Arthritis Pain Relief For Dogs - Simple Home Remedies That Work
By Rose Smith, Fri Dec 9th

Did you know that affects one in five dogs over theage of seven? It is a painful condition that affects the jointsand can occur in your pet’s neck, hips, shoulders, elbows andback. However, there are many simple solutions that you canprovide at home that will relieve the aches and pains in yourdog’s joints.

* Change Your Dog’s Diet

Easy enough and it worked for my dog. Be sure you are providinga high-quality dog food with no added preservatives, foodcolorings, wheat, corn or soy products. It would be preferableto get a dog food that is low fat AND has low carbohydrates, butunfortunately there is no such thing as a low-carb dog food.Just be aware that grains (which make up a large component ofdry dog food) tend to increase inflammation and aggravatearthritis. A better alternative would be to switch tohome-prepared meals with either cooked or raw meats andvegetables.

However, if you don’t want to prepare meals for your pet, thencut back on the dry food and start adding a cup of fresh veggie“salad” every day. Celery is excellent for the joints. I oftenchop up lettuce, celery, cucumber, some carrot, and any otherfresh vegetables I have on hand. Just make sure to cut allvegetables into very small pieces for easy digestion (a foodprocessor is perfect for this) and don’t use onions or mushroomsas they may be toxic to your dog.

* Provide Supplements That Reduce Arthritic Swelling and Pain

Give your dog a glucosamine tablet. Glucosamine helps the bodymanufacture glycosaminoglycans, which is designed to maintaincartilage structure. The recommended dosage is ¼ mg of a 500mgtablet per 10 pounds of body weight once a day. Preferably use aglucosamine tablet that also contains Chondroitin Sulfate. Thissupplement helps to attract water into the cartilage for addednutrition and lubrication. It also seems to inhibit excessivecartilage destroying enzymes.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring organicdietary sulphur that has been shown in studies to relievearthritic pain, slow joint deterioration and reduce inflammationwith no negative side effects.

Dogs don’t usually get enough Omega 3 fatty acids in theirdiets. Omega 3 helps to regulate pressure in the joints, amongmany other things. A good source for this is fish oil capsules.Additional vitamin E will also be needed since adding more oilto the body increases the need for this vitamin.

* Reduce Excess Weight

Extra weight on a dog puts extra pressure on the joints andcauses more pain

and swelling. Begin by reducing the amount oftreats given, cut back a bit on food, and provide a lower fatdiet for your dog. Exercising is also important. If possible,take your dog out for several shorter 10 to 15 minute walks eachday rather than going for one long walk. Another great strategyis to take your dog swimming. They’ll get the exercise withoutstressing the joints. A bathtub works well for very small dogs.However, if your dog is a landlubber and hates water don’t pushthe issue.

* Keep Your Dog Warm and Cozy on Cold, Damp Days

Set up a soft bed or some layers of fleece in the area whereyour dog normally sleeps. If your dog usually stays outside,then provide an insulated dog house with soft bedding on thefloor. Be sure the doorway is somewhat sheltered and facing awayfrom the wind. Better yet, bring them inside when it’s coldand/or wet.

* Apply Moist Heat

Apply a hot water bottle with warm water or use a towel soakedin warm water that’s been wrung out to your dog’s aching joints.Moist heat penetrates deeply and provides welcomed relief. Donot use a heating pad as it may get too hot for the dog and burnthem especially if your dog has limited mobility - they may notbe able to get up and move away from a pad that is too hot.

* Raise Your Dog’s Food and Water Dish

If your pet has in their neck or shoulders, considerraising their food and water bowls so they don’t have to bendtheir head down to eat.

* Give Your Pet a Massage

Don’t we all love to have sore muscles rubbed? Gently rub aroundthe affected joint and massage the surrounding muscles. Thisgentle kneading and the heat from your hands should ease some ofthe pain.

* Use a Ramp For The Stairs

If your dog has a hard time going up and down stairs, thinkabout buying or making a ramp that can be laid over the stairsso your dog can more easily maneuver them. This is especiallyuseful for when they need to go outside to “do their thing” orare required to jump into a truck for a trip to the vet.

Additional alternatives include herbal and homeopathic products,acupressure, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Safer and oftenjust as effective, these are just some of the things that youcan do at home for your dog to give them relief from arthriticpain.

About the author:Is your dog sick and getting sicker by the day? Are yousearching for answers & alternative solutions to your dog'shealth care problems? Rose Smith is the owner of Caring forCanines, a web site that focuses on holistic approaches to doghealth issues. Visit us at http://www.caringforcanines.com