Today I got out of my crate and felt like a really.really.old.dog. Ugh, I hate getting out of bed, but today was worse than others. I have noticed the last couple weeks I am not feeling dog gone friendly either. Normally when I hear Pa in the work truck I am so excited I can’t contain myself. Today when I heard him roll in front of the house I didn’t want to move. I continued to lay right next to my crate until I heard him come in the house and holler my name. I again couldn’t find the strength to move. He finally came and got me and loaded me in the truck and unfortunately I noticed we are not heading towards the shop…we are on the way to the vet. Ugh, hope he has treats… Vet Porter says I have arthritis and this is what is causing all this pain. He said I am in good shape and not overweight (I did my best over the holidays) so he said he was going to put me on an anti-inflammatory. Hopefully this will help. Just in case you can’t get out of bed either, here is a couple tips for your owners on arthritis.
Signs that your dog may have arthritis from arthritis.org.:
- Favoring a limb
- Difficulty sitting or standing
- Sleeping more
- Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
- Hesitant to jump, run or climb stairs
- Weight gain
- Decreased activity or less interest in play
- Attitude or behavior changes
- Being less alert
Treatment for Arthritis in Dogs: To start you will want to make sure your dog is at a healthy weight and getting enough exercise. Your Vet may suggests treatments such as an anti-inflammatory or pills/food that contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids- they have shown in combination they help with arthritis. Most of all keeping your pet comfortable and as active as you can will help with overall soreness. *Please do not give your pet any human medication without talking to your vet first.