Canine Arthritis Risk Factors

As the owner of a dog with arthritis, I know how difficult it can be for you and your dog. Even though arthritis can occur in dogs of any breed or at any age, certain factors can greatly increase the risk of your dog developing cancer.

According to Novartis Animal Health the top factors are:

Genetic predisposition. You may be surprised to learn that up to 70% of certain breeds including Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds will eventually be affected with canine arthritis.

Obesity: Overweight dogs tend to develop arthritis years three years earlier than lean dogs so it is important to make sure that you control your dog's weight.

Joint Abnormalities: Conditions such as hip dysplasia put extra stress on animal’s joins, increase a dog’s risk of arthritis. In addition if your dog has surgery such as a knee replacement surgery, like my Wanda did, your dog will likely develop arthritis around that joint.

Stress and Trauma: Injuries to ligaments, tissue and bones, and constant physically demanding activities also increase the risk by putting pressure on joints. To alleviate this, you can invest in a dog ramp or steps.

Infection: Bacterial, viral and fungal infections, including Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can affect joints and contribute to arthritis.

If your dog is diagnosed with canine arthritis, you have several options of treatment. Canine arthritis treatments include exercise, diet, supplements, and/or pain control medication. For more information on canine arthritis, visit http://www.allaboutdogcare.com.

Margaret Svete, best-selling author, television and radio personality, and dog rescuer helps dog owners discover easy dog care tips. Subscribe to the premiere dog care ezine, The Dog Enquirer, at http://www.allaboutdogcare.com

Is Arthritis Causing You Pain?

Arthritis, even a mild case is no fun. Arthritis is painful and can have a negative effect on your life.

There are some things you can try to lessen the pain of arthritis. Some remedies do not require a prescription. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about any arthritis solutions.

Some people are able to alleviate arthritis pain by taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Many people use over-the-counter joint medications to lessen the pain of arthritis. These medications claim to make joints stronger thus making arthritis less of a problem.

Exercise can be a wonderful way to deal with arthritis. Water aerobics often is helpful for people who have arthritis.

Others find walking lessens arthritis pain. There are exercise classes specifically geared toward people who suffer from arthritis.

There are folk remedies for arthritis that some people swear by. One is eating five golden raisins soaked in one tablespoon of gin. The raisins should be eaten every day and there are lots of people who say that this technique has greatly improved their arthritis. Another folk remedy is to use castor oil and rub it into the affected area. Follow this treatment with a heating pad.

There are prescription drugs that can help arthritis sufferers. Some of these medications work really well for some and not well at all for others. You may need to try more than one medication to find the one that works best for you. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects from these drugs. There are also some arthritis medications that can not be taken if you have other medical problems.

There are many ways to lessen arthritis pain. You might want to start with exercise and over-the counter solutions and go from there.

I am the source.

For more information and resources on Arthritis visit http://www.healthmattersinfo.com/arthritis