10 Ways You Can Help A Dog With Arthritis

It’s easy to think that arthritis affects only old dogs. In reality, it can affect them at just about any age. What can you do to help?

1. Keep Them Lean. Less weight on their joints means less pain.
2. Watch Their Food Intake. It’s important to make sure they’re not overeating, since it’s harder for them to work it off later.
3. Cut Their Nails. Long nails can affect their walking gait, and make things worse.
4. Get The Right Diagnosis. Arthritis is a slow, crippling disease – the sooner you can catch it, the better.
5. Get Creative With Entertaining Your Dog. Because physical games are increasingly out of the question for your dog, you’ll need to consider less taxing options to keep them occupied.
6. Know When To Call It Quits. It’s easy for your dog to get caught up in the excitement of playtime, so it’s your job to know when to cut it off before the pain sets in.
7. How Much Exercise and How Much Rest? Observation and notes will tell you when and where your dog’s limits are. It’s important to know these limits, so you won’t push them too hard.
8. Make Your Home Accessible. Things like ramps and carrying your dogs can make it much easier for them to move around the house.
9. Get The Right Medicines And Supplements. Consult your vet for products that can help ease the pain of your dog’s arthritis.
10. Loosen Those Muscles. Heat and massage have been proven to help your dog’s arthritis by a significant amount!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay