Helping Joints Heal
When a dog is in pain, most owners will do just about anything to provide relief, even if it means giving the dog medications with strong side effects, putting the dog through traumatic and expensive surgery, or laying the dog to rest. While steroids and anti-inflammatory treatments may regulate the pain of arthritis, these don't repair damaged cartilage.
What is an NSAID? Does it help heal arthritis?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Rimadyl, Metacam, or EtoGesic can be effective. There are potential side effects, including kidney and liver disease and ulceration of the stomach and intestinal tract. Dogs should be screened before commencing NSAID therapy to make sure their kidneys and liver are healthy enough to cope with the medication.
For dogs with arthritis, there are several complementary therapies that ease pain, are less invasive than conventional methods, and offer many long-term benefits. These involve reducing joint inflammation and protecting the cartilage from further damage.
To alleviate pain, keep your dog at a normal weight, make sure he gets enough exercise, and provide physical comfort in the form of therapeutic warm bedding or stairs to the bed, couch, or car.
Steroids
A conventional veterinarian may prescribe steroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, or triamcinolone to relieve a variety of conditions, such as allergies, inflammation from arthritis, and stomach and intestinal inflammation. Larger doses are prescribed in the beginning, then doses are tapered before the medication is eventually discontinued.
Dogs on these medications need to be closely monitored both by the veterinarian and the owner, as serious consequences can result if they are used incorrectly. Giving too much or too little medication, skipped doses, or abrupt cessation will cause a reaction. Steroids do not cure the problem; they only suppress the symptoms, and the problem will often recur once the steroid is discontinued.
A new cutting-edge treatment can help a dysplastic hip joint repair itself. Fatty tissue from the dog's abdomen is removed and placed in a centrifuge that extracts stem cells from the tissue. The cells are injected into the failing hip, where they adapt and develop into healthy cartilage and tendon cells. For more information see
There are unpleasant side effects as well: cartilage damage, diabetes, and increased risk of infections. Other unwanted conditions include mood changes and irritability, increased thirst, panting, weight gain, and suppression of the immune system.
Surgery
If your dog is in intense pain or there is severe joint damage, the veterinarian may recommend performing surgery as a last resort to replace the defective joint. For serious cases of hip dysplasia, the surgeon can perform a hip replacement procedure to improve movement and function by replacing the damaged joint with an artificial one. If hip dysplasia is diagnosed early in life before significant degeneration occurs, a surgical procedure called a triple pelvic osteotomy may be an option to correct the conformation of the joint and prevent later disease and discomfort.
Joint Supplements
Glucosamine and chondroitin work wonders in decreasing inflammation. These supplements produce no side effects and occur naturally in the body.
They relieve pain and inflammation and they also help heal damaged cartilage repair itself by synthesizing new cartilage. Don't expect overnight improvement; it may take four to eight weeks before you see any changes in your dog's condition. Once she begins taking these neutraceuticals, however, your dog will need to stay on them for the rest of her life. Once they are discontinued, the cartilage will degenerate in four to six months.
Perna canaliculus is another anti-inflammatory and food supplement that helps heal cartilage and improves joint mobility. A natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin, and other nutrients, perna canaliculus is an edible green-lipped mussel found off the shores of New Zealand. It contains essential building blocks necessary to rebuild joints and reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is another effective pain reliever that helps reduce stiffness, swelling, and inflammation in joints. MSM prevents pressure buildup in cells, allowing nutrients in and forcing toxins out of the connective tissues as they heal. It insulates the bones from friction and cushions the joints during movement. MSM delivers sulfur to the joint, which, along with glucosamine, makes cartilage stronger and more resilient. This is why it is important to use these two supplements together.
Exercise Management
A moderate amount of exercise keeps your dog's joints lubricated, reduces pain, and strengthens the muscles that align and protect the joint from further damage. Moving around and getting her heart rate up also helps your dog maintain a healthy weight. Not using a sore joint only weakens the muscles around it and causes even more pain.
Veterinarians recommend taking your arthritic dog for a walk a few times a day and keeping her as active as possible. Gradually increase the duration of the walk, but never push your dog. If twenty minutes is too much for her to manage, shorten the time and try to build up to longer sessions.
