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. The Healing Curve
3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

Featured Pet Arthritis Content

A Guide to Glucosamine Products for Pets Canine Hip Dysplasia Stories of Users of Rimadyl Natural Arthritis Relief for Pets Recommended Books on easing arthritis pain in Pets Using Glucosamine to Ease Arthritis Pain in Pets

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The Healing Curve

If you are a regular reader of this column, you know what my recommendations are when dealing with an arthritic pet. Using liquid glucosamine, a healthy diet and exercise are the most important components in getting your furry friend healthy again.

The Transition from Dragging to Wagging
Many pets will respond very quickly to the use of liquid glucosamine usually within a few days. On the other hand, some pets with more complex arthritis problems may take a bit longer. If you are following the guidelines to get them healthy again, it is also important to understand that there is (some) transition period. These are just a few tips to help your pet make that transition with the greatest degree of comfort. Remember, during the healing process pets are going from some stage of disability to a healthier stage so ensuring that you are helping them is some guarantee they will be more comfortable.

Litter Boxes and Food Dishes
Litter boxes and dishes for eating and drinking should be both easily accessible and comfortable to access. If you have a multi-story home, placing them on each level helps. After all, why make them move around any more than necessary until the healing process is underway.

Litter boxes also are normally made in two different configurations. Some have high entries and others are low. If it is too high, your pet may have some difficulty in getting in and out. If you don't want the expense of having to buy a new one, cut away some of the entry area to make access easier.

Normally, it helps to place some kind of non-slip carpet or pad close to these areas so they don't "slip." As well, those wonderful little pet beds are great when Fido or Fluffy want to sit or sleep. If you want to "create" your own bedding, that is fine too.

Floors
If you have any kind of flooring that is slippery, no matter what the type, take the time to add some non-slip runners or rugs. These are not expensive and it certainly can decrease the risk of your pet falling and making their arthritis worse. If you have been following my tips, you know that traumatic injuries can not only make arthritis worse, it can also cause additional arthritis-related problems.

Stairways
If your pet is experiencing difficulty moving up or down stairs, help them out. If that is impossible or difficult, close off those stairways that pose a risk when they are not needed for everyday use. Barricades can be very effective and are easy to make from cardboard or plywood. Some pet owners use baby "gates" to prevent access.

Yard Play
Keep an eye on pets when they are in the yard. I recommend this to the extent possible even for healthy pets. If a cat or dog is arthritic, they are vulnerable to being attacked by another animal and of course, unable to defend themselves. Also, yards are full of hazards that can be really dangerous. A simple little slip or fall and your cat or dog faces the risk of injuring an already arthritic body.

Exercise and Warming Up
We all know that getting your pet out of their misery means they have to exercise. What is important to understand is that this should be approached as "light to moderate" exercise in the beginning. Equally important, is to approach exercise much like an arthritic human would…with a "warm up."

All you have to do before tackling anything more strenuous is to walk or play with your pet for a few minutes before going after anything more serious. It makes a world of difference in the final analysis.

It is worth noting that most pets with arthritis are not very enthusiastic at first about exercise. Try a little coaxing with pet toys to get them into the mood. It works most of the time in my experience.

These are good guidelines that should apply so long as there are indications that your pet is still experiencing pain and discomfort. Generally, use some common sense and follow them until such time as you (and, your pet) feel that these guidelines are no longer necessary.

See you next time.

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Pet Arthritis Message Boards

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...

Kevin
Posted on 06 Sep 2003

A friend recommended aspirin or Tylenol for my dogs pain. She said one was bad for dogs but couldn't remember which. Can anyone tell me?

My 10 year old Bichon Frise has severe skin allergies and can chew himself...he has on one of those shields to prevent him from doing this...but also it appears that his back paws bother him in the morning and throughout the day...I've looked at them to see if there were any sores, but nothing...he hates when I touch his paws...underneath...he thumps his feet around the house and whines...he is also reluctant to go outside to do his thing...when I bring him out he hurries back and thumps his back paws again..he does this so much that one of his toenails started to bleed...he did this last year also during the summer but it went away...any ideas? or anyone who has had similar situation??

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

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

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