Ive been very fortunate, even blessed, with my dogs because most of them have lived very long lives....

1. Your Dogs Arthritis or Hip Dysplasia Can be Managed by
Alex Valentino
Ive been very fortunate, even blessed, with my dogs because most of them have lived very long lives.
Its wonderful to have a dog from the time hes a puppy until he becomes an old dog. You feel like
youve shared a long, wonderful life with him. But, as your dog becomes older he can often develop
some common aches and pains. Older dogs often have a touch of arthritis. It may be a little harder
for them to get up and down from a dog bed. They may need some help getting up on a sofa or your
bed.
If your dog has a degenerative problem like hip dysplasia then it will usually worsen with age. Both
hip dysplasia and luxating patellas, which can be common with some smaller breeds, can lead to
arthritis as your dog ages.
I once had a dog that I found in a parking lot late at night. This poor old guy that I named Andy
wasnt a young dog when I found him. It wasnt easy to coax him into my car at midnight in the rain
but I finally got him in. My heart went out to him in particular because he seemed like he had been
hit by a car at some point. I took him to the vet the next morning and the vet confirmed what I
thought. At some time in the past Andy had been hit by a car and probably hobbled away without
treatment. His hips were semi-crippled. He could walk with a definite limp but he had a lot of
arthritis . The good news was that Andy was otherwise in pretty good health. I ran an ad trying to
find Andys owners but no one answered. Andy became part of my family and lived out the next few
years with us. Over that time we tried several different treatments for his arthritis. Here are some
things that helped Andy:
Say No To Second Helpings
Dogs with arthritis and other joint problems typically do much better if you keep their weight down.
Obesity and being overweight put unnecessary stress on joints that are already compromised and
cause your dog pain. Carefully monitor how much food you give your dog to eat and watch his
weight. Remember to count the calories in treats and table scraps, too.
No Marathons!
Watch your dogs exercise. Arthritis is usually self-limiting but canine hip dysplasia and even luxating
patellas are not always evident, particularly at a young age. If your dog has been diagnosed with hip
dysplasia or luxating patellas, dont let your dog overdo the exercise. Regular, moderate exercise is
better than one all-out race in a blue moon. Your dog is less likely to injure himself if you pace his
exercise. However, dont cut out exercise altogether. Exercise is good for keeping muscle tone and
that helps your dog in the long run.
Remember that one key to long term health and fitness is to start young. DO let your puppy play and
have fun. DONT make your puppy jog two miles with you or run races. Putting too much stress on a
puppy is one way to develop joint problems later.
Live In The Lap of Luxury
As your dog gets older its okay to pamper him a little. Think about providing your dog with a comfy
dog bed. Some pets with joint problems may appreciate an orthopedic dog bed or even a heated dog

2. bed. If your pet sleeps on the sofa you may want to get him a heating pad. Applying heat to his
aching joints can help them feel better.
Everybody In The Pool!
Hydrotherapy and swimming have proven beneficial for many dogs with aches and pains related to
joint problems. Swimming is one of the best treatments for arthritis, hip dysplasia and even for post
surgical rehabilitation of dogs. If your dog likes to swim he should find swimming easier than doing
exercises like walking or running and you can swim with him. If your dog doesnt know how to swim
its not hard to teach most dogs. Just be sure that you carefully teach your dog where the steps are in
any pool and show him how to get out of the pool. You can ask your vet for more information about
hydrotherapy.
Medicate Me
If your dog is experiencing spikes in pain or ongoing pain then you should talk to your veterinarian
about anti-inflammatory medications. There are a number of Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory
(NSAID) medications that are being used to treat chronic arthritis and other pain in dogs. There are
some side effects with some of these medications so be sure to thoroughly discuss them with your
vet before using them for your dog.
You should not try to medicate your dog yourself without talking to your veterinarian. Many over-
the-counter drugs are not safe for dogs. Drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be very bad for
dogs.
These are all things that we tried with Andy. Many of them worked. Since we had him for several
years before he finally passed away we were able to try different things depending on how he felt.
We also tried glucosamine-chondroitin tablets which helped his joints.
Herbal Is The Way To Go
Theres one treatment today that we didnt have when Andy lived with us and thats Joint Resolution . I
wish wed had it because I think it might have helped him a lot. Joint Resolution is an herbal blend
that works synergistically with BioCell Collagen II. It includes Boswellia, devils claw and licorice to
reduce inflammation and pain. It also has dandelion to eliminate toxins from the body. Just a few
drops of Joint Resolution on a treat or in your dogs mouth can bring relief and make him feel more
comfortable.
The BioCell Collagen II in Joint Resolution also contains Hyaluronic Acid and chondroitin which have
both been shown to promote healing and tissue rejuvenation. According to the Mayo Clinic, Expert
opinions support the use of chondroitin for improving the symptoms and arresting (or possibly
reversing) the degenerative process of osteoarthritis. So, Joint Resolution has exactly what your dog
needs.
Joint Resolution promotes active joints and helps improve your dogs mobility and flexibility. It
promotes strong, healthy connective tissue. And, its easy to administer. Since its liquid the body
absorbs it faster than tablets or pills. .
If your dog has arthritis or is suffering pain from canine hip dysplasia or luxating patellas, Joint
Resolution can help.

3. I know that none of us want to see our dogs with any aches or pain but sometimes they go along with
getting older. We do want our dogs to get older so we just have to find ways to help our dogs cope
with the little aches and pains that go along with age. Many dogs live for years after they begin
experiencing some arthritis or having a few problems from hip dysplasia or luxating patellas. Theres
no reason why your dog cant lead a fairly normal life, especially if you follow some of the tips offered
here.
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