How to Treat Arthritis in Dogs
📝 Summary
Arthritis shows as lameness, swollen joints, and pain on touch or in cold weather, and favors large, senior, or previously injured dogs. Manage weight, keep exercise moderate, feed stage-appropriate food, and add glucosamine and chondroitin — there is no cure, only relief.
1 Arthritis in Dogs
Main causes are genetics, obesity, and over-exercise. Signs include lameness and an unsteady stance, swollen joints, pain when touched, weather-related aches, licking the joint, stiff legs that take time to loosen, trouble standing or climbing, weak hind-end support, and reluctance to run or use stairs.
2 Who Is at Risk
Medium-to-large breeds, dogs with past joint injury or congenital patellar luxation, and older dogs are most prone to joint inflammation.
3 Prevention and Care
Arthritis cannot be fully avoided, but flare-ups can be cut. Lose weight to ease wear, keep moderate (not intense) exercise from puppyhood, feed life-stage kibble, and add joint supplements once damage appears. Glucosamine and chondroitin aid cartilage repair and supply joint nutrition; vets also prescribe anti-inflammatories. Use all medications under veterinary guidance.
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