Bone Arthritis
Bone Arthritis
Arthritis in dogs is a painful condition which is the result of bone joint damage and deterioration. Dog arthritis is as common as one in five dogs over eight years of age. A dog’s arthritis pain can range from very mild to severe.
There are several different ways in which arthritis in dogs is treated to them continue and maintain a normal life. The most common form of dog arthritis treatment would be dog arthritis pain relief medications.
It is wise to change your dog’s diet to prevent further deterioration of bone joints due to arthritis. It’s recommended that you feed your dog quality dog food without any unnecessary additives, wheat, corn or soy. Whole grains tend to promote bone joint inflammation and aggravate your dog’s arthritis.
It’s best to get your dog on a healthy and balanced diet since any excess weight will only add to the stress on your dog’s body and bones furthering any inflammation due to arthritis. Make sure you get your do enough exercise. Swimming for dogs is often recommended to help relieve pain from arthritis in dogs.
Never give your dog ibuprofen as this can be toxic and fatal is ingested by dogs.
If your dog has arthritis pain then you can get over-the-counter dog arthritis meds for pain relief such as FlexPet. For severe arthritis pain, you need to consult with a vet to find out if any prescription arthritis medications for your dog would be necessary.
Dog arthritis is no joke and can be painful and crippling to your pet. If your dog is showing any signs, you need to take the proper steps now to help prevent further damage which may lead to surgery.
Can you really get Arthritis from cracking your bones too much?
Cited sources would be nice.
Answer: Cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. Understanding what physically occurs when you crack your knuckles will help you realize that the “knuckle cracking causes arthritis” theory is actually just a popular myth.
How the Joint Works
A joint is formed where the ends of two bones come together. The ends of the two bones are covered by articular cartilage. The cartilage is surrounded by what is called the joint capsule. Inside the joint capsule, there is synovial fluid which serves as a lubricant for the joint and also as a source of nutrients for the cells that maintain the joint cartilage.
Synovial fluid contains dissolved gases — oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When you crack your knuckles or when pressure is applied to a joint, the pressure inside the joint capsule expands but the expansion is limited by how much synovial fluid is contained in the joint. Synovial fluid cannot expand unless pressure inside the joint capsule drops and the dissolved gases can escape out of the fluid. The cracking sound comes from the gases rapidly being released from the fluid.
Study Conclusions
There have been a few studies over the years that considered whether or not cracking knuckles caused arthritis. One study found that there was no increase of hand arthritis among knuckle crackers, however, knuckle cracking was related to hand swelling and lower grip strength.
Another study indicated that while knuckle cracking was not associated with arthritis, it was associated with damage to ligaments that surround the joint and dislocation of tendons. While cracking your knuckles is not linked to causing arthritis, there may be a connection to soft tissue injuries.
3RFlex – Brittle Bone Desease, Arthritis
« Osteoarthritis | Home | Arthritis of the Spine »
Leave a Comment