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Treating arthritis in dogs and cats
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photo by Magnus Rosendahl
The inflammatory process known as arthritis is extremely uncomfortable, even crippling, to many pets. It is often age-related, and can be degenerative. Arthritis can also be brought on by infection and other forms of physical trauma. There are three main forms of this condition: bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
With any form of arthritis, one or more of the joints becomes inflamed and swollen, limiting the animal’s mobility. You may notice symptoms of the condition when your pet has difficulty jumping up, running, or even walking easily. Diagnosis should be made by a veterinarian and treatment options discussed. Frequently, the conventional drug of choice is a corticosteroid, which can have side effects such as muscle weakness, ulcers, fatty deposits, and adrenal suppression. Steroids should not be used on a long-term basis, particularly without ongoing supervision of a veterinarian.
Alternative therapies for arthritis include Glucosamine, MSM, Chondrotin, flaxseed oil, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and massage. There are also several compounds on the market that claim to treat arthritis in pets with great efficacy. An independent survey concluded that FlexPet with CM8 and Arthro-IonX, both commercially available through their web sites, have the greatest success rate. A company called PermaHEALTH, Inc. also offers a compound of CMO (Cerasomal cis-9-cetyl myristoleate) that has been used by humans and animals on either a short- or long-term basis.
As with any medical condition, you’ll want to get expert advice. That goes for the other treatments discussed on this site. Obviously, pet owners must use common sense. My husband and I have established a productive dialogue with our veterinarian about combining traditional and alternative treatments for our dog’s health issues, and you might be able to do the same, depending upon how broadminded your vet happens to be. Always, the health and comfort of your pet comes first – no need to “choose sides” between holistic and traditional medicine.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-Pets-3721/2008/1/arthritis-cure-dogs.htm
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