ARTHRITIS IN PETS
"Arthritis is a medical condition of the joints which results in inflammation, pain, and difficulty moving for people and pets. It can be mild and unnoticeable, or it can be debilitating-severely affecting your pet's quality of life." Arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the joints and muscles with stiffness and pain. In both cases, the earlier the prevention or treatment is started, the better. I even recommend to customers that they get their dog on a mild joint support as young as five years to treat symptoms prophylactically. Why wait until your pet is in joint distress? Dogs are more prone to arthritis than cats are. Larger breeds like labs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Goldens, German Shepherds, etc. are more likely to suffer, and at an earlier age, than smaller breeds. It is our duty as their care givers to be aware of changes in their movements and behaviors and respond responsibly by taking them to the vet or starting them on a program of joint support supplements about which you can become educated on your own.
Firstly, I will tell you the signs and symptoms to help you decide if your pet is indeed suffering from arthritis. 1. Does your pet seem to tire more than usual and lag behind when walking? 2. Is there noticeable trembling or shaking? 3. After some activity does your pet limp or seem stiff? 4. Does your dog have trouble getting in the car, managing steps or jumping on the sofa? 5. Has your pet lost interest in playing? 6. Does your pet take more care and time getting up from a resting position? 7. Is your pet sleeping longer periods of time, and interacting less with your family or other pets? Some of these symptoms were what first alerted me to Zoey, and she ended up being diagnosed with Addison's Disease. See my article, THE GREAT PRETENDER, February 164 issue.
It is understandable that older pets, like older people, are more likely to have arthritis. Inactive dogs and overweight dogs are susceptible too. That is why I am happy, now, to have my foster/rescue fear-biter Ebby in our family. I call her Zoey's dog because of how well they play together, and how often, now that Zoey is on her daily dose of Prednisone. Serious injuries that occur earlier in a pet's life can lead to an earlier onset of arthritis. Hip dysplasia can lead to debilitating arthritis as happened to my German Shepherd some forty years ago and I had to rehome her to a house with just two low steps entering and exiting the house. Hip dysplasia in shepherds is due mostly from conformation judges awarding sloping hips on competing canines. Thus, there was a push to breed for that abnormality which causes normal stress on abnormal joints. Agility dogs, hunting dogs, and joint or ligament injuries can have the result of abnormal stress on normal joints. Degenerative arthritis can take years to surface after years of abnormal stress until the joints are severely compromised. Arthritis can also be caused by
"infection or by underlying immune-mediated diseases." Such as Lyme disease.
One of the most alarming causes of arthritis is poor nutrition. It is not just arthritis that can afflict your dog later, but questionable additives, artificial ingredients, and poor protein quality and sourcing, can lead to a multitude of ailments including diabetes and cancer. For both dogs and cats.
Thank you for helping to keep a small business in business. Happy Fall!
Come talk to us about your pets nutrition and about Grizzly Hip and Joint support supplement which has better results than Cosequin.
