your vet. Baby aspirin ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be toxic and the doses must be carefully calculated.

Dog arthritis treatment with pet meds formulated for animals is the best course of action. Aspirin may be suggested by your vet as well as anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal pet meds.

You may be advised to control your dog's weight of even put him on a diet as the excess weight puts more pressure on the aging joints. Dog food designed for weight management will help as will reducing the number of high calories treats your pet gets each day.

The most popular medication is Rimadyl for dogs in a chewable, tasty pill. Your dog will readily accept this daily treat of dog arthritis medicine and within days may begin acting like a puppy again as the pain disappears.

Another important component in treating arthritis in dogs is regular exercise. Jumping or running to fetch may be too hard on the joints but a regular walk will help increase flexibility. Start out with short, leisurely walks if your pet has been sedentary in the past. Slowly increase the distance and the speed as he response to the dog arthritis treatment. Your older dog will enjoy life to the fullest with a combination of arthritis pet med, weight management and moderate exercise.