Arthritis + Pain Management

Metallica-framed10 Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis

If you’re a dog owner, you’re conscientious about looking after your pet’s diet and making sure he or she gets plenty of exercise. But some days, your happy-go-lucky friend may seem different, and you’re not sure why.  Watch for these early-warning signs of arthritis* in your canine companion:

  • Favoring a limb
  • Difficulty sitting or standing
  • Sleeping more than usual
  • Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
  • Reluctance to jump, run, or climb stairs
  • Weight gain
  • Decreased activity or less interested in play
  • Barking or whimpering when touched
  • A personality change that involves resisting touch
  • Seeming less alert

*According to the Arthritis Foundation and PetWellbeing.com

Please consult your pet’s veterinarian at the earliest signs of these or any other unusual changes in behavior. Your dog deserves to live a long, healthy, and active life.


Additional Arthritis and Pain Management Info:

Ike Isaac framed10 Ways to Help an Arthritic Dog — Some general ways to keep your dog comfortable from The Placerville Veterinary Clinic.

Pain Control in Dogs and Cats — A very good website that discusses and explains most pain medications used for dogs.  If you must use any of these drugs, use them very carefully; Akitas are VERY sensitive to drugs.

Natural Treatments for Dog Arthritis — For alternative supplements that are not dangerous, check out some or all of these therapies. Though they can take a little longer to work, there are no adverse side effects.

Piglet’s Story — Read about Mary Straus’s experiences with arthritis treatments for her dog Piglet, and learn how she managed the condition and kept Piglet mobile for 17 years.