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by Douglas Anderson
Golden Retriever arthritis is a very common problem as they age.
However, arthritis can strike at any age, same as in humans,
and can even affect Golden Retriever puppies. My own daughter was
diagnosed with arthritis in her ankle at the age of 7.
Recent estimates by vets suggest that around 20% of all the
Golden Retriever dogs in the USA suffer from the condition to some
degree. One of the best preventative methods available to stop
and treat existing cases of Golden Retriever arthritis is by using
joint supplements for your Golden Retriever.
Symptoms of arthritis in your Golden Retriever include:
- Swelling around a joint.
- Heat around a joint.
- Tenderness when you palpate a joint.
- Tenderness when flexing a joint.
- Redness of the skin around a sore joint. (You may have to
part the dog's hair to see this.)
- Difficulty rising from a resting position.
- A personality change resisting touch.
- Onset of stiffness being worst in the mornings improving
as the day progresses.
When your Golden Retriever has arthritis, you may observe these
behavioural changes due to arthritis:
- Your Golden Retriever is reluctant to walk, climb stairs, jump,
or play.
- Your Golden Retriever exhibits gradual limping or lameness in
one or more limbs.
- Your Golden Retriever holds its breath or stops panting when a
painful joint is manipulated.
- Your Golden Retriever reacts suddenly - turns his head, snaps,
or yelps in pain when you touch a sore joint.
- Your Golden Retriever puts less weight on a leg with a sore joint
when he's standing still.
- Your Golden Retriever holds up a leg with a sore joint.
- Your Golden Retriever lags behind on walks.
- Your Golden Retriever has decreased appetite; pain from arthritis
can cause a dog to stop eating.
Some US dog food companies, such as Hill's and Purina (JM
Joint Mobility), make formulas specifically intended for arthritic
dogs. Based on the nutritional information these companies publish,
both look like excellent choices. Neither is particularly low
in calories or does anything special for the teeth, but they
have added a lot of the most important joint health supplements
directly to the food. If you have your dog's weight and dental
health under control and don't want to mess with supplements,
these are excellent choices.
When considering joint supplement for your Golden Retriever, you
must first understand what arthritis is and the most effective
types of supplements available.
As with humans, arthritis in the joints of a Golden Retriever is
generally caused by a breakdown of the cartilage in a joint.
This can be for a number of reasons including a recent accident,
or just because of old age. The breakdown of cartilage can often
leave parts of the moving bones in a joint exposed to rub against
each other and this is what causes the intense pain and inflammation
associated with arthritis.
So one of the major factors in the breakdown and regeneration
of the cartilage in the joints of a Golden Retriever is the availability
of the substances to regenerate and re-grow the damaged and worn
cartilage. The two most important substances that are involved
in these processes are glucosamine and chondroitin. You have
undoubtedly seen these on the shelves of your local pharmacy
as we humans have the identical problems.
Glucosamine is used to manufacture a large amount of the material
that makes up the cartilage, and chondroitin can be thought of
as the scaffolding within the cartilage. Because of their functions,
if they are not present in large enough amounts, then the cartilage
will begin to break down a lot more easily, and will not regenerate
as quickly.
So the best joint supplements for Golden Retriever arthritis will
contain glucosamine and chondroitin, and appropriate other substances
such as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) or Cetyl Myristoleate which
occur naturally around the joints of your Golden Retriever, acting
to control pain and inflammation.
There is some controversy as to whether MSM actually has any
effect on arthritis. Some studies show it does, and some studies
show it has no effect.
If you prefer a supplement that is all natural, then look
for a supplement that contains one or more of these ingredients:
- Apis mellifica: Formulated from honeybees, Apis mellifica
relieves burning, stinging pain and fluid retention, and has
been used in homeopathy since its discovery as a remedy in 1835,
by Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany.
- Belladonna: Also known as Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna
is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, North Africa, and
Western Asia. It is a deadly poison, but has been used in very
small quantities by homeopathic experts to treat back pain, swelling
and stiffness of the neck, sharp drawing pains and stiffness
in joints, trembling legs and swelling of the feet.
- Caulphyllum: Also called Blue Cohosh or Squaw Root,
Caulphyllum is a woodland herb that blooms in early April and
is usually found on wooded slopes across much of the US and Canada.
Native Americans once used it as a childbirth aid and for uterine
cramps. It has antispasmodic properties and is useful for treating
rheumatic stiffness and pain in the limbs and joints.
- Colchicum autumnale: This autumn-blooming flower is
known as Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron or Naked Lady, and is
used in homeopathy to treat the symptoms of gout as well as the
convulsive jerking of hands and feet.
- Rhus toxicodendron: Also known as Mercury Vine or
Poison Vine, Poison Oak and its kissing cousin, Poison Ivy, can
be found all over North America in woodland areas. A main constituent
of the plant is toxicodendric acid, which a French physician
in the late eighteenth century discovered to be useful in the
treatment of skin disease, paralysis, and rheumatic complaints.
Today Rhus Tox is prized for its anti-inflammatory and antihistamine
properties.
- Ruta graveolens: A plant native to Southern Europe,
Ruta is also known as Common Rue, which in olden times was thought
to ward off plague. In today's homeopathy, it is used to treat
joint pain, swelling, stiffness, spasmodic contractions and weakness.
My own research on the internet for supplements, that are
currently being used by experienced vets to treat Golden Retriever
with arthritis, revealed that Pet Bounce is quite popular. This is an all-natural,
plant-based homeopathic blend with all the natural ingredients
listed above; it is designed to help alleviate the symptoms your
Golden Retriever may be experiencing safely and without side effects.
The company has a free trial offer (USA only). For more information
on Pet Bounce, click here. |
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