Canine Osteoarthritis

By Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow

Older dogs are prone to developing arthritis. However, young dogs can develop arthritis due to trauma to the joint, hereditary malformations, breeding issues, unstable joints, poor diet, and infection. Early detection is key to slowing the degenerative process and managing the dog’s level of pain.

Indicators of canine arthritis include:

• Reluctance to play, walk, run, climb, jump
• Swelling and heat at the site
• Favoring a limb (limping)
• Difficulty getting up or standing
• Moving stiffly
• Protecting a limb
• Avoiding being touched
• Change in attitude / personality
• Weight gain
• Less alert
• Sleeping more, and,
• Crunching (“crepitus”) sound when the joint is flexed.

Your holistic veterinarian, acupressure practitioner, and canine nutritionist are good resources for your dog to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Because there are many different types of canine arthritis, consulting professionals who can help zero-in on the exact joint problem is the best strategy for your dog’s comfort.

You can begin to offer your dog comfort care for his arthritis by using working the acupressure points given below in the chart.