Arthritis is a painful disease that affects both humans and dogs.
As your pet ages, you may notice him having a hard time walking when he first wakes up from a nap or he may move a little slower than he used to.
These are some of the first signs dogs with arthritis show because their joints and muscles are starting to stiffen up.
If your dog is suffering from arthritis, you may also notice that she is sleeping more than she used to or that she is having trouble sitting down or standing up from a sitting position.
Her attitude and behavior may change, she may favor a specific limb or she may not be as alert as she used to be.
Some dogs will gain weight because they don't exercise as much due to the pain in their joints.
Once your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with arthritis, here are a few things you can do to help make him more comfortable: Give her pain relievers - Medication can help her feel better so she can continue doing some of the things she loves so much but talk to your veterinarian before giving her anything.
He can recommend a pain reliever for your dog to help her deal with the aches and pains associated with this condition.
Exercise your dog - While your dog may not be able to run and jump like he used to, he still needs to exercise regularly to help with the stiffness.
Take a leisurely walk around the block or play ball with your pet.
Anything you can do to help keep him move around will help but don't push him too hard.
Feed your pet nutritious meals - This will help keep your dog fit and in shape, which will make it easier for her to get around.
Being overweight will put more stress on her joints causing more pain.
Make food and water easy to reach - Don't make your dog stretch up or bend over to eat or drink any more than necessary.
You can buy feeding dishes that are low to the ground or ones that sit up on a stand for large dogs.
Making the food and water more accessible will make it easier for him to eat and drink when he needs to.
Install a doggie ramp - If your pet has to climb steps to get in and out of the home, you can install a doggie ramp to make it easier.
Give your pet a massage - Massaging your pet's joints will help to loosen up the muscles.
Gently rub the areas that are affected by this disease and it will help comfort your pet.
Give her a soft place to rest - One more thing that you can do for dogs with arthritis is to provide them with a nice, soft place to rest.
Lying on the floor or trying to jump up and down on the sofa can make her joints ache more.
Dogs with arthritis need a low-lying soft pillow or bed where they can go to sleep and rest.
Caring for dogs with arthritis can be tricky because you need to pamper him more than usual while still making sure he gets the exercise he needs.
Find fun ways to help him exercise and use the tips above to make him more comfortable living with arthritis.
As your pet ages, you may notice him having a hard time walking when he first wakes up from a nap or he may move a little slower than he used to.
These are some of the first signs dogs with arthritis show because their joints and muscles are starting to stiffen up.
If your dog is suffering from arthritis, you may also notice that she is sleeping more than she used to or that she is having trouble sitting down or standing up from a sitting position.
Her attitude and behavior may change, she may favor a specific limb or she may not be as alert as she used to be.
Some dogs will gain weight because they don't exercise as much due to the pain in their joints.
Once your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with arthritis, here are a few things you can do to help make him more comfortable: Give her pain relievers - Medication can help her feel better so she can continue doing some of the things she loves so much but talk to your veterinarian before giving her anything.
He can recommend a pain reliever for your dog to help her deal with the aches and pains associated with this condition.
Exercise your dog - While your dog may not be able to run and jump like he used to, he still needs to exercise regularly to help with the stiffness.
Take a leisurely walk around the block or play ball with your pet.
Anything you can do to help keep him move around will help but don't push him too hard.
Feed your pet nutritious meals - This will help keep your dog fit and in shape, which will make it easier for her to get around.
Being overweight will put more stress on her joints causing more pain.
Make food and water easy to reach - Don't make your dog stretch up or bend over to eat or drink any more than necessary.
You can buy feeding dishes that are low to the ground or ones that sit up on a stand for large dogs.
Making the food and water more accessible will make it easier for him to eat and drink when he needs to.
Install a doggie ramp - If your pet has to climb steps to get in and out of the home, you can install a doggie ramp to make it easier.
Give your pet a massage - Massaging your pet's joints will help to loosen up the muscles.
Gently rub the areas that are affected by this disease and it will help comfort your pet.
Give her a soft place to rest - One more thing that you can do for dogs with arthritis is to provide them with a nice, soft place to rest.
Lying on the floor or trying to jump up and down on the sofa can make her joints ache more.
Dogs with arthritis need a low-lying soft pillow or bed where they can go to sleep and rest.
Caring for dogs with arthritis can be tricky because you need to pamper him more than usual while still making sure he gets the exercise he needs.
Find fun ways to help him exercise and use the tips above to make him more comfortable living with arthritis.