Natural Treatment for Dogs & Arthritis

Arthritis is a painful disease that can significantly reduce your dog's quality of life. The bone and cartilage in the joints begin to wear, causing inflammation and a reduction in mobility. Common signs of arthritis in dogs include stiffness, enlarged joints and awkward walking (e.g. walking with a gait). A number of factors can be attributed to arthritis in dogs, including age, obesity, size (larger breeds are more susceptible) and poor diet. Natural remedies can help alleviate the pain associated with the disease.

Exercise

• It may sound counter-intuitive since arthritis makes movement painful, but exercise is an important part of alleviating arthritic pain. First, exercise will help the dog stave off extra weight that might result from a reluctance to move because of the pain. Additional weight will only aggravate the problems associated with the disease. Additionally, exercise will help improve mobility and strengthen a dog's muscles.

Healthier Diet

• A healthy diet is another important aspect of arthritis control. Buying all natural dog food can eliminate some of the preservatives regularly found in dog food that may aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. A regular feeding time and a reduction in the amount of treats will also help the dog. The metabolism works at optimal levels with regular feeding times, and extra treats only act as extra calories for the dog. Natural food, a regular feeding time and reducing treats will help your dog's body run efficiently and keep weight off.

Vitamin C

• Adding Vitamin C supplements to a dog's diet has proven to have beneficial effects. Vitamin C helps keep joint tissue healthy and also helps prevent additional deterioration of the joints. According to earthclinic.com, the following doses should be used: small dogs should receive between 500mg and 1,000mg, medium to large dogs should receive between 1,000mg and 2,000mg, and giant dogs should receive between 2,000mg and 4,000mg of Vitamin C.

  Start by giving your dog the lower end of the recommended amount. Diarrhea may be a sign of using too much Vitamin C.

Herbal Remedies

• Alfalfa is an herb commonly found dried or in capsule form as a supplement. The alfalfa plant has properties that sooth the pain associated with arthritis. Capsules can be introduced to the dog, but creating a drink with dried alfalfa has proven to be the most effective. Use between one and three teaspoons of dried alfalfa leaves and make a tea for your dog to drink. You should start by using only one teaspoon and then slowly increase the amount of alfalfa, depending on your dog's reaction.

  Another commonly used herbal remedy for arthritis is yucca. This herb contains naturally occurring steroids that help reduce inflammation.

  Other herbs that help reduce the pain associated with arthritis include stinging nettles and comfrey.

Mussels

• Mussels have properties that help the body repair damaged connective tissue. Fresh mussels may not be the easiest item to find, so another alternative to this is shellfish extract. The extract can be added to the dog's food.