What is the best diet for a dog with arthritis?
Achieving ideal body weight is a ‘no brainer’ when it comes to managing arthritis. Excess body weigh Read More
Can you slow down arthritis in dogs?
Jaycee Kling
2025-08-19 03:35:43
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: 16
Keeping your dog at a healthy body weight is the most important thing you can do to help with their arthritis. Not only is fat more weight to carry around on sore joints, but it also makes inflammation worse. Age-related arthritis cannot be prevented, but you can do a number of things to help reduce the risk and delay the onset and severity of symptoms. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight alongside regular exercise is advised. Exercise moderation is also important, dogs with arthritis should still have regular exercise, however, this will need to be adjusted depending on their physical abilities. Frequent short walks with some recovery time to rest in between is better than long walks, which may cause too much painful strain on the joints. Providing a soft, comfortable bed will help to take pressure off your dog’s joints when they are resting.
With careful management, it’s possible for affected dogs to have a good quality of life for some time. However, owners will need to be mindful that certain activities, such as very long walks or agility training, may not be possible. Sadly, even with treatment, osteoarthritis will progress over time and your dog's symptoms will get worse.
Ramon Grady
2025-08-07 11:35:15
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: 25
While there is no cure for OA, there are several strategies for slowing its progression, managing mobility and minimizing pain.
The goal of treatment is to minimize pain, slow the progression of damage, and maintain or develop muscle mass.
Treatment is achieved with a combination of therapies, which may include any of the following:
Lifestyle changes:
Weight control
Low-impact activities, such as leash walks or swimming
Use of non-slip rugs and ramps to get on beds, couches or cars
Pain management:
NSAIDs are commonly prescribed medications to manage OA pain and inflammation.
Additional medications, such as gabapentin and amantadine, may be given in combination with NSAIDs.
Librela is a type of injectable medication known as a monoclonal antibody that can be given once monthly to provide longer-term control of OA pain.
The earlier OA is diagnosed and managed before the severe progression of OA, the better the long-term outcome.
While there is no cure for OA, there are several ways to manage pain and delay its progression, allowing many dogs to live comfortably with a multimodal approach to treatment.
Read also
What to give an older dog with arthritis?
Help at home can make life easier for your arthritic dog, using ramps to get into the car, restricti Read More
Renee Wunsch
2025-08-07 11:01:42
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: 17
Supporting the schemes through purchasing low risk breed puppies from reputable breeders that utilise these phenotyping processes is certainly a way towards minimising arthritis. Identifying clinical signs of joint disease early, and diagnosing plus acting on musculoskeletal and joint problems will contribute to minimising the development of clinical arthritis. It will also offer more treatment options, and more time for you to influence the course of the disease. Healthcare schemes exist to screen dogs for developmental joint disease such as hip and elbow dysplasia in the hope that they will not pass on the underlying genes to their offspring. It is hoped that ultimately selective breeding from dogs with good joints, and therefore good genes, can eradicate developmental joint diseases.
Elwyn Yundt
2025-08-07 08:29:42
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: 20
You can make your dog more comfortable and slow down the progression of arthritis by using simple strategies, supplements and medications. The earlier you start supporting your dog and their arthritis, the more successful you are likely to be. Help at home, such as using ramps to get into the car, restricting the times your dog needs to use stairs, and providing a thick comfortable sleeping spot are all ways you can make life easier for your arthritic dog at home. Exercise strengthens the muscles that support joints, and moderate amounts of low-impact exercise also improve mobility. All dogs with arthritis benefit from being a healthy weight, and approximately half of all dogs are overweight or obese, for these dogs losing even 10% of their bodyweight can have visible results on their arthritis. Some dogs with arthritis do not need any medication or supplements at all, and are simply managed with changes to diet, exercise and home routine. However, you may find that your dog still has bad days or periods, these are sometimes associated with cold, damp weather, or excessive exercise. These are likely to increase in severity and frequency as your dog ages.
Read also
Does walking help arthritis in dogs?
Walking has many benefits for people living with arthritis. Consistency, such as sticking to daily w Read More
At what age should I give my dog joint supplements?
Joint degradation can occur due to one of two main reasons; wear and tear can occur simply as a func Read More