Arthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning your dog's bones is torn away, either from aging or injury. The bones start to rub against each other, causing the dog pain when it moves in a way that aggravates the arthritic area. Most older dogs have some degree of arthritis. It is a treatable condition, but there is no cure. Arthritis is degenerative and will continue to progress.
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Symptoms
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When your dog has arthritis, you will eventually notice it in the way your pet moves. Your dog might limp, move stiffly, favor one paw, be reluctant to engage in physical activities it once enjoyed and will likely want to avoid stairs.
Weight
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It is important that you help your dog attain or maintain a healthful weight if it suffers from arthritis. Extra weight puts additional force on the joints, causing the bones to rub together even more. You can find commercial dog foods designed to help a dog lose or maintain its weight, or you can customize your dog's diet with homemade food.
Pain management
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can help manage the dog's joint pain. Aspirin is usually the first drug veterinarians suggest. The dose is 10 milligrams per pound of body weight, every 12 hours. Make sure you give your dog buffered aspirin instead of enteric-coated. Dogs can't metabolize the enteric coating and could overdose. Rimadyl is the No. 1 drug prescribed if aspirin isn't effective. All NSAIDs can cause kidney and liver damage, along with ulcers and gastric bleeding. You shouldn't combine NSAIDs due to the potential health risks.
Surgery
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Sometimes, surgery is an option. This is most commonly used when an injury, rather than old age, has caused the arthritis. A veterinary surgeon might be able to repair the torn cartilage. If not, prosthetic joint replacements are available for dogs.
Natural treatments
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Natural remedies can help rebuild lost cartilage and reduce the inflammation from the bones rubbing against each other. Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) replenish cartilage and slow further degeneration. The three are often sold together in a combined supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Fish oil capsules are a convenient source of Omega-3s, or you can feed your dog cooked fish. SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-methionine) is a synthesized amino acid that reduces inflammation and helps block pain receptors, as do bromelain and boswellia. The supplements are all available in dog formulas, but you can also use the human formulations. Suggested human dosages are based on a person weighing 150 pounds, so adjust your dog's dosage based on weight. For example, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you would divide 150 by 50 and know to give your dog one-third of the human dosage.
Exercise
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Regular, daily exercise can help your dog maintain its weight and slow the progression of arthritis. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking on a treadmill or at the park and slow jogging are best for joint pain. Make sure you consider the dog's overall state of health, age and progression of arthritis before deciding which exercise routine is best. If the routine you choose seems too difficult, cut back and work up to it. It's better to not exercise at all than to just exercise the dog on the weekends. Occasional exercise can contribute to cartilage tearing and speed joint degeneration.
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