Canine Acupuncture

Canine acupuncture is growing in popularity and has been for the last 30 years. It is an alternative way of treating your dog for pain, most commonly, arthritis. According to research, acupuncture was used on animals going as far back as three thousand years, and many veterinarians are sold on its effectiveness.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing needles in certain points on the body. Scientists discovered that it works by releasing the brain's own natural painkillers, called endorphins, into the body. It accomplishes the same effect as giving your dog a prescription drug, however without the harmful side effects, not to mention the hassle of getting your pet to swallow a pill.

Pet owners do not need to attempt acupuncture on there own, as there is 112 insertion points called acupoints, and only a trained professional can identify were those points are at. Believe it or not, there have been reports of severe injuries from people trying to do it themselves.

Canine acupuncture treatment will normally involve one thirty to forty five minute session once a week for a month. If your dogs shows no sign of improvement after four treatments, it is not very likely that additional treatments will work either, and the treatment normally ends.

If acupuncture does do the trick, you can try acupressure, as it is a good alternative. Acupressure is based on the same theory, but instead of using needles, the doctor will use fingers at specific points on the body. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure can be done at home, with training from a licensed therapist, and there is no threat of harming your pet. It can be used with acupuncture or instead of acupuncture.

Your pet will not experience any pain, even though the thought of needles sounds differently. The hard part with dogs is getting them to lie still. High strung pets are more challenging that calm pets, and most pets actually fall asleep during the procedure.

If you have considered canine acupuncture, you can either contact the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society or your veterinarian, for a referral to a reputable one in your area.

Pet Joint Pain

Common signs of joint pain in an animal include:

* Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play.
* Limping
* Lagging behind on walks
* Difficulty rising from a resting position
* Yelping or meowing in pain when touched
* A personality change resisting touch

Rimadyl For Dogs

Rimadyl for dogs is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that was created for relieving pain and inflammation in dogs. Research has proven that it provides relief for osteoarthritis symptoms. Rimadyl has fewer side effects than other similar drugs on the market today, and for that reason, it has become a popular choice for pet owners.

Rimadyl, however, is a drug; not a cure, and every drug has some kind of harmful side effect. Regardless of the fact that Rimadyl is highly effective at reducing swelling, inflamation, and pain, and can make coping with pet arthritis more bearable, it does not treat the disease itself, and therefore is not a cure. There is not a drug on the market today that does not have some kind of harmful side effect. Rimadyl is not any different. Some of the side effects reported are digestive upset and liver problems.

The medication should be given with food to avoid stomach upset, and it has been advised to allow your pet to eat some food, then take the medication and then finish eating. This allows the drug to be absorbed along with the food, and reduces the onset of stomach upset. In a lot of cases, the beterinarians also prescribe additional drugs to counter act the upset stomach and ulcers. As with all drugs, there are possible side effects with long term use.

All prescription drugs have side effects, and Rimadyl for dogs is no different. You should carefully monitor your pet, and look for any of these symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and cramps. Other things you might notice are: loss of appetite, dark stools, jaundice or lethargy. Symptoms that are less obvious are damage to the liver or kidneys and could aggravate preexisting hypertension.

Some recent studies that there are things that a pet owner can do to reduce the chances of their pet having these harmful side effects. The study suggests that the use of any non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug should be limited, and one of the ways that this can be accomplished is to combine the drug with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. This can be accomplished by decreasing the amount of drugs as discomfort and limping disappear.

Pain Relief for Dogs-Aspirin

When pain relief for dogs is necessary for mild to moderate arthritic pain, aspirin is a possible choice. One of the good things about aspirin is that is is not addictive, and its effectiveness does not diminish over time. When it is taken in low dosages it relieves pain, and in higher dosages it acts as an anti-inflammatory.

However, there are a few draw backs that pet owners need to be made aware of. The first draw back is that joint inflammation responds slowly to aspirin, and it should not be taken with any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, without supervision from a veterinarian.

Pet owners also need to be made aware there are side effects of aspirin. One side effect is that it can irritate the stomach and aggravate gastrointestinal problems, and could cause peptic ulcers. It also puts stress on the kidneys. The best choices are coated or buffered aspirin, as this offsets the effects. If your dog has intestinal bleeding, anemia could develop. If this occurs a diet rich in iron could be necessary.

Cats however, are different than dogs and should not be given aspirin unless absolutely necessary. Aspirin could actually be fatal for cats if taken at the dog level.

When using aspirin for pain relief for dogs, it should always be given with food to avoid upsetting the stomach. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, a buffered aspirin is highly recommended, as it contains an antacid to neutralize gastric acid in the stomach, which lessens the chance of ulceration.

Another option is aspirin with the enteric-coating. This passes through the stomach before dissolving and it absorbed later as it moves through the small intestine. Some doctors believe that enteric-coated aspirin is not absorbed well, however, there is no medical proof to back the theory up. One thing they have agreed upon though, is that it takes longer to reach the bloodstream and therefore is not recommended for quick pain relief.

As you can see, aspirin is an option for pain relief in dogs. However, you should not give your pet aspirin or any other medication without first consulting with your veterinarian. Some medications could be dangerous and life threatening to your pet, especially if given the wrong dosage. Never give your pet an human/adult dosage, as dosage varies between humans and animals.

Osteochondritis Dissecans In Dogs

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a condition of abnormal cartilage grow in rapidly growing dogs. The exact causes are unknown but is thought be environmental and genetic. There are numerous theories as to the cause, however, no one knows for sure.

OCD can also be found in human and horses, and strangely enough, rarely ever in cats.

OCD is most commonly found in Golden Retrievers, German Shepard, Rottweilers and other large breed of dogs weighing over 35 pounds that are five to seven months old. OCD is mostly commonly detected during the growth phase of a young dog. Dogs that have OCD normally get arthritis as well.

OCD is a disorder of immature long bones and causes a growth and thickening of cartilage that covers the head of a long bone. Poor development of the subchondral bone beneath is the result of this thickening cartilage. When a dog applies his weight, the cartilage over the defective bone is traumatized by the pressure and fractures and fissures can occur. Pieces of cartilage or bone may break off and become lodged in the joint space, causing pain which limits movement and activities.

Osteochondritis Dissecans most commonly affects the shoulder first followed by the elbow, ankle then knee. The most common form of treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs which is normally not successful and has many side effects and surgery is normally required. Surgery is a painfully long process and even though the patient shows improvement, full recovery takes months. Arthritis may develop over time. Dogs with elbow, hock and knee OCD tend to develop more severe arthritis than dogs that have shoulder OCD, and they do not respond as well to surgery.

A lot of dogs experienced great benefits from glucosamine-chondroitin therapy after surgery. There are other forms of treatment that are very popular with dog owners, even though these treatments are controversial, the dog owners report amazing results in a fraction of the time and cost, and without having to put their dog through painful surgery. These treatments are all natural products with no harmful side effects. In this time and age many people are realizing that natural products and remedies are more beneficial than the traditional medical route.

Canine Elbow Dysplasia

Canine elbow dysplasia effects more than fifty large breed dogs. Over the years, evidence of these joint problems has increased, the exact cause is unknown, however, many practitioners have a theory that it could possibly be because of poor breeding practices or increased awareness of the condition.
Canine Elbow Dyplasia is abnormalities in the joints and bones that make up the elbow, the humerus and the ulna.

Symptoms of elbow dysplasia occurs in young large-breed dogs, and most commonly appear at five to eight months old. However, some breeds may not show and symptoms for several years.

Most owners will notice a stiffness in one limb when their dog is walking, and this stiffness if most noticeable when their dog gets up in the morning or after exercise and play. In older dogs, the joint may make a "popping or clicking" sound.

Surgery can help with some of the pain, but since the cause is a malformation of the joint, it is very common for arthrisits to occur also. It is believed that surgery followed by glucosamine and chondroitin treatment over a long period of time is the best way to treat elbow dysplasia.

Some of the most common types of canine elbow dysplasia is believed to be caused by trauma or injury, abnormal joints, genetics and other factors.



If your dog gets in any kind of accident, always take him to the vet, even if he seems fine. Accidents such as jumping from somewhere high to being hit by a car, can cause damage to ligaments, soft tissue, and can fracture joints. Your dog should be checked by your vet for joint soundness. Studies have proven that pet owners need to be made aware that early treatment of an injured joint can help reduce permanent damage, and delay the onset of arthritis, as it is very common for osteoarthritis to occur in a damaged joint at some time.

There are other forms of non-traditional treatments that are available on the market today. The treatments involve all natural products that do not cause harmful side effects. These treatments are highly controversial in the modern medical world, however pet owners are amazed at how well their pets improve over a short period of time. The results are amazing and a fraction of the cost, and healing time.

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a congenital condition and is the leading cause of lameness in the rear legs of dogs. It is very common in certain large and giant breed of dogs. The condition develops due to several factors, which are rapid growth rate, weight and poor nutrition.

Dogs are not born with CHD, they develop this condition as they grow older, however, it is sometimes seen in younger dogs as well, but most common in older dogs.

CHD develops when loose ligaments fail to hold the round knob at the head of the thighbone in place in the hip socket. The result is a loose, unstable joint, in which the ball of the femur slides free of the hip socket. This causes wear on the cartilage in the hip joint, and over time resulting in arthritis.

In most cases, canine hip dysplasia affects both hips. When looking at your dog from behind, he may appear to be stilted or a possible pelvic swing, being most noticeably on the side of the hip that is most effected. When your dog tries to run, it make be similar to a bunny hop.

You may also notice when your dog stands he may hunch his back, and he does this to avoid extending the hips. You may also notice when he rises that he appears to be stiff.

Exercise causes your dog to be uncomfortable, and the stiffness get worse over time. Extension of the hip causes mild to moderate discomfort. This is a result of the muscles of the hind leg are small due to underdevelopment.

Treatment for canine hip dyslplasia can vary from just easing the symptoms by using pain relievers and prescription drugs, which both have long term harmful side effects. A weight reduction program and exercise, to painful hip-replacement surgery, which is effective, however is expensive and painful for your dog.

There are also other non-traditional forms of treatment that involve all natural products that a lot of pet owners are switching to. The natural treatments are not only cost effective, they are also better for your dog's over all health, and your dog will not experience any harmful and painful side effects.