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As our beloved fur babies age, we want them to be comfortable: more pep in their step and fewer tears in their years. Fortunately, the joint pain affecting so many senior dogs may be diminished.
Read on to learn more!
If a dog could say, “Hey, my right hip hurts,” we might have an easier time identifying joint pain in dogs and how to treat it. Since Fido lacks language skills, we must observe the signs of painful joints.
In general, joint pain shows up in 3 categories: a change in mood, a change in behavior, or a change in posture. Here are some signs that your dog may be experiencing joint pain:
If you observe any of the above, your vet can make a diagnosis. You might also choose to go ahead and start some sort of therapy or natural treatment. Doggy medications, however, such as the dog equivalent of Advil, should not be given without veterinarian approval. Of course, one should also never give a dog human medications.
Isn’t joint pain just part of aging? Not necessarily.
Just like not all humans get joint pain as they age, not all dogs do.
Joint pain comes from 2 sources: acute or chronic conditions.
An acute condition is something that just happened, such as an illness, injury or surgery. Acute joint pain may be treated by many of the same methods as chronic conditions. However, acute events also likely subside within just a few days.
Some acute problems can become chronic, though.
For example, a dog with an injury, particularly a repeated injury, if not fully treated, may develop a chronic condition. So it’s important to effectively treat an acute joint problem.
A chronic joint condition may include deterioration or inflammation. Canine arthritis affects one in five dogs. Other pain-causing conditions may include dental disease, cancer, progressive diseases or another form of inflammation.
Chronic conditions are also treatable, with a good care plan.
Treating an acute condition can help prevent long-term problems, as described above.
Some forms of joint pain may also be prevented. Helpful tips include:
However, just because some joint pain may be preventable, it does not mean that you did something wrong if your dog has joint problems. Some dogs are more prone to joint issues.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you may be able to help diminish your dog’s joint discomfort. Here we’ll share several solutions some pet lovers use to help relieve painful joints.
As tempting as it may be to skip walks when your pup hurts, senior dogs still need activity. Include exercises which may be easier, such as a little tug-of-war, shorter walks, or even water play. Hydrotherapy for dogs helps ease aching joints!
Weight management with senior dogs is especially important.
Massage, laser therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, heat therapy and doggy physical therapy all may help alleviate pain for many dogs. If you work with a specialist, they also often teach you behaviors to practice at home.
Certain plants and products have anti-inflammatory properties, including:
Many of these ingredients go beyond pain relief--they may also help heal troublesome joints.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like the ibuprofen humans take, may help temporarily relieve joint pain. However, the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs may include damage to the liver and/or kidneys. The likelihood of side effects increases with long-term use. So, many veterinarians and pet owners opt to use NSAIDs in conjunction with some of the options discussed above, or only at times of greatest pain.
CBD dog treats provide a tasty reward that may also help relieve pain for your pet.
At Bad Dog CBD we utilize joint-healing ingredients in our daily use Hip and Joint CBD Tincture. For added tail wags, try our natural hip and joint bites. Your senior dog will love them, and may also experience some relief within about 30-45 minutes of those rewarding nibbles.
Check out our online store for curated products your dog will love!
