teacupdogbreed.com

It's an unfortunate fact that dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages can get arthritis. Some owners will notice that their dog is less interested in day to day activities or is appearing stiff and sore. Luckily there are some ways for owners to help their dogs stop the progression of the disease, allowing them to live full and productive lives with arthritis.

Arthritis is considered by many to be an auto-immune disease which causes the body to attack its own healthy tissue in the joints, causing pain and inflammation. In dogs, arthritis can appear in many forms and can't affect canines of all ages.

This disease affects the cartilage of the joints and causes it to degenerate. Since cartilage connects and projects the joints between bones, when cartilage breaks down it can lead to the bones rubbing against each other which is very painful. In dogs, most owners will first notice arthritis in the major joints such as the hips and knees, although arthritis can affect any joint in the body.

Here is how arthritis may present itself in your dog:

- Problems getting up, sitting or standing
- Keeping weight off a leg
- Tiredness, less active and not interested in playing
- Weight gain
- Behaviour changes
- Appearance of stiffness
- Swelling or warmth around the joints

Glucosamine has been identified as a substance that can help dogs who suffer from arthritis. This compound occurs naturally in the body to help cartilage cells produce the proteins they need to hold the joint tissue intact. As you dog begins to age, they are less able to produce this ingredient themselves, causing their cartilage to begin to stiffen and wear down.

Along with glucosamine you may want to consider chondroitin, which is found in cartilage and can help slow down the enzymes that are causing the breakdown of the cartilage. Combining these two components and giving them to your dog regularly can help them create new cartilage and relieve their arthritis suffering.

Glucosamine plus chondroitin has been clinically proven to prevent arthritis symptoms in rats with arthritis in up to 54% of cases, as opposed to 96.5% of the group that received no treatment. What this means is that by giving your dog this compound you have an over 50% chance of helping them get rid of some, if not all of their arthritis symptoms.

Secondary arthritis usually occurs as a result of surgery or injury. This conditions as well as osteoarthritis show promising results when treated with glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

While most studies have found no problems with treating dogs with arthritis, or preventing arthritis by giving your dog glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, it is still recommended that you consult with your veterinarian before proceeding with this method of treatment to make sure it is safe for your canine.