Dogs are not immune when it comes to arthritis. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adult dogs suffer from joint pain every day, and arthritis is one of the most common ailments treated by veterinarians. Symptoms include lethargy, stiffness, limping and behavioral changes.
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Aspirin
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The drug of choice for treating dogs in the early stages of arthritis is aspirin. This drug is cheap, easy to use and generally well tolerated by dogs, as long as proper dosing instructions are followed. The major drawback to this therapy is the development of tolerance to the drug.
Ibuprofen
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Ibuprofen is often used in dogs that have been on long-term aspirin therapy and whose level of tolerance has reached the point that higher dosages may be harmful. Once again, dosing schedules must be followed in order for the drug to be therapeutic.
Rimadyl
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Tolerance to over-the-counter medications may occur after the disease has progressed over several years. At that point, prescription medications such as Rimadyl may be used. Rimadyl belongs to the same classification of drugs as aspirin and ibuprofen (NSAIDS), but it is quite a bit more expensive.
Steroids
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The pain of arthritis is caused by the inflammation of the joint. In most cases, NSAIDS can control the pain and inflammation, but in other cases, it cannot. In these cases, a corticosteroid will be prescribed, either orally or by injection. The steroid injection will reduce the inflammation, allowing the pain reliever to work more effectively; however, long-term steroid use has potentially negative side effects.
Supplements
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Many times, drug therapies are coupled with supplement therapies to treat arthritits. The most common supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin and Omega fatty acids.
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