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What is arthritis?
What are the signs of arthritis?
If
you can answer yes to any of the following
questions, your dog may have arthritis.
-
Does
your dog tire easily or lag behind during
walks?
-
Does
your dog limp or appear stiff after
exercise?
-
Is
your dog reluctant to climb stairs or jump
up?
-
Is
your dog slow to rise, or have difficulty
rising, from a resting position?
-
Does
your dog prefer lying, to sitting or
standing?
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Have
you noticed any changes in your dogs
behavior?
-
Has
your dog ever been injured?
-
Has
your dog ever been diagnosed with elbow or
hip dysplasia?
Signs
of chronic pain may be different in dogs, than
in people.
If your dog cries, shakes, trembles or
pants for no apparent reason, your dog may be
experiencing chronic pain.
Schedule an exam with your veterinarian.
What can I do to help my arthritic dog?
Although
there is no cure for arthritis, there are
several things which can make the arthritic dog
less painful and have a better quality of life.
If
your dog is overweight or obese, weight loss is
strongly recommended to reduce the pain of
arthritis.
Rimadyl
is an excellent arthritis drug for dogs.
It is an NSAID (non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug) and has made tremendous
improvements in quality of life for millions of
dogs. Rimadyl
is a prescription drug and must be used under
the direction of a veterinarian.
Glucosamine
and Chondroitin Sulfate are nutritional
supplements, which can decrease arthritis pain
if given daily.
There are many formulations available.
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