Train Your Pet

Arthritis is one of the oldest and most common diseases on earth. Archaeologists have proven that even the dinosaurs had it. The word is Latin in origin and means “inflammation of a joint.” It sounds simple, we know. But there is nothing simple about arthritis. At last count, there were over one hundred different types of the disease. In this article, we will discuss arthritis in canines and how to treat it.

The Humane Society of the United States informs us that there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in America. Thirty-nine percent of US households are home to at least one dog, making them the most popular domestic pet by household. Dogs are also the most expensive pet to keep. The average owner spends $ 225 per animal on veterinary visits. One reason dogs are more expensive than other pets is that they are more likely to develop diseases like arthritis.

One in five dogs over the age of seven has some form of arthritis, according to a recent study. The disease can inflame the joint and cause degeneration in the cartilage, fluid and bones of the joints. As you might expect, this often causes pain and discomfort in the affected animal. Let us take a moment to review the most common types of canine arthritis.

As we mentioned, there are hundreds of different types of canine arthritis. But since we don’t have the time to review them all, we will focus on a few of the most popular types. Osteoarthritis, immune-mediated, infective and idiopathic (unknown cause), are the most common types of arthritis in dogs. Because they age faster than many other animals, osteoarthritis (literally bone and joint inflammation) is the most common form of the disease.

What is it?

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that causes the cartilage to degenerate, which makes moving incredibly uncomfortable, even painful. The hips, the back and the shoulders are most frequently affected areas.

How to spot it

Every animal that has ever drawn breath on this big spinning ball we call Earth slows down as it ages. But arthritis is different. When a dog has the disease, he will refuse to engage in the activities he once enjoyed. He does this because the pain of moving is simply too great for him to endure.

More often than not, the dog will demonstrate less interest in taking walks or going outside. If the animal lives in a multi-level home, he may be reluctant to climb the stairs. Just as in human beings, pain and general stiffness is often worse in the morning. In advanced cases, it may be possible for an owner to detect swelling of the joints.

How to treat it?

One of the most tragic things about canine arthritis is that many pet owners simply cannot afford treatment. Visits to the vet and prescription pills can be incredibly expensive and many owners, particularly older ones, simply cannot afford them. Fortunately, there are inexpensive supplements that are safe, effective and natural.

Glucosamine

A popular natural supplement for humans who suffer from arthritis, glucosamine also works on dogs. Numerous tests have confirmed that glucosamine can help repair damaged joint cartilage by facilitating the production of a glycosaminoglycan, which helps build stronger joints.

If possible, it is best to purchase the supplement from a quality name brand.Like most medications for dogs, the pills must be concealed in an appetizing meal. Because most vets recommend larger doses to start, it may be necessary to pulverize these pills and mix them in with the dog’s food.Otherwise, you pet will probably eat around them.

Anti-Inflammatories

As the name suggests, an anti-inflammatory prevents inflammation in the joints, which means it can alleviate pain, stiffness, and can even reduce swelling. Boswellia, yucca extracts, and aspirin are other affordable, natural anti-inflammatories. Yucca is a plant extract that acts as a kind of natural steroid that can help reduce pain.

Also known as frankincense, boswellia is a drug that works on the vascular system to help reduce inflammation on a cellular level. Finally, aspirin (the kind you find in your medicine cabinet at home) is an age-old anti-inflammatory that can help reduce pain and swelling in the joints. Always consult a veterinarian before you administer any new treatment.

Healthy Diet

When a young dog manifests symptoms of arthritis, it is almost always the result excessive weight gain. Just as in humans, too much body weight puts undue stress on the joints and causes them to break down before their time. A pet owner should work with her veterinarian to create a proper diet and exercise plan.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Known as NSAIDS for short, these prescription pills are the most effective pharmaceutical treatment for advanced arthritis in dogs. Unfortunately, they are also rather expensive. Online apothecaries for pets may offer lower prices for dog owners.

Make sure you search the Internet before you purchase an overpriced bottle from your veterinarian.Your dog is likely an important member of your family, or at the very least, a trusted companion. Make sure her transition from puppyhood to adulthood is as pain free as possible with these helpful tips.

Julie White is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and dog medicine.

Our pets are more than just animals, they’re a real part of the family. They can be our best friends, our children, a shoulder to cry on or a buddy to cheer us up. Animals are companions in the truest sense of the word. We’ve taken careful measures to keep them in optimal health since they were puppies and kittens. And now, as they begin to show signs of aging, it’s just as important that we provide them with the care they need to stay happy and comfortable well into their golden years.

Most vets agree that preventative care is key when it comes to aging pets. That’s why it’s so important to take your older pet in for regular checkups. You should also take careful note of any physical or behavioral changes. If your pet seems uncomfortable don’t wait to see if the condition clears up on its own, as you may have in your pet’s younger years.

Most pet owners are well attuned to their pet’s comfort levels, so be sure to pay attention to any indications of pain or distress. Now, not unlike when he or she was a baby,you have to be the voice of your dog or cat. As a general rule of thumb, senior wellness care for average dogs usually begins around age seven. For small dogs and cats, it tends to start around age 10. Again, these are generalizations and every animal is unique. Here are a few methods of keeping your beloved old timer feeling his or her best.

Bones and Joints

As dogs and cats age, stiffness and soreness can become serious issues, just as in people. Sometimes this discomfort is the result of osteoarthritis, an inflammation of the joints and connective tissues. Deramaxx Chewable Tablets are a great option for dogs suffering from stiffness and discomfort. These easy to administer tablets are non-steroidal and can be given without food. While you should speak with your vet about your dog’s unique medical history, Deramaxx is generally well tolerated among senior dogs. This medication is frequently prescribed after surgery to speed recovery time and reduce pain.

You should also consider taking preventative action when it comes to protecting your dog’s joints, particularly if you have a large breed. Arthogen, for example, is a glucosamin / chondroitin supplement that can be taken orally to fortify joints and treat existing osteoarthritis symptoms. These simple chewable tablets can be administered whole or discreetly crushed into food.

Cats have unique bone and joint issues too, all of which can be addressed with the proper medications and supplements. Cosequin for cats is a great choice for older cats. This flavored nutritional supplement contains a special formula designed to maintain and support your cat’s joint health while helping them stay mobile and comfortable. The tuna and chicken flavored capsules are easy to administer to even the most finicky cats.

DVM’s Feline Joint Gel is another excellent way to improve your aging cat’s quality of life. This glucosamine supplement promotes cartilage strength and joint health. It’s a naturally occurring amino acid that can help to rebuild connective tissue and decrease painful inflammation and stiffness. It’s widely considered a safe supplement that even natural medicine advocates prescribe to animals on a regular basis. Again, you need to discuss your cat’s unique healthcare needs with his or her vet first.

Dental Care

Just like humans, our pets’ teeth need special attention. You can avoid many of the common issues that older pets face by a lifetime of preventative dental care. C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste is a great way to keep your dog or cat’s mouth looking and feeling fabulous. And it’s extremely easy to administer. It’s meant to be swallowed and does not contain foaming agents. The chicken flavor will quickly prove popular among your furry friends.

To keep your cat’s smile in mint condition, try Greenies Dental Chews. This unique natural formula contains essential minerals, vitamins, and taurine. It dramatically helps to decrease plaque and tartar buildup which can lead to decay and gum disease.

Nutritional Supplements

Again, just as humans need a multivitamin to supplement our everyday diets, so do our pets. Speak to your vet about finding a supplement that delivers the vitamins and minerals that your dog or cat needs to stay healthy, comfortable, and agile.

Remember to take your older pet in for regular checkups and to take note of any symptoms of discomfort or illness. By taking these simple precautions, you can improve the quality of your pets’ lives.

Jennifer Folk is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and pet meds.

There are many conditions that pets contract that they really shouldn’t have to suffer through in these modern times. Itching from fleas or allergies, stiff and painful joints or intestinal parasites can make your dog or cat extremely uncomfortable. In many cases, such conditions can be quite harmful or even fatal. Fortunately, there are many pet medications available to keep such common conditions at bay.

An example is a heartworm infestation in dogs. This is becoming more common every day, but is a completely preventable condition. Giving your pet Heartgard PLUS Chewables for Dogs can keep him or her from contracting this often deadly parasite that is transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes. Most veterinarians require pets to undergo a simple heartworm test before they will prescribe Heartgard PLUS, but once your dog is on this preventative medication, you can rest assured that your loving pet is protected.

Not only does Heartgard PLUS keep heartworms at bay, but it also serves as an intestinal de-wormer. That’s double protection for your pet.

Heartgard offers an oral medication for cats, too, so your feline friends can be protected from heartworms. Heartgard Chewables for Cats prevents heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae. It also works to remove and control hookworms in your pet.

Fleas and ticks are other common parasites that plague cats and dogs. Put your dog on Frontline Plus, and your pet won’t have to suffer through painful, itchy bites from those pests any more. Frontline Plus is a topical treatment used to control fleas, ticks and chewing lice for dogs and puppies, as well as for cats and kittens. Separately, formulations are available for each type of pet, and will provide quick relief.

In cases of extreme infestations, you might want to treat your dog with an all-over dip like Virbac Pyrethrin Dip. This product can be used on dogs, puppies (over 12 weeks old), cats and kittens (over 12 weeks old) to kill and repel many pests. No more will your pet suffer from the bites of fleas, ticks, lice, gnats, mosquitoes or biting flies.

At the same time that you treat your pet, you must treat your home in order to prevent a reinfestation that “bugs” your animals and your family. Virbac Knockout Room and Area Fogger contains pyrethrins and permethrin to quickly kill the adult pests in your home and to sterilize fleas and their eggs for up to seven months. That is a lot of power that you can employ to keep your home free of these biting pests.

Ear fungus is a common condition in many breeds of dogs and cats. It can be controlled through the use of Panalog Cream and Ointment. This is a topical ointment that can be applied directly to your pet’s ears. It combines an antibiotic, antifungal and corticosteroid to soothe and cure ear fungus and many other skin conditions. It, like most of the other products described here, is available by prescription through your pet’s veterinarian.

Our pets are living longer these days, just as we are. Because of that, they can suffer from many of the same age-related disorders that humans do. One such condition is painful joints. This can be treated in dogs with Chondro-Flex DS Joint Care Formula. This soft chew is designed to relieve pain and stiffness that is associated with normal daily activity, and it is available over the counter. But you should consult your pet’s veterinarian before self-prescribing.

For cats with joint pain, DVM Feline Joint Gel offers relief with glucosamine. Joint function and flexibility are improved through the use of this oral joint formulation. It contains not only glucosamine but MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) as well. This is a natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory product that works with the glucosamine for maximum effect. Also included in the DVM Feline Joint Gel are Omega-3 Fatty Acids and antioxidants for overall health.

Some dogs and cats suffer from eye dryness. In that case, many veterinarians prescribe Artificial Tears. This product prevents irritation and relieves dryness in the eyes of pets just as similar products do for humans. It is applied just like human eye drops, with relieving effects experienced almost immediately.

If your pet suffers from allergies, Clemastine (Rx) might offer relief. An oral antihistamine, Clemastine tablets can be used by dogs or cats. Of course, it isn’t a cure for whatever is causing your pet to sneeze and cough. But it does offer symptomatic relief of allergy symptoms so that your pet is more comfortable.

These are just a few examples of the wonderful medications and supplements that your dog or cat might need. Talk to your veterinarian about any conditions your pet might have and he will advise you on the best treatment to bring your furry loved one the relief he or she needs.

Patricia Catagnus is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and pet meds.

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Caring for a pet can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. If you put in the right amount of love, care and affection, then your pet will surely return it twofold. More often than not, you will get a lot more than you put in.

Pets are great. They are there when you come home. They are not judgmental. They will always listen and they can’t exactly talk back. But caring for your pet also requires a whole lot of effort on your part.

Your pet is not a person, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need plenty of attention. You have to make sure you keep them on a healthy diet, get them plenty of exercise, and don’t leave them cooped up in the house all day.

Even if you do everything right, however, your pet can still get sick. Nothing can make a pet owner feel worse than seeing their beloved pet in pain. Luckily, veterinary science has advanced to the point where, in many cases, there is a cure for what ails your hurting animal.

Here are a few examples of common medications that you may encounter when your pet is sick.

Bones and Joints

Just like human beings, your pets can experience problems in their bones and their joints. Part of the reason for many joint problems with pets is over-bLeeing. A purebred dog might look beautiful, but oftentimes a mutt from the pound will be healthier. They will certainly be more grateful.

But even pound puppies have joint problems sometimes. Still, the best way to treat joint problems is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Cosequin DS is a supplement that has been proven in controlled studies to help maintain joint health.

Cosequin is made from a combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and manganese ascorbate. It is available in chewable form for either cats or dogs.

But if your pet already suffers from joint problems due to osteoarthritis or pain following surgery, they may need to be prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug. Rimadyl is a common non-steroid pill that will reduce pain and inflammation for dogs.

Talk to your vet if you see your pet limping or if they appear to be unusually stiff. They could be experiencing the wear and tear on their joints that causes osteoarthritis. Pills like Rimadyl won’t cure the problem, but they will help your pet deal with the pain. Talk to your vet before putting your pet on any prescription or supplement regiment.

Heartworm

If you are concerned about your pet contracting heartworm disease, then you should first and foremost take them in for a test at your vet. After that, your vet may prescribe a preventative heartworm pill.

Heartguard Plus is an anti-parasite drug that destroys heartworm larvae in the tissue stage. It will also control ascarids and hookworms. This medicine is chewable and can be given with or without food. You might have to break the pills up a little bit and sneak them into treats for it to work effectively.

For cats, there are also heartworm medications, and they even come in topical form. Advantage Multi Topical Solution for Cats will help to prevent heartworm disease and also helps to prevent flea infestations, ear mites, and intestinal parasites.

To apply this solution you just rub it in between your cat’s shoulder blades every thirty days or so. Your cat should be older than eight weeks before you start treating them with this solution. There are versions of this drug for dogs as well. Make sure that you use the cat version on cats and the dog version on dogs. This is very, very important to remember. You don’t want to make things worse. Talk to your vet to see if there are any other considerations to bear in mind.

Other Medications

Of course, there is a whole world of other potential medications your pet could be put on. Many pets in this day and age suffer from separation anxiety. Clomipramine is a pill that can help to chill your pet out if they are spending all day fretting around the house when you are gone.

But if you are going to put your pet on anti-anxiety medication, it should also be in combination with other, more proactive steps. Your pet may be freaking out all day because she is lonely. Consider hiring a dog-walker to come in and take her out for even just a half hour while you are at work. Combined with a prescription like Clomipramine, this could drastically improve your animal’s mental health.

Worrying for a sick pet can be almost as bad as worrying for a sick child. It is important that when you first see signs of sickness in your pet that you take them to the vet as soon as possible. When you get there, ask lots of questions and make sure you listen to all the suggestions the vet has to offer. Then you will be well on your way to having a happy and healthy animal in your life once again.

Adrian Blue is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and pet meds.

In the thought of many pet owners, their constant companions, dogs and cats hardly have to suffer the pain of heart worm or kidney disease. However, sometimes we cannot avoid these ailments, and we should try to give the pets best care like what modern veterinary medicine suggest.

Pet owners that are active in their animals’ health and preventative care should take a few moments to educate themselves about some of the most common pet meds out there so that they can fully understand the usage of each medicine prescribed by the family vet.

Popular Antibiotics

Used to combat bacteria and infectious diseases, antibiotics will help get your furry friend on the road to recovery. Amoxicillin is a popular form, being a broad-spectrum, synthetic member of the penicillin class. This antibiotic is prescribed to treat a variety of bacterial infections, from dental infections to bite wounds, respiratory tract infections and more.

Azithromycin, another commonly prescribed pet med, is a macrolide antibiotic applied in many situations of bacterial infection, like dermatological infections. Last but not least, Cefadroxil is from the cephalosporin family and can be used to stop many common bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections and more. All of these antibiotics are available for dogs and cats in capsule, tablet, or an oral suspension form.

Prevent Fleas and Heartworm

Parasitic heartworms are carried by mosquitos and, once they reach a dog, will invade the heart and pulmonary arteries. When untreated, heartworm can be life-threatening, and preventative care is strongly recommended.

Sentinel Flavor Tabs come in a monthly pill form to prevent heartworm disease and fleas in dogs and puppies. It can also be used to control adult hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.

Heartgard Plus is another common medication that prevents canine heartworm disease in the form of a once-a-month topical solution that also kills fleas and controls intestinal parasites. Cat- and dog-friendly flea/tick prevention and treatment options include: Advantage, Frontline, flea collars, medicinal spray, and shampoo.

Control Skin Allergies Itchiness or irritation of the skin in pets can commonly be caused by skin allergies. Atopica is an oral form of cyclosporine that targets the specific immune cells responsible for the allergic reaction in dogs’ skin. For immediate relief that can be enjoyed by dogs and cats alike, try a topical spray like Dermacool-HC. This anti-inflammatory therapeutic spray contains 1% hydrocortisone with cooling astringent that provides fast but temporary relief of inflammation and allergies.

Reduce Joint Pain

Nutritional supplements are becoming increasingly popular as a way to treat or prevent joint pain. To promote healthy bone structure and support joint mobility in dogs, Hylox Soft Chews are a solid option with ingredients that range from antioxidants to Omega-3 fatty acids. If your feline friend is experiencing joint pain, see if Cosequin does the trick. It incredibly helps repair damaged joint cartilage and contains anti-inflammatory properties. While these supplements have achieved great successes, they are slow-acting and it may be weeks before you notice any improvement.

Care for Kidney Disease

Most common in older cats and dogs, kidney disease can be fatal and typically requires immediate treatment. Oral medications like Calcitriol are prescribed for chronic renal disease, and for hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in the blood). More often than not, CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) will also require your pet to begin a specialized diet. Other common kidney complications, like stones or infections, can usually be treated with CKD medicines. Anxiety and Behavioral Meds

We don’t always know what causes your four-legged companion to start acting strangely or feeling depressed, but we do know that sometimes it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. One solution pet owners can turn to is a drug called Amitriptyline.

This tricyclic antidepressant will help address various behavioral problems such as anxiety and urine spraying. In most cases, your vet will suggest that you administer these types of drugs to your pet along with behavior modification training.

Stop Motion Sickness

For the canine companion who can’t help getting sick in the car, Cerenia tablets provide a soothing solution when longer trips are necessary. This medication prevents acute vomiting due to motion sickness so that your dog can finally get some relief.

Another helpful drug you can turn to when battling motion sickness is Chlorpheniramine. An antihistamine that induces drowsiness, this medicine can also be dispensed as a mild tranquilizer.

Learning the basics of preventative treatments or different medications relating to your pet’s disease is an important part of being an owner. Be sure to also fully investigate the side effects of any medicine before starting treatment. Know your pet’s medicinal allergies so that you and your vet can beware of related drugs that may cause the same reactions. Help your pets reach their golden years with these effective treatments.

Anita Hal is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and dog medicine.