Arthritis in Dogs Happens to Older Pets

Poor old dogs are like brand new babies. If these lovely creatures are feeling pain, they cannot tell anyone. The poor old dog gets slower and less active on a daily basis. They do not tell anyone, but sometimes you can just see that they are in pain. Often this pain is the result of arthritis. Arthritis in dogs is quite common in older dogs, and it appears more often in the larger dogs than in the smaller ones. The larger dogs have a more difficult time moving around when affected by arthritis in dogs than the smaller ones.

Like arthritis in people, arthritis in dogs can appear in different forms with differing amounts of pain and trouble. Arthritis in dogs like the disease in people is often the inflammation of the joints. Poor dogs get the disease, and then it gets worse in the course of time. The joints that were once cushioned have lost this comfort, and the dog starts to have trouble getting around. The nerve endings are affected, and this adds to the pain of the poor dog. The dog will just not be the same frisky dog that it used to be.

Arthritis in Dogs Can Cause a Sad Time for Owners

Arthritis in dogs causes the pain in the joints because of the deterioration, and this impedes the dogs from getting around. The owner will notice that the dog sleeps more than ever before and does not want to move around much. The dog that went up the stairs before will not want to do this. The poor old dog with arthritis will have trouble getting into the car. The owner will probably find he or she does a lot more for the dog than ever before. A good vet will be able to determine the problem, and then make suggestions for the care of the dog.

Dog Arthritis Treatment

There is help for arthritis in dogs from a vet and the pharmacy. There are medications including some that will start to make the dog feel better right away. These will help the way the dog feels, but they will not necessarily eliminate the disease. Some of the drugs for a dog with arthritis are expensive, and some may cause unwanted side effects. Each dog lover should work carefully with the vet to make their dog as comfortable as possible. The vet will be able to give plenty of advice to help the dog. Each owner should remember that dogs do not live as long as people so dogs are much older than their years.