Is your furry friend slowing down? Dogs, just like people, can be diagnosed with arthritis at any stage in their lives but don't worry, we're here to help! We're here to dish the information you need about canine arthritis and how you can still keep exercising your arthritic dog safely and comfortably.

Let's help your beloved pet maintain a good quality of life, despite their diagnosis.

Understanding Arthritis in Dogs

Canine arthritis, at its core, is a degenerative joint disease. Simply put, it involves the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joint, leading to inflammation and pain. This condition can affect any dog joint but is most commonly found in the hips, elbows, knees, and spine. As the cartilage deteriorates, the bones start rubbing against each other, causing discomfort and a reduced range of motion.

Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis

Spotting canine arthritis early can significantly improve your dog's quality of life. Keep an eye out for signs such as stiffness, especially after rest, limping, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, decreased activity levels, and changes in behavior like increased irritability.

If your dog has any of these symptoms, it's best to consult with your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis and discuss a suitable treatment plan.

Exercise for Dogs with Arthritis

We titled this article with a question: should you walk a dog with arthritis? This short answer is: YES! It might seem counterintuitive, but exercise can be incredibly beneficial for dogs suffering from arthritis. The same is true for people with arthritis!

The longer answer is: you need to approach exercise in a thoughtful and gentle manner. Regular exercise can help manage arthritis pain, improve joint function, and maintain muscle strength but it can be overdone.

Let's explore how to make exercise a positive experience for your arthritic pets.

Benefits of Exercise for an Arthritic Dog

Exercising your arthritic dog helps maintain muscle strength, which supports and stabilizes the affected joints. Regular exercise also promotes joint lubrication and helps prevent stiff joints.

Keeping your dog active can improve their overall mood and prevent secondary issues like weight gain, which can worsen arthritis. Just make sure it's low-impact and suited to their abilities.

How to Exercise a Dog with Arthritis Safely

It's best to avoid high-impact activities like jumping and running on hard surfaces, which can put excessive stress on the affected joints. Focus on low-impact exercises and always start with a warm-up to prepare the muscles.

Shorter, more frequent exercise sessions are usually better than long, strenuous ones. And always pay attention to how your dog reacts and recovers from their exercise routine.

Recommended Exercises for Arthritic Dogs

Gentle walking is one of the best ways to exercise a dog with arthritis. Aim for short, controlled walks on soft surfaces. Swimming is another excellent option as it's a low-impact activity that supports joint range of motion.

You can also incorporate range of motion exercises and gentle stretching into your exercise program, ideally under the guidance of a veterinarian or rehabilitation specialist.

Supplementation to Help with Managing Arthritis 

There are many different options to help manage the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. At Black Dog Barkery we carry a number of different supplements to address joint health, overall inflammation, and discomfort.

Mushroom-based Supplements

While eating a mushroom on the trail might not be a great idea for your dog, there are lots of varieties of dog-safe mushrooms! Much like for us humans, dogs can benefit from the natural anti-inflammatory nature of mushrooms. This is extremely helpful in arthritis specifically, as it is an inflammatory condition at it's root. 

We carry both liquid and powder supplements that are easy to add as a meal topper and are generally very well received by dogs!

Omega's for Canine Joint Health

Many dog owners find that adding Omega fatty acids to their dog’s diet is helpful in managing joint health and arthritis symptoms. We carry a specialized blend intended specifically for arthritis, so your dog not only gets the benefit of the glucosamine and chondroitin but also the omega's which have natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Joint Specific Supplements

Because joint issues are common in dogs, we also carry joint specific supplements intended for long-term support. These offer a great maintenance plan for dog breeds who are predisposed to arthritis: german shepherds, labs, great danes, dachshunds, and generally any very active or working dogs.

Arthritis is like many other conditions, it's best to support ahead of time if you know your dog is at risk. Joint supplements are generally safe for all ages and can be used before symptoms start to show to support and extend the health of your dog's joints. 

If you're looking for specialized support or have questions about what might be right for your dog stop by the store and we'll work with you to add joint specific supplements to your dogs diet.

Diet, Weight, and Arthritis

We touched on this earlier, but many times with arthritis and senior dogs in general, lower activities levels lead to weight gain, and specifically with arthritis, that's adding insult to injury. 

Extra weight on your dogs put extra stress on their joints with increases their joint pain and contributes to accelerated joint damage. The very best thing you can do throughout their life to help reduce the risk of arthritis, is feeding a healthy diet that helps your dog maintain a healthy weight. 

At Black Dog Barkery, we pride ourselves on providing true, quality nutrition to our canine customers and believe that the key to your dogs health lies in what goes into their bowl. Dogs on a raw or fresh cooked diet are much less likely to struggle with weight issues and as these types of diets are less inflammatory than kibble diets, it's a win-win! 

Tips for Exercising Your Arthritic Dog

Firstly, careful observation is key when exercising your arthritic dog. You are their best advocate so pay close attention to any signs of increased joint pain or discomfort during and after physical activity.

Dogs are  magicians as masking pain so be sure to look out for changes in gait, reluctance to move, or increased stiffness. If you notice any worsening of symptoms, it's important to adjust the exercise program accordingly. 

Regular check-ins with your veterinarian can also help fine-tune the treatment plan and ensure optimal arthritis pain management for your beloved companion.

Tip #1: Comfort is Key

Opt for exercising on softer surfaces like grass or sand to minimize impact on their joints. If you have access to water, and your dog enjoys swimming, it can be a great low impact option. 

Tip #2: Shorter is Better

Keep exercise sessions short and frequent, rather than long and strenuous. Offer or build in rest breaks as needed.

Tip #3: Exercise their Mind and their Body

Combine exercise opportunities with enrichment activities. Instead of your normal walk around the block, try taking some healthy treats and and scattering them in your yard for a mental activity as well as a physical one.

Taking Early Action on Arthritis

It's important to keep in mind that dogs have twice as many weightbearing joints as we do! That means double the amount of joints that can be painful. 

Taking early action to prevent or support arthritis in your dog can increase their comfort and even their lifespan. Focus on providing them with quality food, proper supplementation, and healthy activity levels to keep their muscles strong and their weight optimal. 

If you need help with picking out a healthy diet for your dog we're only a phone call or a visit away!