Joint Disease Care: Essential Pet Care Tips for Dogs

Part 1: Caring for Dogs with Joint Diseases

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight for Your Dog

Excess weight can place immense pressure on a dog's joints, especially for those already suffering from joint diseases. The impact of obesity on these dogs can be even more severe. Therefore, if your dog has joint issues, it's crucial to monitor and control its weight closely to prevent obesity. This involves managing your dog's diet and ensuring a balanced nutritional intake, reducing feedings without compromising its health. Neglecting weight control in dogs with joint diseases can not only exacerbate joint damage but also increase the risk of cardiovascular issues.

2. Encourage Appropriate Exercise

Dogs with joint diseases should avoid highimpact activities like sprinting or catching frisbees. Swimming is an ideal exercise for them, as it strengthens muscles, aids in weight loss, and minimizes joint friction and stress. However, not all households have access to swimming facilities. In such cases, taking your dog for gentle walks can be a great alternative, as it also reduces joint strain.

3. Complement Medication with Professional Guidance

Throughout the treatment and recovery process for joint diseases, it's essential to strictly follow your veterinarian's advice and administer prescribed medications, including jointprotective and painrelieving drugs, to alleviate discomfort and pain for your dog.

Part 2: Preventing Joint Diseases in Dogs

Joint diseases in dogs are often irreversible, so prevention is key to managing their condition. Here are some ways to prevent joint diseases in your furry friend:

1. Avoid Intense Exercise for Puppies

Puppies are still in the developmental stage of their joints, and vigorous activities can cause significant damage. Actions like jumping from furniture can be particularly harmful. It's important to limit such highimpact movements for puppies.

2. Balance Exercise Intensity

Consistent, moderate exercise is better than sporadic, intense activity. If you only take your dog for short walks during the week but then overexercise it on weekends, this can strain its joints. Strive for a balanced exercise routine.

3. Ensure Adequate Calcium Intake

Calcium is vital for joint health. Small dogs typically need calcium supplementation until around one year of age, while large breeds may require it until about one and a half years.

OxyPet Doctor's Tip: Puppies are more susceptible to joint diseases than adult dogs. Therefore, it's essential to protect your puppy's joints from an early age and prevent it from engaging in overly strenuous activities.