Canine Arthritis
Canine arthritis is a condition in which your dog’s joints become inflamed. It can affect your dog if his joints are damaged by a disease or injury. Arthritis is common in older dogs.
Causes
There are a variety of things that can cause canine arthritis. One of the most common is a traumatic injury. Obese dogs are also at risk because more force is applied to the joints due to the excess weight. Although it commonly affects older dogs, canine arthritis can occur in young dogs if their bones don’t develop properly.
Symptoms
In cases of canine arthritis, you may notice that your dog starts to favor one of his limbs or starts to limp around. The condition can also cause the joints to become swollen. Dogs with canine arthritis also don’t like walking, jumping, or playing because of the pain. He may not even like for you to touch him.
Diagnosis
Canine arthritis is diagnosed based on the dog’s medical history and the symptoms mentioned above. The veterinarian will also palpate the joints. An x-ray is also important so that the veterinarian can determine if there have been any joint changes caused by the case of canine arthritis. Another method of diagnosis includes drawing out and analyzing some of the joint fluid.
Treatment
The most common method of treatment for canine arthritis is a course of anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications will help control inflammation and pain. If the case of canine arthritis was caused by a traumatic injury, it may be necessary it repair the ligaments surgically. If obesity was a major factor in the development of the disease, it should also be treated.
Prevention
There are a few things you can do to prevent canine arthritis. They include making sure that your dog has plenty of exercise. This will also help prevent your dog from becoming overweight. A quality diet is also important when dealing with canine arthritis. You should feed your dog food that doesn’t contain preservatives, wheat, corn, soy, or food coloring.
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