Going the extra step for a dog with arthritis
Dear Cathy,
You helped me with my dog Lady back in 2011. She was having problems making friends with my son David. Lady is still very protective of our home and me, but she is better at making friends with people now.
Lady is now 10 years old. About a year ago, I noticed she was limping with her right shoulder.
The veterinarian said it was arthritis and recommended we start her on omega-3. A few months ago, I noticed she was also limping with her right leg. The veterinarian said Lady’s arthritis is now in the right knee and will work its way to her spine. This makes me sad.
Lady has been a good companion and friend to me all these years through a lot of difficult times, including the death of my husband, moving and remarrying. We keep her as active as we can with one long and two short walks a day.
We got her an extra soft bed and a ramp to get in the car, but she does better with me lifting her into it. She can still get up and down on the couch by herself but not as easily as she used to.
Do you have any other recommendations on how to help dogs with arthritis, other than what we’re doing? How do you know when a dog is in enough pain that it is time to let her go? I don’t want to lose Lady, but I also don’t like to see her in pain.
Nancy
Dear Nancy,
I am so glad Lady has been your companion for so many years. You’re a good pet parent to go to such efforts to ensure her comfort. You’re doing so many of the right things for her. But I do have a few more suggestions to bring her some additional relief.
Consider acupuncture. Ask your veterinarian if he knows of anyone providing canine acupuncture or search San Antonio for a holistic vet. I did this for one of my dogs who had arthritis, and it helped him stay mobile a little longer.
Give Lady a daily 10minute massage. She will love it, and it will ease the basic aches that go along with arthritic pain.
Switch her to a prescription diet for joint care. Give her frequent but short walks.
And if you really want to go the extra mile, talk to your vet about prescribing some hydrotherapy for her. It’s basically an underwater treadmill (physical therapy) for dogs that allows them to exercise without discomfort or pain.
Many dogs live with arthritis in their senior years. I think you’re doing a good job keeping her comfortable. As for when to know when to put a dog down, I will answer that question in an upcoming column. Stay tuned.