Inflammatone For Dog Stiffness and Canine Arthritis

Veterinary Perspective Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian

When you bring your dog for an office visit, your veterinarian will want to do a comprehensive examination and assess your pet’s neurological responses, joint mobility, areas of pain and sensitivity. Your veterinarian may manipulate the limbs to assess your dog’s response and observe the extent to which your pet is able to put weight on the affected limb. Generally an XRAY is taken and additional testing (ultrasound, bloodwork) may be required. It is important that a veterinarian check for all of the pet’s symptoms as there may a variety of conditions contributing to your pet’s discomfort. The following conditions are just a few of the many causes of joint or muscle pain and lameness:

• Arthritis
• Injury
• Genetic conditions (e.g. hip dysplasia, osteochondritis)
• Immune mediated (e.g. cancer)
• Infection
• Ligament tear (especially in the knee)
• Deferred pain from an organ (e.g. kidneys)

As you can see, there may be a lot more than just “old age” contributing to your dog’s pain and it is important to understand the causes so that proper treatment can be determined. Also, many young dogs may show signs of limping or discomfort which could be due to any of the above factors—in other words, a dog does not have to be “old” to suffer from joint or muscle pain.

Depending upon the test results, your veterinarian will advise you on the best course of action. Sometimes surgical repair is the best option. For older pets, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Rimadyl, Metacam or Previcox will help the pet feel more comfortable and increase mobility. These medications should be used judiciously however, as over time, they may impact liver function.

Another healthy option to increase your dog’s mobility, reduce pain and enhance immune function is acupuncture. Many holistic veterinarians are now offering acupuncture and chiropractic care for their patients. Acupuncture is the practice of stimulating certain locations on the body by inserting needles into specific points influencing the physiological functioning of an area or the whole body. The needles stimulate the sensory afferent nerves which send impulses to the spinal cord and then to different parts of the brain. When these nerves are stimulated, they release different biochemicals and neurotransmitters throughout the body. At VCA Arroyo, we use various acupuncture and acupuncture-related techniques including acupuncture, acupressure and aquapuncture.

Acupuncture can be helpful for any condition to increase blood flow to the area and enhance the pet’s overall immune function. Traditionally, acupuncture has been used to relieve pain and inflammation associated with musculoskeletal problems involving arthritis or vertebral disc issues, but many pets have benefited from acupuncture with other conditions as well. Animals will experience some sensation and occasionally may experience some temporary discomfort, although the procedure may be virtually painless for others. Most animals become very relaxed and may even become sleepy.