As a pet owner, you have some responsibility to keep your friend in the pink of their health. As they cannot speak out their problem, you must be extra cautious regarding any problem that may arise. If they do not feeling well, we must take them to the veterinary surgeon for prompt medical attention.



Veterinary appointments costs money and takes time it is better to be safe than sorry. It might not be anything but then again it might just be something serious.

One of these ailments is pet arthritis. Just like human arthritis, pet arthritis is also very much painful. It may cripple your canine friend by affecting bones and joints as the movements become very difficult. It is heart rendering to watch such an energetic animal reduced to such a state that they can hardly stand without falling or can walk to the toilet. Epidemiologically, it is seen that one of the five pet dogs suffers from different types of arthritic problem.

Types of Pet Arthritis

The main disease is osteoarthritis. Apart from that degenerative bone disease, dysplasia of knee, elbow and hip, kneecap dislocation, osteochondrosis and shoulder degeneration are frequently seen. If you search online there are many good sources that will tell you more about the differences between them but even though you can read an awful lot about these things you'll need to always consult your veterinarian. After all they have gone to many years of school to learn about this.

Symptoms of pet arthritis

So how could you possibly know that your pet is suffering from any kind of these diseases? The first thing pets would do when they get ill is to stop or reduce their intake of food. In conjunction with this, please look for the following:

? Pain in a particular limb

? Trouble while sitting or standing; and if they do so, falls down easily

? Not moving much

? Show little interest in activities in which they were active in the past

? Barks in pain when touched

Management of pet arthritis

If you observe any of these symptoms in your pet, take him to your veterinary surgeon without wasting any time. Early diagnosis and proper medical attention is essential in case of arthritis. Many treatment modalities are available for effective treatment of pet arthritis. These include a balanced healthy diet and exercise routine. The latter is advised when the acute painful stage is successfully reduced.

Medications include FDA approved painkillers (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Glucosamine is also advised if the pet is suffering from osteoarthritis. Do not go for any over-the-counter medicines meant for adult human consumption. These may affect your pet badly.

The best approach to achieve your goal is to closely liaison with your veterinary surgeon. One way to always make sure that you're doing the right thing is to ask yourself the question: ?If I were my pet would I take any changes when it came to my help?? If your answer is ?no? then you shouldn't take chances with your pets health either.