Contributed by Douglas Anderson
Dog arthritis is a very common problem as they age. However, arthritis can strike at any age, same as in humans, and can even affect dog puppies. My own daughter was diagnosed with arthritis in her ankle at the age of 7.
Recent estimates by vets suggest that around 20% of all the dog dogs in the USA suffer from the condition to some degree. One of the best preventative methods available to stop and treat existing cases of dog arthritis is by using joint supplements for your dog.
Symptoms of arthritis in your dog include:
* Swelling around a joint. * Heat around a joint.
* Tenderness when you palpate a joint.
* Tenderness when flexing a joint.
* Redness of the skin around a sore joint. (You may have to part the dog's hair to see this.)
* Difficulty rising from a resting position.
* A personality change resisting touch.
* Onset of stiffness being worst in the mornings improving as the day progresses.
When your dog has arthritis, you may observe these behavioural changes due to arthritis:
* Your dog is reluctant to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play.
* Your dog exhibits gradual limping or lameness in one or more limbs.
* Your dog holds its breath or stops panting when a painful joint is manipulated. * Your dog reacts suddenly - turns his head, snaps, or yelps in pain when you touch a sore joint.
* Your dog puts less weight on a leg with a sore joint when he's standing still.
* Your dog holds up a leg with a sore joint. * Your dog lags behind on walks.
* Your dog has decreased appetite; pain from arthritis can cause a dog to stop eating.
* Some US dog food companies, such as Hill's and Purina (JM Joint Mobility), make formulas specifically intended for arthritic dogs. Based on the nutritional information these companies publish, both look like excellent choices. Neither is particularly low in calories or does anything special for the teeth, but they have added a lot of the most important joint health supplements directly to the food. If you have your dog's weight and dental health under control and don't want to mess with supplements, these are excellent choices.
When considering joint supplement for your dog, you must first understand what arthritis is and the most effective types of supplements available.
As with humans, arthritis in the joints of a dog is generally caused by a breakdown of the cartilage in a joint. This can be for a number of reasons including a recent accident, or just because of old age. The breakdown of cartilage can often leave parts of the moving bones in a joint exposed to rub against each other and this is what causes the intense pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
So one of the major factors in the breakdown and regeneration of the cartilage in the joints of a dog is the availability of the substances to regenerate and re-grow the damaged and worn cartilage. The two most important substances that are involved in these processes are glucosamine and chondroitin. You have undoubtedly seen these on the shelves of your local pharmacy as we humans have the identical problems.
Glucosamine is used to manufacture a large amount of the material that makes up the cartilage, and chondroitin can be thought of as the scaffolding within the cartilage. Because of their functions, if they are not present in large enough amounts, then the cartilage will begin to break down a lot more easily, and will not regenerate as quickly.
So the best joint supplements for dog arthritis will contain glucosamine and chondroitin, and appropriate other substances such as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) or Cetyl Myristoleate which occur naturally around the joints of your dog, acting to control pain and inflammation.
There is some controversy as to whether MSM actually has any effect on arthritis. Some studies show it does, and some studies show it has no effect.
If you prefer a supplement that is all natural, then look for a supplement that contains one or more of these ingredients:
* Apis mellifica: Formulated from honeybees, Apis mellifica relieves burning, stinging pain and fluid retention, and has been used in homeopathy since its discovery as a remedy in 1835, by Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany.
* Belladonna: Also known as Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. It is a deadly poison, but has been used in very small quantities by homeopathic experts to treat back pain, swelling and stiffness of the neck, sharp drawing pains and stiffness in joints, trembling legs and swelling of the feet.
* Caulphyllum: Also called Blue Cohosh or Squaw Root, Caulphyllum is a woodland herb that blooms in early April and is usually found on wooded slopes across much of the US and Canada. Native Americans once used it as a childbirth aid and for uterine cramps. It has antispasmodic properties and is useful for treating rheumatic stiffness and pain in the limbs and joints.
* Colchicum autumnale: This autumn-blooming flower is known as Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron or Naked Lady, and is used in homeopathy to treat the symptoms of gout as well as the convulsive jerking of hands and feet.
* Rhus toxicodendron: Also known as Mercury Vine or Poison Vine, Poison Oak and its kissing cousin, Poison Ivy, can be found all over North America in woodland areas. A main constituent of the plant is toxicodendric acid, which a French physician in the late eighteenth century discovered to be useful in the treatment of skin disease, paralysis, and rheumatic complaints. Today Rhus Tox is prized for its anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
* Ruta graveolens: A plant native to Southern Europe, Ruta is also known as Common Rue, which in olden times was thought to ward off plague. In today's homeopathy, it is used to treat joint pain, swelling, stiffness, spasmodic contractions and weakness.
My own research on the Internet for supplements, that are currently being used by experienced vets to treat dog with arthritis, revealed that Pet Bounce 'http://www.pet-training.info/Dogs/Recommends/Pet_Bounce_joint_pain_relief/" is quite popular. This is an all-natural, plant-based homeopathic blend with all the natural ingredients listed above; it is designed to help alleviate the symptoms your dog may be experiencing safely and without side effects.
The company has a free trial offer (USA only). For more information on Pet Bounce, click here 'http://www.pet-training.info/Dogs/Recommends/Pet_Bounce_joint_pain_relief/".
Dog arthritis is a very common problem as they age. However, arthritis can strike at any age, same as in humans, and can even affect dog puppies. My own daughter was diagnosed with arthritis in her ankle at the age of 7.
Recent estimates by vets suggest that around 20% of all the dog dogs in the USA suffer from the condition to some degree. One of the best preventative methods available to stop and treat existing cases of dog arthritis is by using joint supplements for your dog.
Symptoms of arthritis in your dog include:
* Swelling around a joint. * Heat around a joint.
* Tenderness when you palpate a joint.
* Tenderness when flexing a joint.
* Redness of the skin around a sore joint. (You may have to part the dog's hair to see this.)
* Difficulty rising from a resting position.
* A personality change resisting touch.
* Onset of stiffness being worst in the mornings improving as the day progresses.
When your dog has arthritis, you may observe these behavioural changes due to arthritis:
* Your dog is reluctant to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play.
* Your dog exhibits gradual limping or lameness in one or more limbs.
* Your dog holds its breath or stops panting when a painful joint is manipulated. * Your dog reacts suddenly - turns his head, snaps, or yelps in pain when you touch a sore joint.
* Your dog puts less weight on a leg with a sore joint when he's standing still.
* Your dog holds up a leg with a sore joint. * Your dog lags behind on walks.
* Your dog has decreased appetite; pain from arthritis can cause a dog to stop eating.
* Some US dog food companies, such as Hill's and Purina (JM Joint Mobility), make formulas specifically intended for arthritic dogs. Based on the nutritional information these companies publish, both look like excellent choices. Neither is particularly low in calories or does anything special for the teeth, but they have added a lot of the most important joint health supplements directly to the food. If you have your dog's weight and dental health under control and don't want to mess with supplements, these are excellent choices.
When considering joint supplement for your dog, you must first understand what arthritis is and the most effective types of supplements available.
As with humans, arthritis in the joints of a dog is generally caused by a breakdown of the cartilage in a joint. This can be for a number of reasons including a recent accident, or just because of old age. The breakdown of cartilage can often leave parts of the moving bones in a joint exposed to rub against each other and this is what causes the intense pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
So one of the major factors in the breakdown and regeneration of the cartilage in the joints of a dog is the availability of the substances to regenerate and re-grow the damaged and worn cartilage. The two most important substances that are involved in these processes are glucosamine and chondroitin. You have undoubtedly seen these on the shelves of your local pharmacy as we humans have the identical problems.
Glucosamine is used to manufacture a large amount of the material that makes up the cartilage, and chondroitin can be thought of as the scaffolding within the cartilage. Because of their functions, if they are not present in large enough amounts, then the cartilage will begin to break down a lot more easily, and will not regenerate as quickly.
So the best joint supplements for dog arthritis will contain glucosamine and chondroitin, and appropriate other substances such as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) or Cetyl Myristoleate which occur naturally around the joints of your dog, acting to control pain and inflammation.
There is some controversy as to whether MSM actually has any effect on arthritis. Some studies show it does, and some studies show it has no effect.
If you prefer a supplement that is all natural, then look for a supplement that contains one or more of these ingredients:
* Apis mellifica: Formulated from honeybees, Apis mellifica relieves burning, stinging pain and fluid retention, and has been used in homeopathy since its discovery as a remedy in 1835, by Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany.
* Belladonna: Also known as Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. It is a deadly poison, but has been used in very small quantities by homeopathic experts to treat back pain, swelling and stiffness of the neck, sharp drawing pains and stiffness in joints, trembling legs and swelling of the feet.
* Caulphyllum: Also called Blue Cohosh or Squaw Root, Caulphyllum is a woodland herb that blooms in early April and is usually found on wooded slopes across much of the US and Canada. Native Americans once used it as a childbirth aid and for uterine cramps. It has antispasmodic properties and is useful for treating rheumatic stiffness and pain in the limbs and joints.
* Colchicum autumnale: This autumn-blooming flower is known as Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron or Naked Lady, and is used in homeopathy to treat the symptoms of gout as well as the convulsive jerking of hands and feet.
* Rhus toxicodendron: Also known as Mercury Vine or Poison Vine, Poison Oak and its kissing cousin, Poison Ivy, can be found all over North America in woodland areas. A main constituent of the plant is toxicodendric acid, which a French physician in the late eighteenth century discovered to be useful in the treatment of skin disease, paralysis, and rheumatic complaints. Today Rhus Tox is prized for its anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
* Ruta graveolens: A plant native to Southern Europe, Ruta is also known as Common Rue, which in olden times was thought to ward off plague. In today's homeopathy, it is used to treat joint pain, swelling, stiffness, spasmodic contractions and weakness.
My own research on the Internet for supplements, that are currently being used by experienced vets to treat dog with arthritis, revealed that Pet Bounce 'http://www.pet-training.info/Dogs/Recommends/Pet_Bounce_joint_pain_relief/" is quite popular. This is an all-natural, plant-based homeopathic blend with all the natural ingredients listed above; it is designed to help alleviate the symptoms your dog may be experiencing safely and without side effects.
The company has a free trial offer (USA only). For more information on Pet Bounce, click here 'http://www.pet-training.info/Dogs/Recommends/Pet_Bounce_joint_pain_relief/".
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