Preventing Arthritis in Dogs
Preventing old age may be next to impossible, but it is somewhat possible to avoid arthritis in dogs. There are a number of ways by which a dog owner can prevent arthritis in his dog. Arthritis can be immensely painful for your dog and can practically take life out of your pet. So in order to prevent your dog from being affected by arthritis, opt for the following measures.
Keep your pet active
If your dog remains active throughout, arthritis can be taken great care of. Regular exercise can actually prevent arthritis from affecting your dogs. However, regular exercise should be limited. A stroll in the park twice a day is highly useful. Avoid running your dog excessively everyday as this might prove harmful for your dog’s health. Light exercises performed regularly will help in lubricating the joints therefore making it flexible.
Keep a check on your dog’s weight
Obese dogs are more vulnerable to arthritis because their legs suffer badly due to the body overweight. Weight puts a lot of strain on the dog’s limbs, eventually causing the cartilage to deteriorate. Well maintained dogs with proper body weight are less likely to develop arthritis even as they progress towards old age. On the other hand overweight dogs can develop arthritis by the age of five.
Make your dog comfortable
Dog diagnosed with arthritis should be provided with as much comfort as possible. Provide them with a comfortable place to sleep in because awkward sleeping positions can worsen the disease. If possible give your dog an orthopedic bed or a crate with good support will also do.
Rearranging the food bowl
If suffering from arthritis, your dog might consume less food than it usually does. This is because it cannot put its head down for long and continue eating. This is a sure sign of arthritis. Place the feeding bowl at a higher position so that it does not have to strain its neck while eating. This method can help in providing some relief to your dog which is suffering from arthritis.
Help your dog in going around
Arthritis might strike anytime. Help your dog as much as possible during this crisis. Lift him up when he tries to move around.
Dogs are easily affected by arthritis. However, following the above preventive tips can help in you in dealing with your dog suffering from arthritis.