Pain Management Home Remedies for Dog Arthritis

Many veterinarians and human medical doctors I know are fond of noting that the only way to avoid getting arthritis is to die young. That’s as true for your dog as it is for you.

Dog arthritis, like human arthritis, is called osteoarthritis, and it occurs when the protective cartilage covering the joint surface deteriorates and the joint fluids (synovial fluid) thin out. It happens in older dogs, and it can severely affect their quality of life.

A dog’s arthritis pain can cause limping, and as the joint pain increases, it can really limit your dog’s ability to get around. If your dog’s joint health is deteriorating, it’s difficult to watch them suffer, so what can you do?

Of course, there are medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but those often come with undesirable side effects. There are, however, some naturopathic home remedies that you can use for pain management to help your best friend get around more easily.

We’ll take a look at what you might do to keep your pooch happy as he confronts the challenges of old age. But first, let’s discuss some of the causes and contributing factors that can worsen dog arthritis.

Factors that Affect Your Dog’s Joint Health

There are a number of factors that can cause or worsen arthritis. If you’re aware of them, you can take appropriate steps to help prevent the problem.

Body Weight

First, there is your dog’s body weight to consider. Obesity puts more stress and pressure on your dog’s joints which can lead to faster deterioration.

As with humans, weight management is helpful for your best friend for many reasons. It’s an important aspect of dog health in general, but it is specifically helpful for senior dogs and dogs with signs of arthritis.

I know that it’s difficult for pet parents to refuse their pooch anything he wants, but by putting your dog on a healthy weight loss program, you can him with any joint problems he may be experiencing.

Your dog’s diet is always going to be something you need to watch carefully for several reasons related to pet health. Preventing or lessening the effects of arthritis is just one more reason to take the necessary steps to reduce your dog’s weight.

Genetics

Genetics is another factor that can affect the likelihood that your dog may develop arthritis. Large breed dogs, such as labradors, German shepherds, and golden retrievers, are more prone to developing arthritis.

This is partly due to their size, and for them, it’s vital to maintain a healthy body weight. There are some small breed dogs, however, that are also at an increased risk for developing osteoarthritis. These include pugs and dachshunds, among others.

Additionally, some breeds are at a greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. This is a joint disease that is different from osteoarthritis. Whereas osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear phenomenon that happens with age, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which your dog’s body begins to attack its own joints.

Poodles and Shetland sheepdogs are two common breeds that tend to develop rheumatoid arthritis more than other breeds.

Injuries

Another factor that can cause your dog to develop arthritis, even if he is young, is the presence of an injury that affects the joint. Fractures and ruptured ligaments are two examples of injuries that can affect a dog’s joint surfaces and result in arthritic changes.

Many arthritic dogs are dogs that suffered an injury earlier in life. It’s almost inevitable that your dog will develop arthritis if he has had an injury that affected the joint, either directly or indirectly.

While these are several factors that can affect your dog’s quality of life, what exactly can you do to help him, particularly if you don’t want to give him prescription drugs with problematic side effects?

What Home Remedies and Tricks can Help an Arthritic Dog?

What home remedy can I give my dog for arthritis? There are actually several natural remedies you can use to help with your dog’s arthritis pain management. Let’s take a look at what can work for you.

Natural Supplements

There are several natural supplements that can be a great alternative to prescription pain medications. These typically work because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Here are several that can help, and they’re safe for your dog.

Comfrey

This natural remedy provides pain relief, and it has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s found in natural food stores as a dried herb. You can sprinkle about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon on your dog’s food. You can also add it to a warm compress for localized pain relief.

Turmeric

Turmeric is also known as curcumin. It is a kind of healthy super-food that you can add to your dog’s food. Like comfrey, it eases pain and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also has antioxidants that help with arthritis and many other diseases too!

Frankincense

Frankincense is another herbal remedy that has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used for several ailments, and it’s a dried herb that you can easily add to your dog’s food.

Yucca

This herb is easy to find in health food stores. It comes as a dried herb or in a capsule. It’s often used in arthritis medications for humans, and it can work for your dog as well.

Alfalfa

This is another great pain management and anti-inflammatory herb, but you want to make sure you get organic alfalfa since much of it has been genetically modified. You can find it at your health food store, or you can grow your own.

Make sure you add the dried herb that is harvested before flowering. You can put it directly in your dog’s food, or it also comes in a capsule if that’s easier.

While you can use each of these natural remedies by themselves, you can also combine them for added benefits.

Joint Supplements

There are also joint health supplements you can give your dog to help maintain healthy joints. These are often used in humans too.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

These are well-known supplements that are used together to promote healthy joints. Glucosamine helps repair joints, while chondroitin helps with joint elasticity and thickness of cartilage.

Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM)

This is another compound that is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It helps the body repair cartilage, which is a factor in the development of arthritis.

Green-Lipped Mussel

This is a very effective ingredient in joint-care medicine. It contains three omega-3 fatty acids — EPA, DHA, and ETA — which have anti-inflammatory properties. They also support and promote skin and coat health.

It’s also a great source of chondroitin, so it’s a two-in-one supplement that will promote joint health for your best friend.

CBD Oil

Cannabidiol (CBD oil) is a new supplement that has shown promise in helping with pain relief and promoting healing. Though it’s derived from cannabis (marijuana), it doesn’t have THC, so it’s not harmful to your best friend, and it won’t make him high, either. Still, it’s better to make sure it’s not contaminated with THC just to be on the safe side.

CBD works with your dog’s system to help calm him and create balance to promote self-healing. It also relieves pain and inflammation. It can work well to improve your dog’s quality of life.

Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, and benefits for your dog’s coat and skin. It also has other benefits, like lowering his blood pressure and slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease.

You can get it as a liquid or capsule supplement, but make sure you go with high-quality fish oil to ensure it gets properly absorbed at the right dosage.

Other Things Pet Parents Can Do for Arthritic Dogs

While using supplements can help your dog’s arthritis, there are several other things you can do that are helpful too. These involve some lifestyle changes that can make it easier for your dog to get around and reduce his pain.

Ramps

When you’ve got arthritis, steps can be a challenge, and you certainly wouldn’t want to have to jump up on a bed. Providing your pooch with ramps so he can get into the house and up on the bed will greatly help him get around.

High-Quality Mattress

This is especially important for older dogs that need extra support. A high-quality mattress can help cushion and support his body while he sleeps. That can reduce his pain and keep him mobile longer.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for your dog can help him lose weight, improve mobility, and reduce pain. It can include techniques like passive range of motion exercises, stretching, and help with walking over obstacles.

If it’s also possible for him to access a swimming pool that can be used for underwater treadmill work and low-impact swimming exercises. This type of therapy can greatly improve your pooch’s quality of life.

Acupuncture

You probably know that acupuncture is a staple of traditional Chinese medicine that can provide human pain relief, but did you know it can also be used for dog arthritis pain relief? It’s true, and it works very well for many patients.

Of course, you would need to consult a holistic veterinarian experienced in acupuncture treatments. They will insert very fine needles into your dog’s body to stimulate the nerve pathways that cause the body to release chemicals like endorphins, which decrease pain.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can help your pooch’s arthritis in several ways. It can increase the circulation to his muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which promotes healing. There are several techniques available that have been borrowed from human massage therapy.

These include acupressure, trigger-point massage, craniosacral massage, and passive range of motion. A holistic veterinarian will likely be familiar with these techniques.

Cold Laser Therapy

This is another newer technique that uses light waves to decrease pain and inflammation. It can also increase the blood flow to the joint. That increase in blood flow can help bring healing cells to the area.

The treatments are performed by an experienced DVM in the clinic. They take about 15 minutes and result in immediate improvement in mobility.

Prolotherapy

This therapy stimulates ligament reconstruction without the need for surgery. For dogs whose arthritis has resulted from ligament injuries, this can help strengthen torn or weakened ligaments.

It is accomplished with injections that stimulate healthy connective tissue growth. While the injection isn’t a natural remedy, it is really your dog’s body that is doing the work. The injection includes natural substances like dextrose and B12, and the injection itself induces inflammation which then triggers your dog’s body to grow healthy, strong connective tissue.

If you go this route, you don’t want to be giving your dog any anti-inflammatory substances. It can work very well, particularly if the cause of your dog’s arthritis is the result of an injury.

What Home Remedy Can I Give My Dog for Arthritis? Final Thoughts

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It comes with new challenges, seemingly on a daily basis. Arthritis is just one more challenge, but there is help for you and your dog.

The natural remedies above can decrease your dog’s pain and promote natural healing without the side effects that many prescription medications have. Who knows, you might even pick up a few tips for reducing arthritis pain from your dog!!