Sunday, September 30, 2007
Supplements, exercise can help dogs cope with arthritis
Paws & Claws
Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas. She lives in Blacksburg now, and answers local pet owners' questions every week in The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com.
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I “inherited” a sweet little York-a-poo from my neighbor who died. The dog weighs about 16 pounds, and we think she’s about 10 to 12 years old. Recently she has developed a limp. She can walk and doesn’t whine, but just limps a lot. I’ve checked her paws and see no evidence of any injury or puncture wound. She continues to eat, and there is no sign that she’s in pain. She just moves slowly and limps. My friend said a vet friend of hers suggested glucosamine to help with arthritis in her dog.
The first thing is to take your dog to your veterinarian for the problem to be evaluated. Without seeing the dog, it sounds as if she might have an arthritic condition. Arthritis is more likely to affect large dogs, but it is not uncommon in smaller dogs, especially if they are a little overweight. Therefore it is important to monitor the diet and reduce the number of treats. Arthritis can result from an accident or infection involving one or more joints, and it usually takes time to develop. If your veterinarian decides that arthritis is the cause of you dog’s limp there are a number of pain-relieving medicines that can be prescribed to help the condition.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are dietary supplements. In some cases, they may help to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation associated with arthritis, as well as help to halt the damage to the cartilage components of the joint. There are some beef-flavored glucosamine products formulated for dogs.
Regular, low-key exercise is important to prevent joints from becoming stiff. Walks on a leash, with no running or jumping, together with avoiding slippery floors, are advisable. Lift her into the car or onto the sofa. Comfortable bedding, such as latex foam covered with a soft blanket, should be provided. All of these suggestions should help your dog feel more comfortable.
* * * *
I have been told by a number of veterinarians that it is normal for cats to throw up a lot. One of my cats does it more than a lot and has been diagnosed as having a very sensitive stomach. We have tried several brands of cat food supposedly for cats with sensitive stomachs. None of them has helped. Is there a course of treatment to help him or a type of food that you could recommend to help in this situation?
The commercial pet food company Iams has just brought out a new food for cats with sensitive stomachs called “Digestive Care.” This is probably worth trying, as is the Purina One dry food formulated for cats with sensitive digestions.
All cats vomit from time to time and it is often associated with the presence of fur balls. There are a number of commercial products that can be given once or twice a week to aid in the passage of these hairballs.
Hairballs form as a result of the cat grooming itself and are more likely to occur in fastidious cats. One method of reducing the frequency with which hairballs form is to groom the cat on a daily basis, especially if it is long-haired.
Cats are carnivores and their digestive tracts are not designed to handle large amounts of cereal that make up the bulk of dry foods. Many cats can cope with an exclusive dry food diet, but others cannot. In those latter cases canned food should be fed in small increments, taking care not to overload the stomach with the inevitable consequences. Purchase the smaller tins of wet food and feed your cat three or four times daily, approximately one to two teaspoonfuls at a time.
The first thing is to take your dog to your veterinarian for the problem to be evaluated. Without seeing the dog, it sounds as if she might have an arthritic condition. Arthritis is more likely to affect large dogs, but it is not uncommon in smaller dogs, especially if they are a little overweight. Therefore it is important to monitor the diet and reduce the number of treats. Arthritis can result from an accident or infection involving one or more joints, and it usually takes time to develop. If your veterinarian decides that arthritis is the cause of you dog’s limp there are a number of pain-relieving medicines that can be prescribed to help the condition.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are dietary supplements. In some cases, they may help to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation associated with arthritis, as well as help to halt the damage to the cartilage components of the joint. There are some beef-flavored glucosamine products formulated for dogs.
Regular, low-key exercise is important to prevent joints from becoming stiff. Walks on a leash, with no running or jumping, together with avoiding slippery floors, are advisable. Lift her into the car or onto the sofa. Comfortable bedding, such as latex foam covered with a soft blanket, should be provided. All of these suggestions should help your dog feel more comfortable.
* * * *
I have been told by a number of veterinarians that it is normal for cats to throw up a lot. One of my cats does it more than a lot and has been diagnosed as having a very sensitive stomach. We have tried several brands of cat food supposedly for cats with sensitive stomachs. None of them has helped. Is there a course of treatment to help him or a type of food that you could recommend to help in this situation?
The commercial pet food company Iams has just brought out a new food for cats with sensitive stomachs called “Digestive Care.” This is probably worth trying, as is the Purina One dry food formulated for cats with sensitive digestions.
All cats vomit from time to time and it is often associated with the presence of fur balls. There are a number of commercial products that can be given once or twice a week to aid in the passage of these hairballs.
Hairballs form as a result of the cat grooming itself and are more likely to occur in fastidious cats. One method of reducing the frequency with which hairballs form is to groom the cat on a daily basis, especially if it is long-haired.
Cats are carnivores and their digestive tracts are not designed to handle large amounts of cereal that make up the bulk of dry foods. Many cats can cope with an exclusive dry food diet, but others cannot. In those latter cases canned food should be fed in small increments, taking care not to overload the stomach with the inevitable consequences. Purchase the smaller tins of wet food and feed your cat three or four times daily, approximately one to two teaspoonfuls at a time.
