Are you ready to manage your dog’s pain and suffering from arthritis? Dog arthritis pain can be severe just like in humans. I am sure you know that dog arthritis pain reduces your dog’s activities but did you know that 55% of dogs in the United States with dog arthritis pain go without treatment? Imagine being able to help manage your dog’s pain and see them regain an active life.

You are probably tired of all of the vet bills and there are some ways to treat your dog arthritis pain at home and with home remedies among other options. First let’s discuss dog arthritis pain treatment goals.

DOG ARTHRITIS PAIN TREATMENT GOALS

To reduce pain associated with arthritis

To improve the function and mobility of the effected joints

To encourage repair of the joints if at all possible

To prevent further degradation of the joints

To slow down the progression of the disease in the joints

To increase exercise options in order to reduce weight gain and improve health

SYMPTOMS OF DOG ARTHRITIS PAIN

Licking of the infected area

Yelping or whimpering in pain when moving or getting up

Becoming withdrawn to avoid further pain from being petted or touched

Ears may lie flat against their heads

Inactivity and resulting weight gain

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Use elevated steps (dog steps) or dog ramps to make your pets steps easier

Use elevated dog bowls for water and feed

Keep your dog in a warm and dry environment

Soaking towels in warm water and applying as a heat pack 3-4 times a day

Use a heated bed

Use a comfort lift carrier/sling under the dog’s chest or abdomen to aid the pet in getting up and down steps and in and out of cars.

You can treat dog arthritis pain with natural supplements obtained from your pet store or with medications from your vet.

For those of you who want to avoid possible side effects there are effective home remedies that can be used also.

Take action today by getting great home remedies to use for various pet illnesses and ailments including dog arthritis pain and save on vet bills. Every ailment does not require a vet bill. Read on through the last paragraph and click on the links to save some real bucks.

In dogs, even a minor injury can lead to arthritis later in life, or even immediately in quite a young dog.

Certain conditions to which some breeds of dogs are predisposed, such as hip dysplasia in dogs can also mean a predisposition to developing arthritis as the dog ages.

In addition, dogs who have never suffered an injury in their lives, and who do not suffer from any form of dysplasia may well develop arthritis as they age, just as we humans tend to.

Dog arthritis comes in various forms. Just as in humans, arthritis is an inflammation in the joints. A dog may develop arthritis anywhere that they have a joint. The cartilage in the joint may be inflamed or it may be synovial fluid which is at issue in some cases. The most common types of dog arthritis are osteoarthritis, infective, immune mediated and idiopathic arthritis.

Dog arthritis can often begin as a gradual limpness in the affected limb or limbs, and may progress to lameness. An advanced case will reveal itself as a dog that is less active in play, on walks and generally has difficulty walking. The stiffness and pain are more likely to be pronounced in the morning or after a nap – when the dog has been sleeping in the same position for some time. During the day when the dog is most active, the pain is generally minimal unless the condition is very severe.

An arthritic dog will usually experience pain when their legs are touched near the inflamed joint. The will usually be swelling in this area, but it may not be visible to an unaided eye.

There is dog arthritis medicine that will help treat the inflammation. However, many dog owners find that natural treatments for arthritis in dogs are more helpful. Glucosamine for dogs and MSM for dogs are two of the more natural methods for treatment as herbal remedies. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring ingredient that is found in most foods. It has anti inflammatory components that are best for osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar which occurs naturally in the body – but part of the effects of aging is the loss of the ability to produce enough of this sugar for the body\’s needs. Glucosamine is not found in any significant food source, but can be obtained from the shells of shellfish. The anti-inflammatory effects it offers are very useful in the treatment of arthritis, in humans and in animals alike.

Many times, just a change in diet can be enough to treat the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Especially in tandem with exercise, diet can relieve arthritis in many dogs. Just as in humans, obesity can lead to arthritis. If the animal is kept at a healthy weight, then much of the pain of arthritis will simply disappear.

However, arthritis remedies of various sorts may be needed along with a change of diet in order to manage the pain and other symptoms of dog arthritis. Sometime a change of diet alone can help treat symptoms of arthritis in your dog, but often a supplement is also required. Your vet may also recommend dog arthritis injections to help assist with the stiffness and pain if it does not respond to more natural alternatives.

In dogs with knee arthritis a massage focusing on the sacrum area will release tension in the hip and leg region. Learn more about massaging the sacrum in dogs with kneearthritis from a veterinary technician in this free dog care video. Expert: Dawn Smith Contact: www.traditionalchinesetherapy.com Bio: Dawn Smith has been a traditional Chinese herbal medicine practitioner for six years and a registered veterinary technician over 20 years. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso…

E is for Exercise: Careful Exercise is important in animals with arthritis.

Today, there are many places provide natural remedy services for dogs and offers a less conventional form of treatment for illness or injury. The reasons why using Nature’s herbs for pets:

- Majority of the remedies product have all been tested by Veterinarians.

- Usually the nature remedies are specifically formulated for cats or dogs

- The herbs that uses are safe plants and botanical extracts as proven by more than 2,000 years of clinical experience, continuing research and development.

Canine Distemper Is A Airborne Disease

Canine distemper is an extremely serious viral disease and highly contagious, it occurs in dogs, foxes, wolves, coyotes and other wild canids, like raccoons, skunks and ferrets. Canine Distemper is an airborne virus, which affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous system of the canine animal. Puppies from 3 to 6 months and elderly animals are particularly at risk.

A Look On Conventional Treatment For Canine Distemper

From experience and pass record, it has shown that Canine Distemper is a highly contagious and serious illness. According to conventional vet treatment, about fifty percent of dogs that contract it will die. Those that survive and escape from this diseases will also suffer from the side effect, and left with debilitating conditions like seizure disorders, permanent digestive problems, neurological problems, deformities of the paw pads, etc. According to conventional veterinarian science, Canine Distemper ‘cannot be cured’ and conventional treatment is supportive only.

The cases of this serious disease have reduced since after using the vaccination programs against Canine Distemper on Dogs and canine. However, holistic veterinarians point out that there are serious concerns about the wisdom of routine vaccination and its long term effect on the health of dogs or canines.

Using Natural remedy For Canine Distemper

The Homeopathic veterinarians have managed to treat Canine Distemper far more successfully as compare to use their allopathic counterparts. By using the Distemperinum in homeopathic potency, both immunizations of dogs as well as the recovery rates in infected dogs has proved to be highly successful.

There is a wealth of evidence that this is the case and one can only wonder why allopathic veterinarians are not making use of and being trained in the use of homeopathic medicine for their patients.

Dr Horace B.F. Jervis, a veterinarian, who has published a monograph in 1929 called ‘Treatment of Canine Distemper with the Potentized Virus’. He is the pioneer person who using the Distemperinum for Canine Distemper treatment. In his book, he reported his frustration over many failed attempts at treating Canine Distemper during years of conventional treatment in a veterinarian clinic. This make him moved away from conventional vet treatment and science and to begin treating the infected animals using the principles of homeopathic medicine. Since after he commencing the use of this product the death rate in distemper ward has been decreased, and he has really for the first time in his years of practice felt a sort of load being lifted from his shoulders.

Similarly, for Dr Dorothy Shepherd, in her book, named “Homeopathy in Epidemic Diseases”, she said she has no hesitation in stating that from her own experience and observation, the homeopathic preventives are much safer in use, and absolutely certain in their effects. Even should the infectious, serious disease develop, it will be in a much milder form”

Where Can We Find A Place For Natural Remedy For Dogs?

One of these places you can find online is Only Natural Pet Store. This store is specially providing a natural remedy for animals, and they have products available for practically every possible ailment, including immune support, anxiety and stress, and emotional problems.

Woodland Natural Remedies shop
This is a popular place offer books and natural remedies for People, Pets, and Livestock. This shop also offers products to teat various ailments, like pregnancy, immune problems, kidney problems, liver problems, respiratory problems, prostate problems, thyroid problems and worms.

Dogs Worldwide
This shop offer products for such issues as arthritis, aggressiveness, allergies, nervousness, and various forms of nutrition.

DogsBreakfast.ca
At this shop, you can safely treat your pets for simple problems like travel sickness, diarrhea, constipation, parasites, nervousness, dental conditions, digestive and urinary problems, bad breath, and sometimes more complex problems such as arthritis, allergies, respiratory conditions and eye disorders with Nature Remedies for Pets.

Natural Pet Remedy
This shop is pleased to provide you with an extensive selection of natural herbal remedies for your pet. Their natural treatments offer an alternative to conventional or traditional pharmaceutical medicine for your pet’s health care. They also offer products for ailments such as: arthritis, kidney and urinary support, joint relief, liver boost, senior vitality, stress soother, worms, and skin problems.

There are many different shops available where you can find natural remedies for not only dogs or cats but a variety of other animals as well, and informing yourself on the available options is the first step. You need to learn and know the benefits of nature remedies before you can gain confident to use them for your pet.

I feel so dirty…unworthy…rejected.

We hoped to adopt a new puppy but were turned down by an animal shelter.

Our family pet is ten years old.

She is at least 20 pounds overweight.

She may have arthritis and possibly a thyroid problem.

That’s our fault?

Moreover, a key condition of the adoption was our dog’s acceptance of the new puppy.

So a “get-to-know-each-other” visitation was scheduled.

We took our pet to the vet, to be sure she was up on her shots etc.

We had satisfied the state, county and our village but the humane society has stricter standards.

We took her to the beauty salon for a shampoo and pedicure.

We squeezed her into the car for a 30 minute drive to the visit.

We waited 30 minutes amid countless barking dogs and screeching cats.

Three or four brutes tried to attack our baby.

By the time we had our inaugural visit our gentle family pet was thoroughly traumatized.

We were placed in a small room and instructed not to speak to or touch our dog.

In bounced the puppy.

Our pet for a decade didn’t even sniff her.

Trembling, she looked at us with liquid brown eyes that screamed, “get me out of here!”

That’s when the handlers (humane society nazis), “tweedle dee and tweedle dumb” started in.

Shaking their heads like a physician reading the chart of a stage 4 cancer patient they both said, “it doesn’t look like its working.”

Duh!!!

Now these people are not the kind of people we would normally hang with. None of my friends have hair dyed pink, multiple piercings or so many tattoos that they look like clothing.

I don’t know how they could cluck so loud with a tongue piercing.

On top of this they berated me for not taking better care of our loving pet.

Why wasn’t she on analgesics for her arthritis?

What kind of dog food do you feed her?

You vet says you haven’t ever purchased heartworm medicine.

Can you believe they called our vet to check up on us?!!!

This was more like an interrogation in a concentration camp for both of us.

Se we left with our heads down and our tails between our legs.

Rejected and dejected.

Ahhhh…there is a happy ending.

What a difference it makes to come home to reality and normal people.

You don’t have to go far to find a support group of other folks who have been abused by those dedicated to prevent animal abuse…people void of excessive tattoos and piercings, I might add.

We’re not alone.

I have shared my story and when I finished we all chanted, “they’re only dogs!”

I am a good dog parent.

I do deserve to adopt a puppy.

After all, if you can adopt a human, a puppy should be a piece of cake (or at least a dog yummy).

This isn’t the end of the story…

* Take stock of your current health and fitness level.
If you have been sedentary, have or suspect health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems. If you know you have no major health problems, starting a light to moderate intensity exercise program such as brisk walking usually does not require a physical, but check with your doctor for his or her opinion in your specific case. Remember that the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle are much greater than the risks of exercise.

* Be safe.
Don’t run/walk in “high crime” areas. When running after dark, be sure to wear reflective clothing, carry a small flashlight, and assume drivers don’t see you. Well-lighted neighborhoods are a good choice. Women should run with a partner or a dog if possible, and consider carrying pepper spray. Runners and walkers should never use headphones outdoors, as it makes it impossible to hear traffic or an approaching attacker. Always carry ID.

* Start slowly and build up gradually.
Most people should start with a brisk walking program and progress to a mix of alternating walking and jogging. Eventually you should be able to run the entire distance you desire at a comfortable pace. At that point you can increase weekly mileage about 10% every 3rd week, depending on your goals. For health and fitness there is generally no need to run more than about 15 miles per week, along with some strength and flexibility training. Those wishing to progress to competitive running should seek out experienced runners or coaches for advice.

* Using the right type of shoes helps prevent injuries.
Shin splints and runner’s knee are preventable with proper conditioning AND the right running shoe type. There are 3 basic types for different running mechanics:

1. Motion Control – generally best choice for flat feet and “floppy ankles” (over pronation or rolling too far to the inside after foot touches down). Shoes should be straight lasted and often will have a full board last inside plus a harder rubber or plastic area on the inner (arch support) side of heel to control excess movement.

2. Stability – generally best for normal arches, will have a semi-curved last and a moderate amount of motion control.

3. Cushioned – generally best for high arches and “clunk foot”; these feet are usually very rigid and ‘under pronate,” i.e., feet do not roll to the inside far enough after foot touches down and therefore make poor shock absorbers. Shoes should have a curved or semi-curved last, extra cushioning, a full slip last (no board inside), and be very flexible.

* Do the “wet test” to see what type of foot you have.
Wet feet and step onto some paper on a hard surface. (Even better is to run a short distance barefoot on sand.) A “blob” footprint with little arch indicates flat feet. Two ‘islands’ with a lot of space between the heel and ball indicates high arches. A normal arch will look like the classic cartoon footprint.

* Make sure the shoe fits!
The best shoe for you is one that fits your foot type and running mechanics and also is the right length and width. Try on running shoes with the socks you plan to run in, and toward the end of the day when feet are larger. You should have about one thumb’s width of room between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Shoes should be wide enough that foot does not feel pinched on the sides, but not a sloppy fit or one that slips at the heel. Jog a bit in the store to see how the shoes feel and fit.

* Dress for the weather.
In cold weather wear several lightweight layers, hat and gloves to trap body heat. You can unzip or remove layers if you get too warm. In hot weather wear as little as the law allows, and don’t forget the sunscreen. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration and plan ahead so you can get fluids during longer runs.

* Run with good form.
Shoulders should be relaxed with elbows bent to about 90 degrees as arms swing smoothly forward and back with no twisting of the torso. Arms should not cross the center of body and hands should pass just above the “hip pocket” on each forward and backward motion. The upper body should be nearly upright, with a very slight forward lean. Don’t run on the toes or hit hard with the heel, but rather land as softly as possible with foot nearly flat. The foot should be flexed upward slightly just before foot lands. Breathe naturally through both the nose and mouth. If you’re gasping for air – slow down!

* Most running injuries are avoidable!
Following the tips on proper footwear, form, and starting slowly will greatly reduce your chances of common beginners’ complaints such as shin splints and knee pain. Basic strength and flexibility exercises can prevent and correct muscle imbalances responsible for most running injuries. If you do have a running injury, find the cause rather than just treating the symptoms.

* Ignore the myths.
The bulk of scientific evidence shows that running, even in ultra-marathon runners, does not cause osteoarthritis in the hips or knees if these joints were healthy to begin with. In fact, weight-bearing exercise such as running probably prevents arthritis, since the incidence in long-time runners is about half that of non-runners, including swimmers.

* Further information sources:

o Runner’s World (magazine); a great resource for advice on current running shoes on the market, injury prevention and treatment, training information and other beginning to advanced runner advice.

o Running Times (magazine); a great resource for intermediate to advanced runners, plus good shoe reviews and advice.

o Road Runners Club of America; find a running club in your area suitable for beginners to advanced runners, plus loads of other running information.

o American College of Sports Medicine
o National Strength and Conditioning Association ( National Strength and Conditioning Association )

o Lore of Running by Tim Noakes, M.D. The definitive book on running, recently revised.

o Bill Rodgers Lifetime Running Plan by Bill Rodgers

–
Sherry R. Perkins
Director & Personal Trainer
www.empowered-health-and-fitness. com