Treating or managing an arthritic dog

Unfortunately, there is no set cure for arthritis in dogs. The damage to a dog’s joint is often irreversible, so it’s a matter of managing the condition rather than treating it. Once your pup is diagnosed with this degenerative joint condition, the plan of action will involve preventing any further joint damage going forward. Managing arthritis is not a one size fits all approach, so your veterinarian will often rely on a combination of the following treatment options below. To diagnose arthritis in dogs or cats, your veterinarian must conduct a complete physical examination along with x-rays. Certain types of blood work and other lab tests are helpful in making a diagnosis and ruling out an underlying infection. There are multiple factors that go into determining the right treatment plan for each arthritic pet. Arthritis is not curable, but we can add so much to your pet’s quality of life by managing pain with medication, treatment and lifestyle changes. Identifying the underlying cause or triggers of arthritis will help determine the course of treatment. For example, with some dogs, it makes sense to have surgical correction of patellar luxation in order to stabilize the joint and help offset the