Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative and painful condition that develops gradually over time as joint tissue deteriorates.  Just like in people, arthritis can affect a dog’s quality of life, keeping them from activities, such as walking, running and playing. Signs that your dog is suffering from osteoarthritis pain include tiring easily on walks, favoring a limb, lagging behind, appearing stiff after activity, hesitating to climb steps or jump up, being slow to rise from a resting position, and overall descrease in activity.

While there are steroid medications that help to reduce inflammation, these drugs cause serious effects over long-term use.  In addition, steroids may reduce collagen synthesis, which delays healing.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce inflammation by controlling prostaglandin production and reduce discomfort through their analgesic properties. Unfortunately, just like in people, NSAIDs increase stomach acid secretion and diminish the muscosal protective barriers, leading to gastrointestinal irritation and upset.  NSAIDS that your vet can prescribe include Rimadyl and Deramaxx.  Side effects can include include appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea.  Metacam is an injection for pain and inflammation whie Zubrin is another pain reliever.  Finally, you can ask your vet about Previcox, which is also for pain and can improve mobility.  But there are also some alternative remedies available, such as accupuncture.  While acupuncture cannot prevent osteoarthritis, it can be very effective in relieving pain caused by nay form of arthritis or following surgical correction during the healing process.

Besides seeking pain relief prescriptions, there are other some easy things you can do to help your senior dog’s arthritis.  For example, massage for pain relief improves muscle and joint flexibility, increases blood supply, and helps prevent or breakdown scar tissue formation. It also helps relax muscle spasms and increases comfort.

You can also try using hot/cold heat packs and orthopoedic beds made specifically for dogs suffering from arthritis.  A supplement containing glucosamine chondroitin, omega fatty acids (3 and 6) and MSM help for hip and joint support.  Chondroitin helps because it is a constituent of cartilage and glucosamine helps the body repair joints and promote cartilage formation.

Dash already suffers from arthritis in his knees.  My vet recommended a product called Cosequin, and I put Dash on it for a few months but didn’t really notice much of a difference.  I then tried Platinum Performance Canine CJ (Joint Support) after hearing about it on Tracie Hotchner’s radio show, “Dog Talk.”  Like Cosequin, Platinum Performance initially was created for horses:

Ingredients: Flax Seed, Flax Oil, Rice Bran, Lactose-Free Whey Protein Concentrate, Sunflower Seed, Non-GMO Soy Flour, Cane Molasses, Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCl, Methylsulfonylmethane (OptiMSM™), Boswellia serrata Extract, Cetyl Myristoleate, Hyaluronic Acid, Performance Minerals™, Bio-Sponge™, Vitamin E (dl-Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Natural Vitamin E (d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Chromium Yeast, Selenium Yeast, Zinc Gluconate, Pine Bark Extract, Uncaria Tomentosa, Aloe Vera, Algal Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, L-Carnitine Tartrate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Choline Bitartrate, Niancinaminde (B3), Vitamin K, Calcium Pantothenate (B5), Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B-12, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Vitamin D3, Folic Acid, Biotin

Since you just mix in a teaspon into food, it was much easier to administer than a pill.  And it seemed that Dash didn’t mind the taste at all.  Did it make a difference?  His knees are still a little “crunchy” (as my vet described it) but I am using it as preventative, not for pain relief.  He did have less knee popping (luxating patella) episodes while he was taking it, so I would buy it again.  While it may seem expensive, it lasts a LONG time.  Platinum Performance carries several different types of joint support and even a pain reflief formula.  Check it out.

Glycoflex is the next product I’m going to try for preventative support.  It comes in chew form, so it’s just like giving your dog a treat.  We’ll see how Dash does on it.

Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis?  What remedies have you tried as preventatives and for pain relief?

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