Volume 2 - Issue 1

Greetings,
Welcome to this month's issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Please pass this along to your friends!

Table of Contents:

  1. Featured Articles from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
  2. Proper Pet Exercise (Part III)
  3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

Featured Pet Arthritis Content

  1. A Guide to Glucosamine Products for Pets
  2. Canine Hip Dysplasia
  3. Stories of Users of Rimadyl
  4. Natural Arthritis Relief for Pets
  5. Recommended Books on easing arthritis pain in Pets
  6. Using Glucosamine to Ease Arthritis Pain in Pets

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Proper Pet Exercise (Part III)

By J.R. Rogers

Stretching it out

The Final Exercise Step
In the past two editions we have talked about the importance of both strength and aerobic exercise. The final step for overcoming arthritis problems in pets is to add stretch exercising. It is the "stretching" that adds flexibility to tired arthritic joints and critical to the overall health of arthritic joints.

Cats
Cats are much like human beings when it comes to stretching. Just as humans do, cats tend to stretch themselves out after periods of rest or sleep. For that reason, they do not need assistance with this aspect of "exercising." However, if your cat has reached a point with their arthritis that they are not stretching, try stroking them or brushing their hair. This will usually get a cat motivated to begin moving its body more.

Dogs
Dogs are nothing at all like cats when it comes to stretching. They simply do not engage in that activity as a cat would and for that reason, you have to be a little more proactive when dealing with an arthritic dog.

Range of Motion Stretching
This can be done with both cats and dogs, but as a general rule, cats will not need it as much. On a daily basis, every joint should be both extended and flexed in its normal "range of motion" to ensure that flexibility is maximized.

With each joint, try to spend at least 2-3 minutes daily to make certain that your pet gains the greatest amount of benefit. As well, at least for dogs swimming is a great stretching type of exercise that really does the job.

Consistency
We all know that our pets take up a great deal of our time. However, it is extremely important to maintain a consistent pattern of exercise. And this does not have to be a situation where you have to lose a lot of time to get the job done. Brief sessions on a consistent basis are much better for your pets' joints than infrequent longer exercise routines.

Think about how you feel when exercising. Those long sessions leave your muscles and joints sore and tired. On the other hand, even the briefest and light exercise sessions leave you feeling looser and more comfortable. The same is true for Fido or Fluffy. Short workouts and stretching gain valuable ground in the fight against arthritis and overall will make your pets happier and more content.

Aging Pets
We all hate the aging process. For most pet owners, the hardest part of living with them is watching them grow old. After all, these are some of our closest friends and no one wants to say "goodbye" to them.

Quality vs. Quantity: The Real Aging Issue
The real issue in the aging process is the quality of life. For pets, the difference is usually one of how much time their owners are willing to spend to ensure that they enjoy that quality. For those that suffer from arthritis, it means your help is necessary and essential.

Nourishing Joints
Remember, every move your pet makes nourishes its joints since movement forces synovial fluid in and out of spongy cartilage, keeping it moist and healthy. Those fluids also provide oxygen, deliver nutrients and remove waste.

The key to maintaining that normal activity lies in the use of glucosamine, proper nutrition and exercise. Do your part to help your pet achieve the quality of life they deserve as they age by adding the exercise components to their lives.

See you next time.

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Pet Arthritis Message Boards

A feature to our Pet Arthritis Resource Center is the Pet Arthritis Message Board. You can post messages, ask questions, learn more, and meet friends. You can post messages in any of the following sections.

Dogs

  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Arthritis in Dogs
  • Glucosamine for Dogs

Cats

  • Feline Hip Dysplasia
  • Glucosamine for Cats
  • Arthritis in Cats

Other Animals

  • Arthritis in Other Animals

Here's a few sample posts from the Forum...

SC
Posted on 26 Dec 2002 at 17:11

Just a quick post regarding medication for dogs suffering from arthritis or pain associated with hip dysplasia. I had been treating my 100 lb. female Golden Retriever with Rimadyl 100 mg. twice daily. This seemed to work fine, no complications such as liver damage, and she responded favorably to the treatment. However, at around $100 per month for the medication plus a checkup every 3 months to insure the Rimadyl was not doing damage gets expensive. I love my pets and will spend any amount needed to insure they are healthy and feeling well. However, I still felt there must be a better alternative.

Clayton
Posted on 14 Jan 2003 at 03:40

Anyone tried Glucosamine for treatment for this over surgery?? It is $3500.00 for surgery and as much as I have no problem spending the money, other alternatives would be nice.

my dog has lost walking use of one hind leg and I was wondering if alternative treatments would help

Dia
Posted on 14 Jan 2003 at 03:37

Hi! Our shep-mix dog Buddy (age 7+?) was just diagnosed as having arthritis in his back. 2 x-rays show that his vertebrae are fusing together, causing pain, stiffness, and apparently causing some nerve pain in his otherwise strong legs. He has never been a very agile or athletic dog, but the pain came on suddenly. He woke up one morning screaming in pain and nearly unable to use his hind legs. This happened a few days after he took a fall on the ice while trying to jump into the truck, suggesting that he may have injured the already arthritic tissue. His CBC came back normal. He was given an injection of butorphanol for immediate pain and has begun a 10-day supply of Rimadyl at 150 mg per day. He is also taking 1000 mg of Glucosamine and 600 mg of Chondroitin per day. Although the yelping has stopped and he is able to walk, he seems to have significantly less control of his back legs, i.e. falling down, trouble on stairs, and unable to lift his leg to "mark". It has only been one day since he was rushed to the vet, so I hoping the drug therapy will return him to normal within a few days. So the question is, what can we expect for the future? Will his condition improve or worsen with time? His diet is Eukanuba maintenance formula, dry kibble and 1/2 can moist per day...since the Iams company was bought out, it seems that this formula is not as good as in the past. Anyone agree? Should we switch to Science Diet? I am also interested in learning about any homeopathic remedies that have been successful. Sorry this is so long, had to get it all out there. Thank you.

Post your own message on The Pet Arthritis Message Board now!

This concludes the January Issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on February 15th, 2003!

Please forward to any friends that have pets with arthritis and who would be interested.

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Have a great January from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center and The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. See you next month!

 

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