Osteoarthritis is common in older dogs. While vets can offer pain medication, this addresses a symptom of arthritis but not the cause. There are alternative and complementary natural approaches that can be very effective in treating a dog's arthritis. Natural approaches can be used in conjunction with medication prescribed by your vet.
Instructions
Help your dog lose weight if she needs to. This is the single most important thing you can do for a dog with arthritis or any joint problems. You should easily be able to feel all of your dog's ribs and see her waist. If you are not sure if your dog is at a healthy weight, ask your vet. There are many approaches to getting your dog to drop extra pounds. You may simply feed her 25 percent less at each meal. You can substitute green beans or canned pumpkin for part of her meals. A higher-quality food with less filler and carbohydrates will help build muscle without adding pounds. If you feed your dog a commercial diet, you may even try a low-calorie formula.
Give your dog a joint supplement containing glucosamine and chrondritin daily. Some foods and treats contain these nutraceuticals, but not in sufficient amounts to be therapeutic. These compounds help repair and lubricate aging joints. Check any good pet store and you'll find a wide variety of joint supplements. Other supplements that can be given separately, or combined with glucosamine and chrondritin formulas, are MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and hyalauric acid. Most joint supplements take 3 to 6 weeks to take full effect.
Ask your vet about Adequan injections. Adequan is a form of glucosamine that is much faster-acting when injected than given orally. It can be used in conjunction with oral supplements.
Add Omega 3 fatty acids to your dog's diet in the form of fish-oil pills for a powerful anti-inflammatory. The ones available for human consumption work just as well for a dog. Adjust the dose according to the recommended daily amount for humans by dog weight, or feed up to 1,000mg per 10 lbs. of the dog's weight for a therapeutic dose. Flaxseed oil is another source of Omega 3, but is not digested as well by dogs as fish oil. Fish oil is also excellent for a dog's skin and coat.
Make sure your dog gets gentle exercise. Toned muscles can compensate for weakened joints, and even elderly dogs will benefit from leisurely walks. If you have access to a place where your dog can swim (and she is agreeable to swimming, or even wading in the water) encourage this activity as much as possible. Swimming is excellent non-weight-bearing exercise for dogs.
Find a veterinary acupuncturist using the link in Resources. Acupuncture is inexpensive and may give your arthritic dog great relief. Most dogs enjoy the experience, and it is definitely worth a try.