Arthritis Treatment Options for Senior Dogs

As the guardian of four senior dogs whom I've had since they were 3 months to 1-1/2 years of age, I can't help but notice that they're slowing down now that they're getting older (10 to nearly 13 years old) because they're developing varying degrees of arthritis. Two of my dogs also have life-long congenital hip dysplasia, an increasingly common malformation of the hip joints that causes inflammation and breakdown of those joints.

Some osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is virtually inevitable in canines as they age, as well as in those dogs who inherit specific joint problems and have pain from an early age. Also, old healed injuries to the extremities can become problematic as dogs get older. Although there's no cure for arthritis, there is much you can do to minimize the damage and make their lives more comfortable.

One important fact to keep in mind is that dogs, like people, react differently to drugs, diets and natural supplements, so an effective treatment for one may not work on another, and you must be prepared for a lot of experimentation before you come up with the answer for your dog.

If you're like me, you prefer to keep it natural and put your faith in herbs, vitamins, a healthy diet, natural supplements, and exercise. Which is not to say that my dogs haven't been through the pharmaceutical mill. Three of them have had trials of prescription NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) like Metacam, Deramaxx, and Rimadyl for joint inflammation, pain and swelling, and Tramadol, a narcotic, for pain. None of the prescription drugs I've tried on my dogs have worked particularly well, and they all have potentially dangerous side effects. I've also administered the analgesics (pain-relieving) aspirin and acetaminophen, the latter of which seems to work best for my dogs. But even though aspirin and acetaminophen are over-the-counter medications, you still need to be careful about digestive upset in the case of aspirin (always use buffered or dog aspirin) and potential (though rare) liver damage with acetaminophen.

There are also medications like corticosteroids and gels such as Adequan that are directly injected into the joint that can relieve acute pain and swelling temporarily. And if the situation is really dire, surgery in the form of arthroscopic surgery, joint replacement, fusion or repair is available.

But back to the natural remedies. A pill that contains glucosamine and chondroitin is my main medical weapon against arthritis these days. I've tried various formulations, some of which have additional ingredients that may or may not contribute to joint health, but I've found double strength Cosequin to be a good basic joint support product, with glucosamine from shellfish and chondroitin from bovine cartilage. These at least in theory promote joint cartilage health. There are a bewildering number of natural joint support products on the market that may or may not accomplish what they claim to do, including liquid formulations, but Cosequin tablets have definitely been shown to be effective in controlled studies. Again, you need to experiment and see what seems to work for your dog.

Other suggested natural ingredients for treating arthritis are perna mussel, sea cucumber, MSM, vitamins C, A, D and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and SAMe. I highly recommend the Drs. Foster and Smith website (Drs.FosterSmith.com) for a number of good arthritis control products and lots of useful dog joint health information.

Veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier lists a number of herbal remedies in his comprehensive book "Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats", including alfalfa, boswellia, dandelion root, devil's claw, German chamomile, ginger, gotu kola, licorice, horsetail, topical capsaicin, turmeric, yarrow, and white willow bark. Homeopathic treatment can also be effective.

Physical activity is vital in the control of arthritis, lending muscle tone and strength as well as more supple joints. My dogs are fortunate in that they have free run of our property, and I also walk with them twice a day. If you live in an urban area, daily vigorous walks of at least twenty minutes are a must. If you have access to a pool, lake or ocean, swimming is an excellent way to keep your dog's joints more supple.

Acupuncture and acupressure treatments to reduce joint pain are becoming more available in veterinary clinics.

Holistic vets, prominent among them Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, recommend a natural diet that includes raw grated vegetables (beets, garlic, celery and carrots are particularly effective). And of course, any added weight will put more pressure on joints, so don't overfeed your dog (this is particularly difficult for me, since I was raised to think of food as a manifestation of love).

Other factors that can contribute to arthritic pain are drafts, cold, dampness, and cement. Provide your dogs with a warm, dry, padded indoor surface to sleep on, particularly in bad weather.

However you decide to treat your dog's arthritis, he'll appreciate any lessening of pain or stiffness so he can move around and enjoy life-and you will too.