You may not know that arthritis in your 4 legged friend is as common as it is in humans!  The difference is that humans can verbally express their discomfort and dogs will just adapt to the pain.

If you pet is over weight, this may lead to joint problems just as in humans.

There are some very common signs that your pet is experiencing arthritis symptoms.

Your dog may have trouble climbing up and down stairs.

Your dog may start to limp after a moderate amount of exercise.

Your dog may seem to be getting slower when walking or running.

It is advisable to see a veterinarian when trying to treat arthritis problems.  The problem is that in this high stress economy that many people can not afford to take their pet to the vet.  This may lead the pet to become worse in their condition.  Also, most likely your vet is going to tell you that the dog needs glucosamine or some other type of arthritis cure.

Many vets will prescribe some sort of anti inflammatory medicine.

Another option for you is to help your dog lose weight by helping them eat healthier food and exercising.  Of course the exercising becomes more difficult when the dog is in pain.  

Some way to help your little (or big) buddy get some relief is to raise the dog feeder.  If your dog does not have to bend over so far to get food, this may help them with their pain.

You can use a pet ramp to help your dog get into the house or vehicle.

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