Your dog can’t open his mouth and tell you what is wrong, but you can probably see the signs when your pet is hurting. They might have trouble getting up, be reluctant to go for walks, or have difficulty jumping up on the couch or into your lap. They might seem to tire more easily and be slowing down significantly, limp or yelp after any type of exertion. All these things are symptoms of arthritis or joint pain. Joint pain can affect dogs of any age, although older dogs, like people, often have arthritis. Just like a person, your dog won’t feel much like exerting himself if he is in pain.
Signs of joint pain or arthritis in your dog:
Constant licking of joints
Walking more slowly
Reduced muscle tone, or seems thinner
Mild swelling/heat in the joints
Whining or yelping after exertion
Reluctance to climb
Lethargy
Decreased appetite
Limping
Difficulty or stiffness when getting up or down
Rough coat or reduced shininess of coat
Make sure your dog is the right weight.
One of the most important things you can do for the dog with joint pain or arthritis is to keep him the correct weight for his size. Being overweight adds stress to already weakened joints, causing even more deterioration and pain in the joint. You love your dog, so show it by keeping him a good weight. Your thanks will be reduced pain for your pet.
Help your dog keep his joints lubricated with exercise.
A dog’s joints are lubricated by synovial fluid. During movement, the synovial fluid held in the joint is squeezed out mechanically to maintain a layer of fluid across the cartilage, and this reduces friction during movement. To keep the fluid flowing and feeding the joint tissue, physical exercise and lots of motion is necessary. Healthy dogs usually love to be taken to dog parks and on walks, but if your pet suffers from joint pain, they no longer feel much like moving…and the less they move their joints, the stiffer and more painful they become. It’s a vicious circle, and you need to get your dog moving right now before their pain becomes worse. Continued exercise is important for joint health, but it’s hard to get a pet on a regular exercise program when they are in pain. This is essential, however, because exercise makes the joints more supple and reduces pain.
No one wants their pet to suffer.
When your dog has joint pain or arthritis, incorporating lifestyle changes like more exercise and weight management are very important. Though it’s often very difficult to get your dog moving, it is the best thing that you can do for them when they have pain.
