Arthritis is a condition that affects many dogs, but it is not always apparent that they have it. You could call it a silent disease because the stressful signs of pain often do not appear until many years after it begins.
Armed with this awareness, caring pet owners may want to take some preventative measures to counteract its symptoms - before the disease becomes apparent. Here are a few helpful ideas to consider:
A dog spends a great deal of his time horizontal, so he deserves a good dog bed! And, whether a dog has arthritis or not, he will definitely enjoy the added comfort and support of an orthopedic dog bed. These beds contain memory foam providing the top level of comfort and distributing a pet's weight more evenly to relieve pressure points.
Dogs tend to do a lot of jumping and bending during their lifetime which can add greatly to joint stress. To cut down on the amount of this activity, ramps are steps for getting into a vehicle, a boat, to the couch or to your bed, are a big help. Likewise, raised dog bowls alleviate the bending.
Does your pet have to look like he's hurting to receive these aides and added comforts? Think about it, you may be saving him from years of suffering in silence by these few simple additions.
