Things to Do To Prevent Arthritis in Dogs’ Hips

by Laureetta Williams Pet Expert

Arthritis in dogs’ hips can become a real problem the older the dog gets. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage in joints is worn away or they get damaged. Cartilage is what helps the joints move without causing pain and once they are gone (or they decrease) movement could become more limited and difficult for your dog to do since they become more painful. It can be caused by aging or it can be a symptom of other diseases such as hip dysplasia or cranial circulate ligament disease. Plus, some injuries could also result in arthritis. However, there are things you can do to help prevent your dog from getting arthritis in their hips as well as the rest of their body.

How to Tell If Your Dog Has Arthritis

There are certain things to notice in your dog that could be brought on by them having arthritis. Dogs that suffer from arthritis tend to not move as much as they did before, their movements are stiff, slower, and they indicate some pain when they do move. They can also become lethargic or lazy since the pain could be a bit too much for them to handle. This is return could make them less active and they could end up losing muscle mass since they are not moving around as much. They may also avoid stairs and jumping is very difficult for them to do if they did so in the past. However, it is very important to not diagnosis your dog by yourself and to check with the vet about your suspensions. It could be something other than arthritis but you would not know until you take your dog to visit the vet. As soon as you suspect and notice any abnormal behavior that lasts for a few days you should take them to the vet and they will tell you what to do from there on.

What You Could Do to Prevent Arthritis in Your Dog

There are a few things you can do to help prevent arthritis in your dog but it is best to speak to a vet in order to get all the information and advice you may need. Plus, the vet can show you what supplements to give them. These may be glucosamine, fatty acids and chondroitin which can help improve the health of their joints. There are also anti-inflammatory medicines which are designed to decrease arthritis.

A good amount of exercise can also be a good way to prevent arthritis since building muscles should be able to help the joints. But, it is important that they do not over exercise since this can cause strain and injury. Short walks are a good start if your dog is not used to exercising but swimming could be the best option since there is less weight on the joints. However, if you take them for a swim or a walk make sure that their collar has your address on it in case they get lost. If you are looking for a lost dog or you have found one you can report either to a lost dog finder site to help someone out. There are other types of easy to do exercises such as yoga (Doga) that could also help with their joints as well as keep them fit.

Food is an important part of keeping your dog lean and healthy and making them stick to the diet that is for their breed is a good way to make sure that they do not become overweight. Weight adds pressure to the joints so giving the correct potion that is suitable to their breed can help combat this issue. It is best to avoid high-carb food as well as avoid giving them the food that people eat. You should research what type of food the breed of your dog and the age that they are should eat as well as how much to feed them.

Another thing that can help to decrease the chances of your dog getting arthritis is to give them a warm place to sleep in. Cold air or hard floors are not good for their joints and could aggravate unhealthy conditions. But make sure that you do not let them overheat either. Dogs can be quite good at keeping themselves warm or cooling themselves down but your helping hand should not hurt.

Conclusion

Arthritis in dogs’ hips can end up being a huge problem but there are ways that can help to prevent it. Speak to your vet for more information.