Joint Pain in Dogs

By:  B. Mueller

Many dogs, regardless of their breed, will develop some form of joint pain.  Some may also develop dog arthritis as they advance in years, just as people do when they get older.  There are some common signs of joint pain your can look for in your dog:

1)  Hesitating or having trouble climbing stairs
2)  Joints that are swollen
3)  Limping
4)  Having problems getting up

There are many 10 classifications of causes of joint pain in dogs:

 1)  Fractures that involve the joint
 2)  Dietary and hormonal disease
 3)  Muscle, tendon or ligament diseases
 4)  Degenerative joint disease
 5)  Developmental disorders
 6)  Metabolic disorders
 7)  Cancer
 8)  Degenerative spinal joint disease
 9)  Congenital disorders
10) Inflammatory joint disease

The two most common causes for joint pain in dogs is hip dysplasia and arthritis.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is genetic and can effect even young dogs. It is an inherited disorder that results in abnormal formation of the hip socket.  It is more common in medium to large pure bred dogs, such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, or Rottweilers, but there are some small breeds such as the spaniels and pugs that are prone to this disorder.  If the symptoms are mild, there are medications that can help.  If it is a severe case, surgery is an option to consider.

Dog Arthritis

Dog Arthritis, or referred to as Canine Arthritis, causes the loss of the smooth cartilage that covers and protects the ends of the bones in a movable joint.  When the cartilage wears away with age, the bone is exposed and rubs against the other bones, which causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation. 
 
Tips to Help Your Dog’s Joint Pain

 Keep your dog at a healthy weight.  This may be the most important thing that you as an owner can do for your pet.  Up to half of pets in the US are overweight, and this extra weight just aggravates a joint condition your dog may have.  Just by getting rid of a few pounds can decrease the pain.

Your pet needs exercise, just as you do.  It will provide a good range of motion and muscle building, in addition to helping them lose weight.  It is important to exercise every day to get their bodies built up.  If they go for several days without exercising, this can cause even more soreness in their joints when they are active again.
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Make sure your dog has a comfortable dog bed that will support him.  There are many othopedic dog beds on the market now.  This can help your dog get a good night’s sleep.

Make changes to their diet that includes nutrients.  There are vitamin and mineral supplements you can purchase for your dog.  You can also get him special treats that are filled with vitamins.

Before making any changes, make an appointment with your veterinarian to get your dog properly diagnosed.  He will be able to offer additional suggestions that will help control your dog’s pain.

Little Lost Pup

by:  Arthur Guiterman

He was lost!-not a shade of doubt of that;
For he never barked at a slinking cat,
But stood in the square where the wind blew raw
With a drooping ear and a trembling paw
And a mournful look in his pleading eye
And a plaintive sniff at the passer-by
That begged as plain as a tongue could sue,
"O Mister! please may I follow you?"

A lorn wee waif of a tawny brown
Adrift in the roar of a heedless town.
Oh, the saddest of sights in a world of sin
Is a little lost pup with his tail tucked in!
He won my heart, for I set great store,
on my own Red Beaut, who is here no more.
So I whistled clear, and he trotted up,
and who so glad, as that small lost pup.

Now he shares my board and he owns my bed,
And he fairly shouts when he hears my tread;
Then, if things go wrong, as they sometimes do,
and the world is cold, and I'm feeling blue
He asserts his right to assuage my woes
With a warm, red tongue and a nice, cold nose
And a silky head on my arm or knee
And a paw as soft as a paw can be.

When we rove the woods for a league about
He's as full of pranks as a school let out;
For he romps and frisks like a three months' colt,
And he runs me down like a thunderbolt.
Oh, the blithest of sights in the world so fair
Is a gay little pup with his tail in the air!

Tip to Keep Your Dog Healthy

Keeping your dog at a good weight is essential to good general health and can help reduce the stress on their joints. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise, and watch their diet with the correct levels of fat and protein from lean, fresh protein like turkey and chicken.

Four Legged Friend-Author Unknown

You come to me a blessing I know
Lent to me from above
To teach me to soft a kind
And giving of all mankind
How I look in those bright brown eyes
my hearts melts or so sweet and kind
I treasure you know
But your job so big
and mine so small
For I know nothing of forgives
to some of mankind
and you only in return ask for
a pat or game of fletch , meal and water
I will do this with out a problem
for you touch my heart and soul
but my four legged friend
If you teach me the
unconditional love as you have
I know the world can be a better place
this written by a friend as a Welcome gift to Cigale
my new puppy friend


Author Unknown