8 Helpful Clues That Indicate Arthritis May Be Causing Your Dog Pain

Most ageing dogs experience some degree of arthritis. But how do you know when it’s time to do something about it?

Often, dogs show signs and symptoms that pain is affecting their quality of life due to the impact of arthritis on their ageing joints. Fortunately, the treatment of dog arthritis can be simple and straightforward with the right products and advice.

Read on for the 8 most common signs of pain caused by arthritis in dogs…

1. 1. Difficulty getting out of bed

      You may have noticed your dog staying longer in his bed, getting up stiffly and being slow to get moving. He may improve as he “warms up” by walking around.

      

      Difficulty getting out of bed

   2. Struggling to keep up on walks

      Older dogs are naturally less boisterous than younger dogs but if your dog is lagging behind when previously he kept up easily, arthritic, painful joints could be the cause.

      

      Struggling to keep on walks

   3. Difficulty moving up and down stairs

      Negotiating steps puts additional strain on a dog’s joints. You might notice your dog is reluctant to move up or down stairs or negotiate obstacles.

      

      Difficulty moving up and down stairs

   4. Less playful

      You might notice that your dog is less motivated to chase balls, retrieve sticks, or just goof around. This may be associated with stiffness and loss of mobility that occurs when joints suffer wear and tear, resulting in arthritic pain.

      

      Less playful

   5. Difficulty jumping into the car

      If your dog used to jump easily into your vehicle but is now hesitating and looking to you for help, his loss of confidence could be the result of painful joints. Jumping and landing require the joints to absorb the concussive force of the dog’s body weight and places significant stress on the joints.

      

      Difficulty jumping into the car

   6. Lame/limping

      You may have noticed that your dog is moving unevenly, favouring one leg, and/or his head is bobbing as he trots. This could be an indication that the joints in a particular leg are causing the dog arthritic pain.

      

      Lame/limping

   7. Irritability

      When a dog is suffering from painful joints he may be less tolerant of people and other dogs. He may growl, snap or bite even though this behaviour may seem out of character for him.

      

      Irritability

   8. Moving slowly and stiffly

      Your dog may show no other symptoms than being a little slow and stiff in the way he moves. This may indicate low-grade arthritic pain, which can be alleviated, returning your dog to his former bouncy self.

      

      Moving slowly and stiffly

Sadly, arthritis is not a curable disease. However, there are products and actions you can take to minimize further degeneration and ease the pain that your best furry friend experiences.

Joint Rejuvenate is a high-grade pure green lipped mussel powder recommended by Veterinarians for the treatment of arthritis in dogs, cats and horses. For further information, visit www.arthritistreatments.com.au