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

Table of Contents:

1. Content from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
2. Weight loss for arthritic dogs
3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

 

1. Obesity & Arthritis in Dogs Just as obesity adds stress to joints in humans, the same factor is at play with family pets. Excessive weight restricts joint movement, decreases mobility and can cause other physical problems. Those associated problems only add to the difficulties posed by the arthritic condition. 2. Dog Food for Dogs with Arthritis The Federal Government (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does not mandate that ingredients used in pet food be inspected. A handful of states do impose that requirement on manufacturers but they are the minority. So where does that leave you? 3. The Tellington Touch Method TTouch™ - the Tellington-Touch - is a method for enhancing the physical, mental and emotional well-being of your companion animal based on cooperation and respect. It is used to support veterinary care, training and behavior modification. An additional benefit is a deeper rapport between humans and animals through increased understanding and more effective communication.

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Weight loss for arthritic dogs

By J. R. Rogers

I was reading a press release the other day from one of our large pharmaceutical companies. It seems that they have come up with a new weight loss product for dogs. As my readers know, excessive weight is definitely not good for dogs suffering joint problems.

Just how important is this?

From the standpoint of suffering the effects of arthritis or hip dysplasia it is clear that dogs do better when they are not overweight. From the standpoint of using a prescription medication to get the weight off, I am not so sure it is necessary.

Dogs and diet

By now, you should know that dogs require more fat in their diet than humans. It is a critical source of calories for dogs and it is essential to their growth and development. Now, this new “drug” is called Slentrol®. It is in a liquid form and apparently it reduces the fat that a dog can absorb. According to my sources, it is going to market in a few months.

With somewhere between 5-10% of the dog population being overweight by definition, there is no doubt some market for this drug. Of course, it has some ‘downsides.” The cost is going to be somewhere between $1-2 per dose. And, there are side effects that include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and loose stools.

What do you think?

There is no doubt that if your dog is overweight and suffers arthritis or joint problems in any form that the excess weight has to go. The issue is that I think it can be done less expensively and without the side effects.

Call me ‘old fashioned’ but what ever happened to just managing the amount of food that you feed your pet? And, correspondingly there is (sometimes) no excuse for not getting that overweight dog into more exercise.

Somehow, I am sure that veterinarians will have some market for this drug. And, for those dogs who may really need it I hope it is a good solution. Frankly, I think the old-fashioned approach is a little easier on your dog and your pocketbook.

I look back on all the problems dogs have had with prescription arthritis medications and the bad side effects. Of course, we are in the business of offering safer solutions. So I am not one who is going to get too excited about a product like this unless it is really necessary. Side effects are always a concern.

In any event, watch the extra food portions and try to get Fido out for a walk a little more often. It sure means a lot to those who suffer from joint problems.

See you next time.

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

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

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This concludes the January Issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on February 15th, 2007!

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