| ||
| ||
|
Best Pet Articles | |
|
|
|
Tips that May Help Your Arthritic Dog
Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The cause can be abnormal bone or joint development, instability of the surrounding ligaments and tendons, damage or injury to the joint, an infection, or injury caused by the immune system. While anti-inflammatory medicines are popular treatments for arthritis, another approach involves protecting the cartilage in the joint and "nourishing" the joint. Here are tips that may help your arthritic dog. Slip-free Flooring. Hardwood and tile are slippery and can be very difficult for dogs with arthritis to navigate. Placing carpet or area rugs will help secure your dog's footing. This can help prevent him from slipping and injuring himself. Glucosamine for dogs Swimming is a good aerobic exercise and is especially good for arthritis symptom dogs because there is no jarring impact. As swimming is a non-weight bearing activity. It exercises every muscle of the body without any stress. When swimming, muscles and joints are able to move through a complete range of motion without bearing any weight. Swimming in warm water has the added benefit of relaxing muscles (specially important for arthritis symptom dogs) and increasing overall blood circulation. Warm water relaxes muscles so the dog will not feel pain when exercising, thus improving joint lubrication. Older dogs have the added benefit of cardiovascular strengthening and weight loss, improving general fitness. Your dog should use all four legs to doggie paddle. If he paddles with just his front paws, lift his rear legs to help him float. He'll quickly understand that he needs all four of his legs to swim. Daily, low-impact exercise helps to improve strength and stamina, joint mobility, and stimulates joint cartilage metabolism. While helping maintain your dog's weight, it also decreases the need for pain-relieving medications. A Soft Bed. Soft bedding and heated beds can help support the bones and joints, making your pet more comfortable. This can be especially important in thin dogs in which bony prominences are likely to rub on hard surfaces. Some beds are made especially for dogs with arthritis, such as waterbeds, hammock beds, and beds with plenty of extra cushion. Our new Durabed may be right for your older do. Grooming should not be neglected, especially in the older dog. Arthritic dogs have a difficult time keeping themselves clean, especially in those hard to reach areas. Help your dog stay clean by trimming the hair around the rear end. Brushing will help remove mats and tangles, which can injure delicate older skin. Keep eyes & ears clean, also. Peace & Quiet. As your dog ages, he may not be as tolerant or patient as he used to be. Sore joints make it difficult for your pet to enjoy rambunctious playful children. Supervise playtime and consider keeping your dog away from very young children. Even parties and holiday time can be distressing for an arthritic dog. He may want to join in the festivities regardless of the discomfort. To reduce joint pain and inflammation, you may want to limit his time as the center of attention. Massage. Massage can increase flexibility, circulation, calmness and a general sense of wellness. Professional animal massage therapists are available to provide your pet a more thorough treatment. Weight Loss. Arthritis is more of a problem in obese pets. Weight loss can be beneficial by helping to reduce the workload on the bones and joints. Exercise. Modest daily exercise can help some dogs. Special care is needed, so it is important to first see your veterinarian, who can recommend an appropriate exercise program. Exercise can strengthen the muscles and ligaments thus reducing the potential and risk of injury. Supplements. There are many products on the market that can be used in addition to a good diet. Extra Time. Don't rush a dog with arthritis. It often takes them extra time to walk, climb stairs or get in and out of the car. Support and help them if needed or just give them extra time to get around. Mary E. Joycehttp://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Pets - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Save Money By Testing For Feline UTI Yourself Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty, and unnecessary trips to your vet? Would you like to know if your cat is developing crystals in her urine that could lead to a feline UTI?It's easy to do with this check-at-home method.If your kitty has been previously diagnosed with a feline UTI, there's a chance it could re-occur. A Cat Tale My son and I have a cat. Her name is Princess, aka Sugar Bear or Bear. Horse Training Gets A New Face Lift From A 108 Year Old Horse Training Manual! If you have a passion to learn all you can about horse training, then you will want to know about a 108 year old horse training manual recently revived from a dusty old book shelf of a used book store.This horse training manual was written in the late 1800's by a then world famous horse trainer named Jesse Beery. Can Your Pet Stomach This? Can Your Dog Stomach This?There's an old adage that says "You are what you eat". While more and more Americans are becoming aware of the need to reduce or altogether eliminate processed foods from their diets, we need to do the same for our pets. GPS Pet Tracking If you have a dog or cat that is an escape artist with cross-country travel on its mind, you might want to consider a GPS pet--tracking device. The same technology that enables rangers to follow tagged animals will allow an owner track straying or lost pets. Does Your Dog Bite? How to Protect Your Dog and Yourself from Liability MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue, claim that dogs bite more than 4.7 million people every year in the United States. Surprising Health Benefits for Pet Owners Did you know that there are key health benefits that canresult from owning a pet? Having one can enhance yourphysical, mental and social wellbeing.1. Proper Diet For the Discus Fish The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American waters of Brazil and Peru. Discus fish are classified as "grazers", and in the wild constantly forage for food. Dog Training - Early Training Is Essential Dogs are a fantastic edition to any family but like all youngsters they need training. If you do not train your puppy now it will take a serious amount of help from a training school to get him to be obedient later on. Horse Training Facts And Maxims To the uninitiated horse owner, there are timely facts about horses they should know. In fact, when someone first gets a horse these timely facts should be studied and learned. How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Cat Feeding Explained Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, but that is usually a distortion of the truth. Cats have a very keen sense of taste and smell, and they know what they like. 7 Puppy Naming Tips You've picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Tips For Dog Toys Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky for us there are endless choices. Westie Rescue Centres The aim of a Westie rescue centre such as the one at:http://www.westierescuescheme. Essential Fatty Acids for Parrots You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential Fatty Acids" (E.F. No More Stillborn Kittens - Know How To Care For A Pregnant Cat 'I named all kittens, although they were all stillborn.' 'My pregnant cat has a bloody vaginal discharge. Vet Check - Well-Bird Check Up I know there are differing opinions on the subject of well-bird check ups. Some people believe in having your apparently healthy parrot checked out once a year by a qualified avian vet, while others claim that taking a health bird into a vet office exposes them to "germies" they might not otherwise be exposed to. Does Your Dog Dig? Dear Fellow Dog Lover,I assume you love your dog, or you probably wouldn't be reading this.But, looking at your "battle-field" of a yard filled with holes sometimes makes it tough to love your dog like you want to. "Sit Up" Buddy: Training Your Dog To Sit Like You The trick of "sitting up" is easily taught to small dogs, but should try not be included in a big dog's education, as it is difficult for them to preserve their balance.The training of sitting up is one of the first tricks to teach and forms the groundwork for many other dog tricks. 3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog - or another dog - ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It's great to know your vet's phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you don't know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?Augh! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving that furry little four-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush if something's wrong with their dogs and they can't figure out what to do.
|
| home | site map | SubArticle |
| © 2008 |
