Your Options When Your Dog is Hurting from Arthritis
December 14, 2009
The signs are clear. Your aging dog is walking around stiffly or in pain; they seem lethargic, unwilling to be as active, and can’t seem to get comfortable in any position. Chances are that he or she is suffering from arthritis. So what do you do when your dog is hurting?
The first step is to take them to the vet and get the proper and “official” treatments, but after that are there other options as well? Luckily, there are.
The Normal Treatments
The vet is usually going to take x-rays of the affected area(s), and then he or she will give the proper diagnosis.
No matter what it is, be it arthritis or another joint problem, the right treatment usually comes in the form of medications, and for more extreme cases, surgery is needed. Please realize that arthritis is not something to cure. This is a situation that gets worse without treatment, but the best modern medicine can do at present is manage the pain and discomfort; not make it disappear.
All efforts can be put into giving your pet the best life possible now that they suffer from arthritic pain, but the unfortunate truth is that they will still have arthritis, even if it is only at the slightest degree.
Alternative Medicine
When your dog is hurting, you want the best treatments available, and unfortunately, those are not always going to be what the vet prescribes to you. The reason for this is that there are treatments out there that haven’t been “officially” recognized, meaning that though there may be a strong history of good results from the treatment, there are still a lot of skeptics in the medical community who haven’t acknowledged these treatments as legitimate yet. But many of these options available to you are rising in popularity and acceptance.
Holistic Therapy
For example, treatments grouped under the category of “holistic therapy” are turning heads due to their incredible affect on a wide range of canine problems. Massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care are all treatments which work on the dog’s body as a whole (hence the term “holistic”). They are not only good for pain management but are actually used to promote increased healing and regrowth in the body as well.
Additional Choices
Some other treatments to look into are:
Homeopathic treatment, in which you are advised to make decisions carefully as there are a large variety of homeopathic treatments to choose from, and not all of them are of the same quality. Pheromone therapy Glucosamine, which has been used for many years to promote the healing and repair of cartilage in the damaged joints.
Essential Fatty Acids Supplements
As you can see, there are great numbers of treatments available to help you on your quest as you fight against pain and joint damage. It doesn’t even have to be arthritis, necessarily. Dogs can suffer from many joint problems and various forms of physical pain just like people. Make sure you do everything in your power to provide the right answers and treatments when your dog is hurting.
First, consult your vet, and then, if you are still not satisfied, do your homework concerning the numerous alternatives being offered to help you manage and fight back against canine arthritis and similar problems.
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