Joint Pain Relief for Dogs

Dogs of any age may suffer from joint pain. There are several factors that can be responsible for joint pain in dogs. One of the most commonly found cause is dog arthritis. Older dogs are at a higher risk of getting this disease. Besides, common injuries like strain, sprain, hip dysplesia in dogs, lack of exercise, obesity, nutritional deficiency are the other major causes. The change in dog behavior that indicate joint pain include unusual movements, difficulty in standing up, swelling in the joints, irritability, unwillingness towards physical activities like jumping, climbing stairs, etc. When the pain intensifies further they refuse to walk. You feel upset when you see your loving pet dogs suffering like this. I would like to assure you that with adequate measures joint pain relief for dogs is possible.

Joint Pain Treatment

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to take your pet to the vet as soon as you identify early signs of pain and inflammation in joints before it starts badly affecting his movements. The first step of treatment is to reduce the pain. NSAID (or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the most widely used medicine for dogs. They are also available over the counter but never administer them without consulting a vet as some of the NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin may not be safe for the dogs. Strictly follow the instruction given by the vet about the use of such medicines. Corticosteroids is another medicine used for providing pain relief.

These pain relieving medicines can bring about temporary relief from the pain. Moreover, they cannot be used for a long time as they have adverse effect on dog health. These medicines have the potential to cause damage to the internal organs of the dogs. Therefore, vet suggest some changes in their diet along with these medicines. It should be a healthy diet with good amount of amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are essential for strengthening of the muscles and bones. Any snacks that can worsen the painful symptoms should be eliminated. If dog obesity is the issue, then all such foods should be eliminated that can increase dog weight.

Chondroitin sulfate and Glucosamine sulfate are two very popular nutritional supplements that doctors recommend along with medicines. When used together, they help a lot in healing up the degenerated joints in dogs. Chondroitin sulfate hydrates the joint cartilage which enable it to function as a cushion to the joint tissues more effectively. The advantage of using glucosamine for dogs is that it keeps their joints in lubricated state to ensure smooth movements.

In cases of degenerative canine arthritis, where the joints are in a badly damaged state, then medicinal treatment is not enough and surgical option may have to be availed for dog joint pain relief. There are different techniques of surgery available that can repair the damaged joint. In serious cases, the affected joint is replaced with new joint.

Natural Pain Relief Methods

Exercise is an integral part of canine joint pain treatment. Strenuous exercises are not recommended as the pain may get intensified. Rather, the focus of the exercise should be to add strength and flexibility to the joint so that their mobility can be improved. Exercise is also helpful in weight loss.

Massaging is a great natural pain reliever. Massage each joint with light hands for 10-15 minutes every day. This will improve blood circulation in the area that can decrease the swelling. The stiff muscles will also feel relaxed after massage. For better results, you can use licorice oil to massage the painful joint.

Turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory properties which is believed to be as good as hydrocortisone but without any adverse side effects. It should be added to the dog food regularly for arthritis pain relief.

For herbal pain relief, you can try out cayenne which is available in the form of cream and ointment. On topical application on stiff arthritic joints, it blocks the painful sensation and reduce the swelling too.

The time taken for joint pain relief can vary from few weeks to few months and largely depends on the severity of the condition. Be patient and do not expect any overnight results. In the meantime, joint care for dogs is essential to protect them from any further damage. For this, dog bed has to be comfortable enough to ease off the tension from the joints. An orthopedic bed is highly beneficial in this regard as it contains high density foam that provides more cushion and comfort to your pet.