6 best ways to treat a dog suffering from arthritis and rheumatism.
by Dennis Fisher
The signs of arthritis and rheumatism are very evident. The dog will yelp when it gets up and will also show discomfort when it climbs stairs.
In most cases it will be necessary for you to take your dog to a Veterinarian for treatment, but there are a number of ways you can make your dog's life more comfortable.
1. See that your dog does not become overweight . Obesity is becoming a huge problem with dogs, due to the misguided belief by owners that they are doing their best for their dogs. But they are literally killing them with kindness.
2. It's important for you dog to have excercise, but not too vigorous or strenuous exercise like chasing a frisbee. Swimming is an excellent exercise and if you have an opportunity to allow your dog to swim it is an ideal form of exercise.
3. See that the dog's mattress if firm and comfortable.
4. Make it easier for the dog to eat it's meal without having to stretch down to the ground. Place the food on a small table or a box at a conveneint height.
5. Use medication like Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which is a very popular for humans suffering from joint problems. It can be very effective also for dogs.
6. Visit Your Vet will probably prescribe Rimadyl, an excellent product especially made for dogs that suffer from joint problems. It is only available on prescription from a Veterinarian. I can assure you from personal experience I had a few years ago when an old Great Dane experienced pain when getting up, that it does help enormously.
The above treatment suggestions will definitely make life easier and will relieve some of the pain for your beloved pet, but it is important to get qualified professional advice from your Veterinarian.
Visist the following website, where you'll find a great deal of helpful information about various dog illnesses: http://www.freedogadvice.com
About the Author:
Dennis Fisher has been involved with dogs for many years, as a breeder, who has bred a number of German Shepherd Champions,dog trainer and director of training at an all-breeds training school. You'll find a great deal of helpful information on his website:http://freedogadvice.com