Five Dog Arthritis Prevention Tips Every Pet Owner Should Know

When you adopt your pet young, you may not consider the possibility of them contracting arthritis. For people and household pets, we may associate arthritis with senior ones. However, that is not true, as all canine types of any age can experience arthritis. Therefore, slowing down the effects or avoiding arthritis must be done even if they’re young and don’t seem susceptible to it yet.

Similar to how people endure arthritis, it can also be extremely distressing for your pet and even reduce their quality of life. The fact that arthritis does not have treatment is already a horrifying thought for pet owners. Thankfully, there are easy ways to secure your pet from this joint disease.

How to Protect Your Dog From Arthritis

While arthritis is a prevalent problem in pets, this does not indicate your canine needs to endure a life of pain and discomfort. However, there are habits pet owners should do earlier to prevent or impede the onset of the said condition. We have listed five reliable tips below to help prevent arthritis and rescue your pet before becoming a victim of this joint condition.

1. Exercise the right way

Pets need exercise, but the right amount and form of exercise can guarantee proper development of bone growth. Running too much on hard surfaces can impact your dog’s bone growth, primarily in their hip joints. Consider exposing your pet to swimming while young, as this is an easy activity for their joints. Familiarizing them with swimming will make their exercises much easier, especially when they become seniors or get identified with arthritis.

Always consider your pet’s body type before engaging them in a workout program. Take your pet to a veterinary surgery professional if you observe fractures or strange motions in their joints after doing an activity or exercise to avoid more injuries.

2. Visit the veterinarian routinely

Regular visits to a vet, including their yearly or routine exams, must be observed often. This ensures early diagnosis and treatment planning for symptoms of arthritis or other conditions that may cause arthritis. Also, you may take this opportunity to get a wellness plan for your pet so you can get discount rates whenever you take your pet dog in for regular veterinary care.

Looking for animal centers that offer pet wellness plans? You may visit facilities like Guilford-Jamestown Veterinary Hospital to see what will fit your budget.

3. Feed nutritionally sound diets early

Pet parents that feed too much food or too rich a diet can cause a dog to gain weight quicker, which can be far too much for their bones to handle. This results in orthopedic problems that can trigger arthritis when disregarded. Feeding dog foods designed for your pet’s breed can help maintain their proper development and avoid joint issues.

In addition, don’t forget your pet’s preventative medications and dog vaccinations to maintain their general health and protect them from diseases and life-threatening parasites.

4. Prevent activities that involve leaping into the air

This sets them up for trauma and creates unequal weight loads in their muscles and joints. According to a study, dogs who regularly chase after fetch toys from ages 12 to 24 risk developing hip dysplasia. Furthermore, when pets of any age and type leap into the air, this can trigger trauma to their spine or joint. Of course, this does not forbid your fur baby from playing, but always observe moderation to avoid injuries and unanticipated accidents.

5. Keep them fit

Weight problems can cause excessive strain to dogs’ joints, resulting in faster wear and tear. Weight loss can help avoid arthritis and reduce the severity of signs in pets detected with arthritis. Maintaining your canine’s healthy weight and body condition their whole life puts them in a healthy state and can help keep arthritis at bay.