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Dog Arthritis Treatments - Eleven Great Ideas For Helping Your Dog With Arthritis

Your Vet will try anti-inflammatory drugs like cortisone and buffered aspirin.

Even acupuncture may be suggested.

You can particupate in your Dog's Arthritis Treatment with these easy-to-do suggestions:

Our dogs love to overeat, and 3 out of 4 are now on low-calorie food. Problem is, the Pug loves to "steal" her neighbor's food. So we really have to keep-an-eye on things at feeding time.

We also supplement our dog's kibble with fresh veggies like carrots and frozen string beans. The dogs love them! We do this because the Corgie does not seem satisfied by the meager portion she is given. Having the crunchy - chewie food seems to satisfy her.

2. Make regular exercise a part of your routine. Taking several 20 minute walks a day is excellent! Good muscle mass and muscle tone ease the strain on arthritic joints.

3. Bring your dog inside! Please don't make your sore arthritic dog sleep outside in the cold and damp. It makes their pain worse. A little climate-control will go a long way to relieving arthritis...just like in humans, cold, damp weather can cause arthritic joints to flare-up.

4. Make sure your dog has a soft and cozy bed. Don't make your dog sleep on a hard floor! Even better is a heated pet bed.

5. Another Dog Arthritis Treatment is to apply moist heat to the affected joint. Some Vets recommend a hot water bottle filled with warm (not hot) water.

Another old-fashioned remedy is to soak a towel in warm water, wring it out, and place the damp towel on the affected joint. When the towel gets cool - repeat the process.

6. Give your dog some massage. Softly kneading the sore area with small, circular motions, and spreading out to a couple of inches beyond the joint - can really improve your dog's pain...

7. Raise the food dish. Having food and water at mouth level means that your dog does not need to bend over. Much more comfortable on the neck!

8. Consider a ramp. Make or purchase a ramp for going up steps, getting into the car, climbing onto the bed, etc. Anything you can do to take strain away from the affected joints will help your dog.

9. The towel trick. Use a towel as a sling around your dog's belly to take some of the body weight off the joints. This is especially helpful when your dog stands up. It may take some instruction from your Vet in how-to do this.

10. Swimming is very good. Just like for humans, swimming is great exercise for arthritic dogs. It maintains muscle mass without stressing arthritic joints. Many dogs love to swim.

But be careful, make it easy. Use a pool or lake rather than a body of water with waves, or obstructions underfoot. (I took my dog to a river - and the affect of the current really scared me. No more river swimming for us!)

For small dogs, a bathtub full of warm water is excellent.

Allow your pet to swim for as long as he or she wants. As long as they don't get too tired - the exercise is beneficial.

11. Bundle your dog up in cool weather. Dogs with arthritis should not be made to suffer with the elements. Make it a habit to put a doggie coat or sweater on your pet - and if it's raining, a waterproof coat is just the right thing!