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DOG HEALTH: CARING FOR DOGS WITH ARTHRITIS

Dogs-and-Arthritis-Toronto-dog-wellness-2Aging is a part of any canine life, but sometimes with those precious golden years there also comes the challenge of coping with arthritis.

This condition, which is often referred to as degenerative joint disease, subjects a dog to pain and inflammation of the joints. Just like in humans, arthritis is defined as “the breaking down of smooth cartilage that protects the bones that make up a joint” (source). Once that healthy cartilage disappears or diminishes, a joint becomes aggravated, inflamed and generally painful from the constant friction of bone rubbing against bone.

Sometimes there are additional factors at play besides genetics that can cause arthritis to present in canines. These factors can include (but aren’t limited to) broken bones, dislocation, torn ligaments or preexisting medical conditions.

For a dog suffering from arthritis their mobility can be greatly limited. Sitting and even walking can become uncomfortable, which as you can imagine is no fun at all. However, there are a few things a pet parent can do to make a dog’s life with arthritis more comfortable.

GENTLE EXERCISE
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Dogs who suffer from arthritis will find movement a challenge, but they will still need to exercise in order to keep fit and keep their joints functioning. Two highly recommended low-impact therapies are hydrotherapy (aka supervised swimming) and canine massage, as both activities allow a dog to stretch, tone muscle and limit the risk of falling.

Depending upon the case, you may also consider short, slow walks. Just be sure to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t topple over.

SMART FOOD
Researchers have found that some human foods possess vitamins and minerals that can help soothe arthritis symptoms, such as celery, papaya and mango. Some experts believe that excessive grains in a diet can aggravate the condition, so you may want to consider removing such elements from your dog’s diet.

Eating smart and avoiding excess weight will also help alleviate some joint stress for dogs, as the more pounds they have to carry, the harder it may be to walk.

MEDICATION
Some cases of canine arthritis are so severe they may require medication and supplements from a certified vet to alleviate their symptoms.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE
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Of course, nobody can predict what conditions a senior dog may develop, but encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle can help to prevent the risk of developing arthritis; although avoiding this condition entirely cannot be guaranteed.

Make sure your dog exercises regularly to keep excess weight off and be mindful of their diet, especially as they age. Sometimes a dog’s food will need to be changed as they get older — and keep track of how many and what kind of treats you are spoiling them with.

(Note: Be sure to consult with your veterinarian when addressing arthritis in your dog.)

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dog-treadmills-dogtrot-fitness-pawsh-magazineAdequate exercise is equally important to your dog’s wellness as a healthy diet. Even if you can’t run WITH your dog, we can help you meet his exercise needs, regardless of weather. With running decks scaled to suit any stride, there’s a PetRun treadmill for every size of dog! WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

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WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK

Pawsh-Magazine-Toronto-pet-photography-florals-1Thanks for your patience everyone over the past couple of weeks. As I’ve been alluding to, things are changing here at Pawsh and those changes have required a great deal of ‘behind-the-scenes’ attention in order to get them all straightened and sorted out.

But I wanted to pop in quickly to say that Pawsh will be back in full swing next week AND I’ll be spilling the beans on the changes that are taking place. You are missed greatly and I can’t wait to resume our day-to-day chit chat about life with dogs!

Thank you again each and everyone of you. See you on Monday! xo

{Photography by Pawsh Studio}

ECO-FRIENDLY DOG TIPS: HOW TO HELP YOUR DOG LIVE GREENER

Green-pet-products-Pawsh-Magazine-1 How green is your pet? It’s not a new question by any means, but it is a consideration worth revisiting every year, as the environment impacts us all (whether we have two legs or four!) With spring officially here and almost in full swing, what better time to explore this matter. Consider it a bit of a spring cleaning do-over to help your pet reduce his environmental pawprint. Here we go! (more…)

PAWSH NO.9 SPRING 2014 COVER

Pawsh-Spring-2014-CoverA bit of bad news friends — Pawsh No. 9 will not be available until this Friday, March 21st (the first day of spring). We want it to be as perfect as possible, so opted to spend a few extra days making sure every little detail is spot on!

In the meantime, however, here is the new cover! Our cover pup, Cohen, looks like she is crooning with glee at the prospect of warm weather. This shot makes me want to sip wine on a warm patio and listen to live jazz all night long.

Away I go now to wrap up this new issue! Thanks so much for your patience and understanding — I hope you are still excited to read it! xo