Natural Pain Relieving and Healing Treatments for Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Natural Pain Relieving & Healing Treatments
for Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Osteoarthritis is believed to affect 90% of older dogs and almost 20% of middle aged dogs. While its direct cause is unknown, many veterinarians feel that certain lifestyle characteristics and activities can help create osteoarthritis problems in canines. There are many treatment options for this type of arthritis in dogs; these may include medications, surgeries, therapy, supplements and an exercise and diet program. Most veterinarians will recommend a combination of these different treatment plans based on the severity of the condition. For dogs in the early stages of osteoarthritis, or dogs experiencing mild symptoms of the disease, there are many natural pain relieving and joint healing remedies available which may allow the dog to resume a normal and happy lifestyle.
Dogs are born with articular cartilage connected to the ends of the bones and between joints. It is this articular cartilage that creates a fluid and smooth movement of the joint when the animal is active. It also serves to absorb the impact and shock of everyday exercise and prevent these impacts from damaging the bones. Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects this articular cartilage and removes the cartilages ability to keep the joint moving smoothly. The result of this is damaged cartilage and bones grinding or rubbing against one another during movement. This causes swelling of the joint and pain with movement. Dog’s who suffer from osteoarthritis will live a diminished life, because they will have difficulty with exercise, climbing and running as well as experiencing a good deal of pain. Treating osteoarthritis in dogs means to reduce the pain and inflammation as much as possible, while attempting to promote healing of the joint cartilage. The overall goal for this type of treatment is to improve the dog’s quality of life.
Typically, once a dog has been properly diagnosed by a veterinarian with osteoarthritis, the doctor and the pet’s owner will work out a treatment plan. Treatment options will vary depending on the dog’s individual condition, as well as the intentions of the owner. Often this treatment plan will involve surgery and the use of specific medications. Based on the condition of the dog and the severity of the disease, it may be right course of action to go with a natural treatment process. For the green minded pet owner, the use of naturally occurring supplements and physical therapy techniques may be better suited for their dog than the traditional chemical and surgical based treatments. While this course of natural treatment may be beneficial to the dog, it may not be as effective as a total course of treatment involving medications and surgeries. It is strongly advised that the pet owner discuss with their vet in detail the wide array of treatment combinations and decide whether using natural healing program is the right course of action.
NUTRACEUTICALS
Once a decision has been made that a natural treatment plan is the right move, the first course of action will most likely be to determine if the animal is overweight using a series of body weight and body condition scoring tests. Excess weight is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of osteoarthritis, and reducing this excess weight will reduce the pressure placed on the injured joints. The veterinarian will help the owner devise a nutritional program to reduce calories and improve joint function. Some of the naturally occurring substances that show promise in reducing the inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis include: glucosamine, chrondroitin sulfate, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Often these substances are referred to as nutraceuticals or nutritional health aids. They can be administered through a specific diet or in the form of supplements. These natural substances can be used to reduce inflammation and pain in the joints, but they do not fix the problem altogether. While they can promote natural healing, the cause of osteoarthritis is often an abnormality or dysfunction of the joint itself, a problem that destroys the cartilage faster than the dog’s body can heal it. A recent study performed in Norway tested 45 dogs suffering from osteoarthritis and split them into three groups. One group received Carprofen, (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug); another received Chrondroitin sulfate in the form of Green-lipped mussels, and the third group received a placebo. After several weeks of testing the results reported that the group of dogs taking Chrondroiton sulfate (Green-lipped muscles) saw more results than the group taking the placebo, but fewer results than the group on the NSAID Carprofen. This means that while these nutraceuticals are beneficial to easing the joint pain of arthritis, they are not as effective as the medications available to treat osteoarthritis. The strongest argument for using nutraceuticals over the traditional non-steroid medications is their lack of side effects. In some dogs, the use of medications is inadvisable. These cases will also benefit from a natural treatment plan involving nutraceuticals.
EXERCISE AND PHYSCIAL THERAPY TREATMENTS
After the addition of nutraceuticals and a proper weight management diet is implemented for the patient, the other half of a natural pain relieving and healing process will involve exercise and physical therapy treatments. Proper amounts of supervised exercise will increase blood flow to the joints, improve mobility and flexibility, strengthen the muscles and increase range of motion of the joint. It will also decrease pain and improve the dog’s overall health. It is absolutely essential that a veterinarian develop an exercise treatment plan for a dog with osteoarthritis. Too much, too little or the wrong kind of exercise will do more harm to the joints. The best form of this exercise is referred to as controlled voluntary exercise, and includes controlled walking and swimming. Certain cases of osteoarthritis will also benefit from physical therapy or rehabilitation. This technique requires the skills of a qualified professional rehabilitation therapist and uses specific techniques aimed at building up the strength, motion and endurance of the joints and the muscles surrounding them. These techniques can involve heat and cold therapies, range of motion exercises, massage therapies, electrical simulation, water therapy and gait training. These are all considered to be natural forms of increasing the body’s natural ability to heal. A good example of how effective these therapies can be is seen in an osteoarthritis patient placed within a water tank. Once the water level has reached the dog’s ankles, the water has already taken 9% of the weight off of the dog’s joints. Once the water has reached the knee it has removed 15% of the weight placed on the joints. By using water to remove the pressure placed on the injured joints, the dog can now perform therapeutic exercises meant to increase strength, mobility and motion, all without placing further strain on the joints. This can speed up the healing process.
HOLISTIC NATURAL TREATMENTS
Alternative therapies may also be used to treat dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. Some of these therapies may include homeopathy, herbal medications, touch massage, acupuncture and chiropractic methods. These may have little risks of side effects, but their effectiveness is not yet scientifically proven. Many veterinarians disagree about the efficacy of these treatments and not many will recommend these treatments alone. Some herbs may also be poisonous to dogs. These treatments may however be beneficial if they are used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan including surgery, medications, exercise, therapy and nutritional supplements.
CONCLUSION
In certain cases, surgery may be required to repair or reset the damaged joint before any other treatments can begin. The choice to use a natural healing protocol for osteoarthritis in a dog may or may not be the best option for treating the symptoms and healing the injury. In cases where chemical medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS are not an option or surgery is not necessary, these natural therapies may help provide relief. Overall, these types of treatments will be the most successful if they are added to a comprehensive osteoarthritis treatment plan that is best suited for the patient.
