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Osteoarthritis

Obesity is the number one cause of osteoarthritis in dogs. Additional weight gain by dogs causes stress to joints resulting to pain. A good exercise can help reduce the weight of the dog and is very helpful in preventing osteoarthritis among dogs. The key to a healthy dog free from arthritic hips is a healthy lifestyle. Changes in the lifestyle of dog owners may help in the prevention of osteoarthritis in dogs as well as decrease the chance of surgical intervention.

An injury in the cartilage is the usual cause of joint pain, stiffness and less movement among dogs. This type of disease is called osteoarthritis, which is the common reason for lameness in dogs. This disease usually develops after hip dysplasia.Hip dysplasia is a common developmental problem among puppies as chronic osteoarthritis. This type of problem can never be treated, it gradually get worse and directly affects the quality of life of your dog.

What is the good thing about it is those veterinarians believe that this problem is polygenetic meaning it can be attributed from the lifestyle, nutrition, weight and activity level of your dog. Although there is no cure for this, there are factors that need to be considered in order to give your dog a happy and healthy life. Changing a lifestyle is not that easy. However, taking an effort to change it can help change the quality of your dog's life significantly.

Large breed dogs are more prone to this type of problem because they are much bigger and heavier. They usually have rigorous lifestyle because their owner expects them to be their partners in activities that require much energy. So there muscles and joints are constantly at work. Any size and breeds of dogs or even cats have the tendency to develop osteoarthritis.

Experts advise that dog owners should limit vigorous activities they have with their dogs because this can be harsh to their dog's joints. They recommend less vigorous sports such as swimming and walking as an alternative to activities such as fetching. Moreover, moderate, controlled and regular exercise plus taking of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help reduce the pain your dog is experiencing. However, if lifestyle changes do not improve the quality of life of your dog, you may consider surgical operation to stop the agony of your four-legged friend.

It is always important that you always observe any changes in your dog's action especially if he is prone to hip dysplasia or has been diagnose to have one. If you see any signs of pain and stiffness, bring him immediately to your veterinarian and have him examine.