Identifying Osteoarthritis and arthritis in Dogs
Osteoarthiritis and arthritis in Dogs can be hard to recognise but is one of the major issues that affect middle aged to senior dogs. It can be difficult for a pet owner to know if their pup is suffering through arthritis, as it is commonly overlooked as aging. However, it’s important to acknowledge in it’s early stages so that you can intervene and help reduce the pain that your dog may be in.
Arthritis can occur in dogs when joints become inflamed and cartilage becomes damaged. This causes the bones and joints to rub together, which unfortunately creates an uncomfortable pain for dogs. It can happen at any age, but is more common in older dogs as they have had a whole lifetime of their joints rubbing together. Other causes could be over-exercising, or trauma after a prior injury.
Dogs may suffer from bone and joint pain in their:
Knee
Hip
Carpus (similar to our wrists)
Elbow
Intervertebral joints
Shoulder
Paws
If you are unsure whether your dog is suffering with arthritis, it is best to get a second opinion from your vet. But in the mean time look out for some of these symptoms, which may indicate your dog has joint pain issues.
Arthritis in dogs – symptoms:
Limping on leg that may be affected
Unexpected change in personality
Licking of the affected joint
Loss of interest in playing with toys or fetch
Snapping when being patted or touched
Difficulty climbing stairs or jumping
Stiffness when rising from bed or mat
Energy levels drop and dog becomes lethargic or depressed
Yelping when sudden movement is placed on affected area
When to put a dog down with arthritis?
Animals are great at hiding their pain so oftentimes the arthritis may have become severe without the owner’s awareness. If this happens you suspect that your dog is living an uncomfortable, painful life then you should seek advice from your vet. Dogs will appreciate getting relief long before we suspect anything is wrong with their joints, which is why daily supplements and formulas can be a great add-on to your dog’s daily diet. You can also look into natural relief foods, such as green-lipped mussel, fish oil, beef cartilage, turmeric, kelp, omega-3 rich foods, and other marine-life products.
If managed well, most dogs can live a healthy and happy life for years after an arthritis diagnosis. Be patient with the process and make sure you have appropriate interventions so that your dogs pain is eased as much as possible.
NUTREATS arthritis relief products for dogs:
NZ Green-lipped mussel freeze-dried treats for dogs
NZ Green-lipped mussel oil for dogs (Mobility feed supplement)
NZ Green-lipped mussel powder for hips & joints
NZ Green-lipped mussel powder for bone strength and development
NZ Green-lipped mussel powder for puppy health
Beef heart freeze-dried treat for dogs
Beef trachea freeze-dried treat for dogs
Fish cartilage freeze-dried treat for dogs
I can’t recommend freeze-dried green-lipped mussels highly enough. Our labrador Jesse was having problems moving around and seemed to be in pain when he went to get into the trunk of our car after walking. We have given him the greenlipped mussel treats for about two months now and he is sooooo much better! – Amber
