Medications and Home Remedies to Help Your Dog’s Arthritis

As dogs age, we begin to watch for certain conditions that they could develop, likearthritis. Arthritis is a condition that gets worse over time and can't be reversed or cured. Dogs' joints naturally lose cartilage and develop growths on the edges of the bones. And the tissue surrounding the bones also thickens.

Arthritis can be caused by aging or by an injury. And it can be painful and hamper your dog's ability to move.

Somecommon symptoms of arthritis in dogsinclude:

• Stiffness while walking
• Difficulty with getting up and down
• Being less active
• Having less interest in playing or walking
• Worsening stiffness after over-exerting themselves
• Swelling around a joint
• Decreased range of motion as they walk

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While arthritis can't be cured, it can be managed. Continue reading to learn about different treatments that can help your dog's arthritis.

How is arthritis in dogs typically treated? If you suspect that your dog has arthritis, the first thing you should do is consult your veterinarian. They will be able to confirm the diagnosis and then help you figure out next steps.

The goal of any treatment for arthritis is to minimize pain, prevent more damage between the joints, and improve movement. Sometimes, it takes several different treatments to give your dog relief.

Medicationis commonly used to treat arthritis in dogs. But there are many other forms of therapy that can be helpful. Below are nine ways you can help your dog who has arthritis.

1. Weight management If your dog is overweight, your veterinarian will recommend theylose the excess weight. Too much weight can put more stress on joints and muscles. And the extra body fat can alsoincrease joint inflammation.

Even if your dog isn't overweight, exercise and good nutrition will go a long way in keeping them at a healthy size. Your veterinarian can inform you of your dog's ideal weight based on their breed and size.

2. Exercise Low-impact exercises - like short walks and swimming - are great for dogs with arthritis. These exercises help keep your dog's muscles strong and improve their joint health. And they can even increase energy levels and interest in activities.

Frequent, short walksthroughout the day are more ideal than long ones. If your dog shows signs of improvement with short walks, you can slowly increase the duration or introduce a new activity.

If your dog enjoys doing high-impact activities - such as chasing a ball - it's best to warm them up with a walk first.

3. Physical therapy You may also opt to enter your dog into acertified physical rehabilitation program. These programs establish goals based on dogs' needs and how much owners want to try to improve their pet's mobility.

Physical therapy programs are generally supervised by a professional, to make sure your dog meets their goals. But your dog's practitioner might teach you how to perform certain exercises at home, as well.

Activitiesdone in a rehabilitation program can include:

• Stretching
• Range-of-motion exercises
• Walking through and around obstacles in a controlled manner
• Swimming
• Underwater treadmills

Your dog's program may be adjusted as time goes on, if they improve or need another area of focus.

4. Hands-on techniques Your veterinarian may teach you somehands-on techniquesyou can do to help your dog at home. These techniques can help with pain, flexibility, and range of motion. They include:

• Massage:You can use this to help warm up and prepare your dog for other exercises, like walking. It may also help reduce their pain.
• Stretching:Stretching can increase muscle flexibility around joints affected by arthritis.
• Manipulating joints:Manually moving your dog's joints can have many benefits, such as improving blood flow, range of motion, and stability. It may also help decrease pain.

Be sure to perform these techniques as instructed by your veterinarian.

5. Pain medicationsNSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the primary medications used to help relieve dogs' arthritis pain. They work by blocking compounds in your dog's body that lead to inflammation and pain.

These medications work quickly to relieve pain. With other therapies - like weight management andsupplements- it can take weeks to see improvement. Your dog may benefit from the immediate pain relief provided by NSAIDs, which can also help support other treatments.

However, NSAIDs do come withside effects. They could potentially affect your dog's kidneys and liver. So your veterinarian may do routine blood work to monitor these effects.

NSAIDs can become less effective at treating your dog's pain over time. So your veterinarian may prescribe othersupplementary pain relievers, likegabapentinandamantadine.

6. Arthritis injectionsIn May 2023, theFDA approveda new treatment for arthritis in dogs calledLibrela(bedinvetmab injection). This medication works by binding with a protein that researchers believe is associated with arthritis pain in dogs. By doing this, Librela prevents these proteins from telling a dog's brain that they're in pain.

Librela is given via injection by a veterinarian. For it to work most effectively, it needs to be given to dogs once a month.

This medication can have side effects, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Bacterial skin infections
• Skin irritation
• Rash
• Injection site pain
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

7. SupplementsJoint supplementsmay help a dog's bodyrebuild cartilage and slow down damage. Some supplements can also increasefluid to the jointsand may have someanti-inflammatory properties. With supplements, it can take up to 6 weeks to see signs of improvement in your dog.

Your veterinarian may also recommend includingfish oilin your dog's diet. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to reduce inflammation in joints affected by arthritis.

Another supplement option ispolysulfated glycosaminoglycan(PSGAG), given as joint injections. It helps heal damaged cartilage and has anti-inflammatory properties. And its effects tend to befaster and last longerthan pill supplements.

If your dog doesn't improve after about 6 weeks of treatment with PSGAG, your veterinarian may stop the injections and try an alternative.Other joint injectionsinclude:

• Platelet-rich plasma
• Stem cell therapy
• Steroids
• Hyaluronic acid

Your veterinarian will provide guidance about your dog's best options.

8. Heat therapy and cold therapyYou canapply ice packsafter your dog exercises or if they seem particularly stiff. But be sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel to provide a barrier between it and your dog's skin. And always remove the ice pack and keep it out of your dog's reach when you're done.

Heat - like from a warm towel - can help relax the muscles around your dog's joints, improve their flexibility, and decrease their pain. This can be beneficial before exercise.

9. Alternative treatmentsSome dogs might find further pain relief withalternative treatmentslike:

• Laser therapy:This technique uses a beam of light to penetrate tissue that's affected by arthritis. It may reduce inflammation and swelling while increasing your dog's mobility.
• Acupuncture:Very small needles are placed in specific locations on your dog's body. This technique can decrease inflammation and pain and increase nerve function.
• Shockwave treatment:This technique transmits sound waves into joints affected by arthritis. It can reduce inflammation and pain and increase tissue healing.
• Electrical stimulation:Low-level electrical currents are applied to affected joints with gel patches. There are two types of electrical stimulation, which give different results. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) decreases pain. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) increases strength in muscles surrounding the affected joints.

Consult your veterinarian to find out if your dog might benefit from adding one of these treatments to their arthritis therapy.

10. SurgerySometimes, surgerymay be your best option, especially if your dog doesn't improve enough with other treatments. Depending on the cause and location of your dog's arthritis, surgery can restore stability and slow down the progression of their condition.

If your dog's arthritis is due to an injury - such as acranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear- surgery may be the only way to repair the issue and improve mobility.

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line Arthritis is a common condition that affects dogs' joints, especially as they age. Stiffness and difficulty getting up and down are some of the most common signs of arthritis in dogs. NSAIDs and supplements can help with pain. And other strategies - like managing weight, exercise, and physical therapy - can help reduce inflammation and increase mobility.

Alternative treatments, like laser therapy and acupuncture, may also be beneficial for your pup. But, sometimes, the best option to improve mobility is surgery.

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