Tips for Managing Arthritis in Senior Dogs

 

Just like humans, pets often face health challenges similar to those that we do as they age. Arthritis is a common condition found in senior dogs that can significantly impact their quality of life. The best thing you can do as a pet owner to prepare and support your aging best friend is to educate yourself on strategies you can employ to help manage potential conditions. If you are prepared yourself, you can help ensure they remain comfortable and happy when dealing with uncomfortable conditions such as arthritis.

Encourage healthy habits

One of the best ways to help prepare your dog for aging in general is to establish healthy habits in their everyday routine. Regular exercise through daily walks is a great way to help maintain strength and as an added bonus it encourages you to be active as well. You should also evaluate their eating habits and make sure the food you are giving them is the appropriate amount and is nourishing, encouraging a healthy diet. For any questions regarding diet, you should consult a veterinarian who can help you identify the best plan forward.

Establish a comfortable environment

To help make sure your home is comfortable for your dog, you may want to invest in comfortable, well-padded dog beds and place them strategically throughout your home. Ideally you would have these housed in rooms you know your dog already loves to spend time in like your living room and bedroom. If your pup is diagnosed with arthritis or shows any signs of discomfort going up and down stairs it could be time to identify ways to make their lives easier and find ways to make their traditional comforts more accessible.

Keep an eye out for signs of arthritis and consult your vet

According to the American Kennel Club, there are a few clear signs of arthritis in dogs which include:

• Difficulty or reluctance to stand from a lying position
• Difficulty going up stairs or jumping onto a bed or couch
• Taking a narrow stance in the rear limbs
• Wasting away of muscles in the rear limbs

If you happen to notice any of these symptoms, it’s important that you take your dog to the veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis and plan. Your vet will conduct a physical examination, discuss symptoms with you and help you identify ways to manage pain and treat this condition.

Make sure you have a plan for managing pain

Pain relief is crucial with arthritis, and there’s no reason any dog should have to endure arthritis-related aches and pains. Your veterinarian can prescribe medications to treat arthritis in order to help manage pain due to arthritis. Pain relief is also essential to keep your old dog moving as he ages, and arthritis can become even more pronounced if he avoids exercise altogether due to discomfort. Even though a diagnosis like arthritis can feel very overwhelming and scary, there are many methods and strategies available to help your pup and manage their pain.

The AVMA suggests scheduling regular veterinary examinations in order to detect problems in older pets, before those problems become serious or life-threatening. If you follow this suggestion and take the proper care of your pup, you can help encourage and support a longer, healthier life for your pet. If you have any concern about your pup potentially having arthritis or simply need to schedule an appointment at Bregman Veterinary Group, click here to get started.