Osteoarthritis is an immense burden not only for dogs, but also for their owners: the entire everyday life is suddenly different. And in the back of their minds, many dog owners are tormented by the question of how best to help their four-legged friend, alleviate his pain and make his life as pleasant as possible.
Are you one of those dog people who only want the best for their pet? Has your dog been diagnosed with "degenerative joint disease" by the vet or would you like to prevent possible arthritis? Then join us on an exciting journey: Learn about the symptoms, natural therapy options, naturopathic remedies for pain relief and preventative measures.
Osteoarthritis in dogs? What is it actually?
Before we get into the symptoms, ways to relieve pain and preventative measures, it's worth taking a comprehensive look at the causes of osteoarthritis. Perhaps your vet has already explained to you that osteoarthritis is a so-called degenerative joint disease. It involves the breakdown of synovial fluid and articular cartilage. Healthy joints consist of articular cartilage as a "shock absorber" and the protective synovial fluid. The synovial fluid is like a kind of natural lubricant that coats the joint cartilage. In osteoarthritis, increased enzymes are produced that break down the joint cartilage. This creates fissures in the cartilage mass, releasing individual pieces of cartilage in the joint. This results in inflammatory processes, which in turn contribute to the formation of degrading enzymes. Wear is then additionally promoted by the breakdown of the synovial fluid. Due to the degradation of cartilage, the body produces less of this protective substance. You can imagine the pain your dog experiences.
How to recognize osteoarthritis in your dog
Unlike humans, dogs are not born complainers. Therefore, the disease remains undetected by the owner for a long time. Only when the dog already suffers from massive pain, we dog people also recognize that our darling suffers from a disease of the joints. On the basis of the following symptoms, you can recognize whether your four-legged friend is possibly affected by osteoarthritis:
✓ Does your dog have a stiff and spindly gait?
✓ Does he often adopt a relieving posture?
✓ Does your pet often nibble at his paws/a joint?
✓ Does he have difficulty sitting down/lying down?
✓ Does he have difficulty getting up after long periods of rest?
✓ Do his start-up difficulties disappear after prolonged movement?
✓ Does he no longer jump in the car, on the couch, in bed?
✓ Does he not like to run anymore?
✓ Does he have trouble climbing stairs?
✓ Is your dog exhausted more quickly and stops or even sits down more often during walks?
✓ Does your dog change his lying position more often when sleeping?
✓ Are the joints swollen or particularly warm?
✓ Do his symptoms worsen in cold and wet conditions (e.g., in fall/winter)?
Important to know: The symptom list does not replace a diagnosis by a veterinarian. It only serves as a first clue. The symptoms mentioned may also be due to other causes. Therefore, in case of doubt, always present your pet to the doctor or veterinary practitioner of your choice.
How does arthrosis occur in dogs?
One thing first: This question cannot be answered in a general way. There is not only one cause, but much more a variety of aspects that can lead to this degenerative joint disease. There are two forms of arthrosis:
Primary osteoarthritis is due to age-related wear and tear. Especially dogs that are very active in sports run the risk of suffering from this chronic joint disease in old age.
In secondary arthrosis, several causes come into consideration at once, such as:
- Untreated joint inflammation (arthritis)
- Old fractures
- Overweight
- Inherited joint anomalies
- Too protein-heavy diet in puppyhood
- Nutrient deficiency
Healthy nutrition and dietary supplements against osteoarthritis in dogs
Both in the prevention, as within the therapy options, nutrition plays a role that should not be underestimated. Since dogs with osteoarthritis suffer from chronic inflammation in the affected joints, the owner should avoid feeding cereals if possible. Conventional cereals can trigger so-called silent inflammations in the body and cause massive damage not only to the intestines. If you do not want to deprive your dog of carbohydrates, you can switch to gluten-free pseudo cereals such as quinoa, millet and Co. Important: if your dog suffers from allergies or intolerances, first discuss the change in diet with your vet.
Paracelsus already knew that health always begins in the intestine. This also applies to dogs with osteoarthritis. Therefore, owners should always pay attention to good intestinal health, supply it with healthy microorganisms and regularly eliminate harmful substances. For example, cures with bog extract, bentonite or zeolite are suitable. Important: please keep in mind that the intake must be staggered to any tablet administration, so that the active ingredients are not accidentally excreted.
Omega 3 should never be missing in the diet of an osteoarthritis patient and for prevention. It can relieve inflammation and pain. Additives such as MSM, chondroitin and glucosamine have also proven their worth in therapy. These are natural food supplements that your dog's organism partly produces itself. You can obtain these nutrients from your veterinarian or from special online stores.
Natural remedies to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis in dogs
In addition to prescription painkillers from the vet, more and more dog owners are using natural remedies for pain relief. CBD oil, in particular, seems to be a useful therapeutic option here. The herbal remedy not only contributes to pain relief, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect. The natural product from hemp does not contain THC, so it is not addictive. Important: CBD docks on the pain receptors in the brain and should therefore never be used together with chemical painkillers, otherwise they will accumulate in your dog's body and can lead to poisoning.
A rolling stone gathers no moss: Dogs with osteoarthritis need a healthy amount of exercise
Above all, the topic of exercise can pose real challenges to many an owner of an osteoarthritis dog in everyday life. After all, no one likes to see his favorite suffer. However, your dog needs regular exercise to maintain his mobility and musculature. Only in this way can sufficient joint fluid be produced to protect the joint and joint cartilage.
How much exercise is recommended for dogs with osteoarthritis?
Unfortunately, we cannot give you general advice at this point, because every dog is unique. It is best to plan your daily walks so that you can go back at any time. In the meantime, take a break together on a comfortable outdoor mat like Skolan. Here you both sit soft and dry.
Make the breaks a highlight for your four-legged friend by having a little picnic.
Afew small snacks and some water will quickly make him forget the pain in his musculoskeletal system for a moment. In a light and comfortable backpack you can comfortably transport your outdoor mat, water bottles, snacks and much more.
During the walk, always pay attention to the signs of your pet.
He'll let you know when he'd rather go back. For many dogs, it's frustrating when they can't go back the way they want to. Therefore, walk small rounds several times a day rather than one big one.
Even though the weather is not always inviting and your four-legged friend's pain may worsen in wet/cold conditions, dogs with arthritis need plenty of daily exercise. Especially in rain, snow, wind or cold, a comfortable dog coat is the best way to protect the muscles, joints and musculoskeletal system of your favorite. The coat should be waterproof and at the same time temperature regulating, so that your furry nose is neither too warm nor too cold. Our dog coat Kappa is the perfect companion.
If the rain has caught you freezing cold and your four-legged friend did not have a protective coat on, you should definitely dry him or wrap him in a cozy bathrobe.
With physiotherapy against arthrosis in dogs
Targeted muscle development is extremely important, especially for dogs with osteoarthritis, to relieve the joints, but it can also make a valuable contribution to prevention. Regular physiotherapy can help not only to maintain mobility, but also to relieve pain. In the case of pain in the musculoskeletal system, our furry noses often adopt a protective posture in order to avoid painful strains. However, this results in additional tension, which sooner or later can lead to wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system. Physiotherapy loosens the entire musculature and sustainably strengthens mobility. The therapy options are wide-ranging and extend from targeted exercises to massage of tense muscles.
Prudent dog owners can also integrate exercises to maintain mobility into their daily routine. Above all, passive movement exercises are easy to perform and additionally strengthen the relationship between dog and owner. With this type of exercise, the dog owner is in demand.
Movement exercises for your dog & you - this is how it works:
Your dog should stand on a non-slip surface, such as a polar pad, during the exercise. Sit next to your pelt-nose and carefully grab a joint on the front leg and lift it slightly. What sounds simple, has it in the truest sense of the word in itself. Your four-legged friend must now keep his balance and train his muscles. Perform this exercise one after the other with all four legs. For the beginning five minutes per paw joint are sufficient. With time you can increase to 20 seconds per leg. If your dog has difficulty with the exercise, you can also support him slightly under the belly.
Dog tired: what is the best way for a dog with arthritis to lie down?
How do you like to lie when you are in pain? On a worn-out mattress or rather comfortably and as pressure-relieved as possible? Correct, in the everyday life of a dog with arthrosis a suitable bed plays a decisive role and represents an important pillar among the therapy options and prevention possibilities. If your four-legged friend lies absolutely pressure-relieved and comfortable, you can significantly counteract the degradation of the musculature and at the same time contribute to pain relief in the joints. If possible, the bed should have an orthopedic mattress core and an edge so that your pelt nose can relax undisturbed. By the way, our bestseller Kudde fulfills all criteria to optimally support dogs with joint disease and can also prevent it in a natural way at the same time.
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