Arthritis is Treatable in Dogs
My-Dog.info > Dog Health
There is a wide range of treatment options available for
treating arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative
joint disease).
* Adequate rest. Pets with degenerative joint disease need
adequate rest. Rest helps to decrease inflammation and strengthen
joints. Too much exercise and over-use of the damaged joints will
aggravate symptoms and may also accelerate joint destruction.
Unfortunately, it is often difficult to determine how much
rest and exercise a pet needs.
Too much exercise may make matters worse while not enough may
reduce muscle tone. Your veterinarian can assist you in
determining how much exercise and rest is ideal for your pet.
* Avoid overexertion. As a guideline, any activity that causes
your pet to become acutely lame for a period of time afterward is
excessive and the level of activity should be reduced
accordingly. Avoid strenuous exercise and periods of
overexertion, which can accelerate the destruction within the
joints.
* Control exercise. Properly controlled exercise will help
maintain muscle tone and joint flexibility. Failure to provide
adequate exercise is just as bad as providing too much.
Controlled exercise can consist of several short walks on a leash
every day, interspersed with short periods of rest. Swimming,
when possible, is another ideal form of exercise, providing
exercise without stressing the joints.
As the pet strengthens, and if there are no adverse side
effects (such as lameness, soreness, stiffness or reluctance to
walk), periods of exercise can be lengthened and more strenuous
types of activity introduced. If adverse effects do occur, the
amount of exercise must be reduced accordingly. Once again, your
veterinarian can prove very helpful in providing advice.
* Weight reduction. Pets that are obese should be started on a
weight-reduction program. Obesity places excessive stress on
joints and may hasten further joint degeneration.
* Pain relief. Currently, there are a number of treatments
available to help dogs with arthritis become pain-free and mobile
once again. Nutritional supplements (e.g. glucosamine sulphate,
chondriotin sulphate), corticosteroids, and NSAIDS (nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drugs), alone or in combination, may prove
helpful. Recently, the introduction of new drugs such as
Metacam7™ (meloxicam) and Rimadyl7™(carprofen) have
dramatically changed the way veterinarians treat arthritis. These
new generation NSAIDS are proving to be extremely effective yet
are well tolerated by patients over long periods of time. Your
veterinarian can advise you on which treatments are best suited
for your dog. Cats usually do not require drug therapy since they
are not affected by DJD to the same extent that dogs are.
* Surgery. Surgery is used only in very select cases. For
example, occasionally, fusion of the joints may be warranted to
help relieve pain or restore limited function. In other cases,
insertion of a prosthetic device (e.g. hip joint) or removal of
joint debris may also prove helpful. However, in most cases,
surgical intervention is not a suitable alternative for the
treatment of degenerative joint disease.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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