Revealed: 5 mistakes dog owners make managing their dog’s arthritis
5 most common things people get wrong trying to help their dog with arthritis:
1. Thinking he/she is ‘just getting older’.
Stiff joints are not due to old age. They may come with age but they are due to arthritis and arthritis can be helped.
2. Restricting exercise.
Our dogs love 3 things – getting cuddles, running around and food. If you restrict their exercise you are denying them one of their loves! We recommend managing the arthritis, reducing inflation and pain and letting them exercise as they like. If they are in pain or don’t want to go out they will tell you. This is a way of knowing we need to give them a little more help. Join our free Dogs with Arthritis Support Group here.
3. Stopping supplements because they don’t seem to make a difference.
Supplements containing correct levels of proven, clinically tested ingredients do work. Some of the work they are doing to help cartilage, reduce inflammation and reduce pain is happening inside the joints and may be invisible to us. It’s also a cumulative effect so that you see the most improvement over time.
4. Thinking metacam, rimadyl and similar drugs only work because they mask the signs of pain.
This is not true. All these non-steroidal drugs do two things… They act as anti-inflammatories within the joint to slow down the arthritis which destroys joint tissue from within. AND they act as painkillers.
5. Thinking weight gain is inevitable because he/she is not exercising as much.
In fact, for an overweight dog, even a 10% loss in body weight (for example taking an overweight 20kg dog to 18kg), has the same beneficial effect on arthritic symptoms as using metacam, rimadyl and other similar drugs. That’s how effective weight loss can be. Of course feed treats (most of our dogs live for food!), but use treats like carrot sticks and freeze dried liver, both low calorie and nutritious. Feeding just 10 percent less each day will make all the difference and we guarantee your dog won’t notice. To learn more about regenerative medicine such as stem cell therapy to help your dog become fully mobile, please call us today on 03452 200 236.
