Treatment for Sports Dog Injuries

Dog sports are a fun way for dog owners to have their pets compete in events that test a dog’s mental and physical abilities. Unfortunately, just like human athletes, sporting dogs can get injured while competing. These injuries are usually musculoskeletal in nature, which in time, contributes to the development of dog arthritis.

Below are the three most common injuries in sporting dogs:

• Muscular trigger points or knots are painful muscle bands which can cause lameness and stiffness in the affected area. This type of injury is commonly the result of muscle fatigue or trauma.
• Neck or back pain could mean a lot of things. However, a common injury in the said area may be a result of a slipped disc. Discs are shock absorbing cushions found between the individual bones of a dog’s spine. Although they do not actually "slip," a disc may rupture, allowing the gel like substance in the affected disc to escape. The disc material can place pressure on the spinal cord or on a single nerve fiber resulting in pain.
• A knee injury usually involves the cruciate ligaments. When one of the ligaments gets torn, it causes the knee joint to be unstable. Sporting dogs competing in sprint competitions are most prone to the injury.

Treating Sports Injuries

For sports injuries, prevention is always better. Treatment, no matter how effective, is not an assurance that an injured dog can regain normal performance. Adopting a safe physical routine will help prepare your dog for the rigors of competition. Proper diet and the right kind of supplements will provide your dog with the right amounts of protein, calcium, Omega-3, vitamins E, D, and B complex are good ways to keep your sporting dog’s muscles, bones, and joints healthy.      

But if your dog does get injured, getting the correct diagnosis is essential. Trigger points can be treated with physical therapy, and massage. Slipped disc can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers, although in severe cases, surgery can be an option. 

A tear in one of the cruciate ligament injury would most often need surgery. However, to complicate matters, there are many surgical procedures that can be used. None have been medically proven to be more effective than others but here’s my take on cruciate ligament surgery:

• Extracapsular suture. Also known as a de Angelis suture or lateral fabellotibial suture. It is a fast and effective procedure with a low complication rate, especially for small dogs.
• Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). This technique involves cutting the tibia (shin bone) so that it can be repositioned to make the knee joint more stable. It works well, especially for large dogs, but comes with a higher complication rate.
• Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA), and triple tibial osteotomy (TTO). These are newer techniques but are a similar concept to the TPLO.

All of the surgical procedures are effective, however, it is important discuss the options with your veterinary surgeon and choose which will be the best for your dog. Do not be ashamed to consider the cost of the procedure, as the newer surgical techniques can be twice or thrice more expensive. Nonetheless, the need for early treatment cannot be stressed enough as this will lessen the advancement of dog arthritis.

 Treatment for Sports Dog Injuries (PDF)

Do Supplements Work Against Dog Arthritis?

Dietary supplements are commonly used to treat dog arthritis. However not all dogs respond to such treatment. In cases where the damage is too extensive to the cartilage, supplements may no longer be helpful.

Dog arthritis is surprisingly common, about one in five dogs will suffer with it. Elderly and large dogs are especially susceptible. Dog arthritis causes deterioration of the joints, which can severely impact your dog’s quality of life.

Therefore you should observe your dog’s mobility and behavior - there may be signs that your dog is suffering from dog arthritis.

Listed below are some symptoms of the disease:

• lameness
• difficulty getting up after resting
• irritability
• licking at the joints by your dog

Supplements

More pet owners and vets are first opting for dietary supplements to treat dog arthritis, since they are made from natural ingredients. This makes them less toxic to your dog’s liver. They also work in the natural restoration of damaged cartilage.

In situations where the cartilage has been significantly damaged to the point where the two bones of the joint are in contact with each other, a more aggressive treatment is needed. However, supplements can still be of some use in this chronic stage of the disease since supplements can preserve what cartilage is left.

You know that a supplement is good when it contains chondroitin and glucosamine. Dasuquin contains the said components, plus avocado and soybean unsaponifiables which helps in cartilage protection and growth.

Adequan and cartrophen are other effective supplements. They are administered by injection and cartrophen is not available in the US.

Welactin is another good example of supplements. The supplement with its omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can greatly reduce the inflammation.

When supplement don’t work on your dog, it’s probably best to use a more aggressive approach. Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain killers are medications that reduce the joint pain and swelling associated with dog arthritis.

Pet owners should realize that there is a variety of ways to treat dog arthritis. Giving supplements to their dogs can improve your dogs condition; nonetheless, people should remain open to other forms of treatment the your vet would suggest, if giving supplements is no longer sufficient.

Dog Arthritis Supplements (PDF)

The Safety of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Products

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been introduced to the United States reasonably recently. However they have been used to treat dog arthritis in both Europe and Australia for more than twenty years. When drugs have been in use for that length of time, their side effects are very well documented - we have been able to look at the safety of these drugs over multiple lifetimes of dogs. This is good news if you’re treating your dog’s arthritis with glucosamine and chondroitin, because the safety of these drugs are time proven and thoroughly documented.

The only side effects that have been reported are the occasional bout of diarrhea and vomiting - side effects that are common across a huge range of medications. So the incidence of side effects is very low and in most cases, the side effects reduce, or stop completely, when the dose of glucosamine is adjusted.

Also glucosamine for dogs does not have any known interactions with other prescription dog arthritis medications such as Previcox, Rimadyl or Metacam. Nor does it interact with normal over-the-counter medications such as aspirin.

Glucosamine is a naturally-occurring amino sugar compound that is produced in humans and canines and is present in high amounts in the cartilage of joints. In its twenty years of continued use, veterinarians agree that it is instrumental in repairing damaged cartilage, promoting the growth of new cartilage that cushion joints and reducing pain & inflammation.

Chondroitin, a supplement which is usually used in tandem with glucosamine, is made from cow and shark cartilage and also found in green lipped mussel. Chondroitin is used to treat dog arthritis as well as human arthritis. Chondroitin attracts fluid to cartilage which helps it remain spongy and flexible and has some effects in protecting against cartilage chewing’ enzymes.

Many dogs respond so well to a glucosamine and chondroitin regimen that vets take them off stronger dog arthritis anti-inflammatory drugs just four to six weeks after beginning glucosamine and chondroitin treatments.

A good veterinarian is constantly looking for a treatment program that provides maximum benefits with a minimum of risk to your dog’s health. When it comes to treating dog arthritis, glucosamine and chondroitin fit the bill.

Is your dog being treated with dog arthritis medications that do not include glucosamine and chondroitin? If not discuss these supplements with your veterinarian - it could make a huge impact in reducing the swelling and pain of dog arthritis.

The Safety of Glucosamine (PDF)

Dance Steps toward Less Pain: Easy Dog Arthritis Physical Therapy

Another important aspect of dog arthritis treatment is physical therapy. For humans, physical therapy would mean repetitive movements with the help of a therapist or a machine, and can be very expensive and time consuming. However for dogs, it can be simple and enjoyable. 

Believe it or not, dancing with your dog is a legitimate type of physical therapy. Give it a try and be surprised at the amazing results. The following are the benefits of dance: 

• It helps their ability to bear weight on their hind legs

• It helps build muscle mass

• It helps improve your dog’s balance

By now you are wondering how such a fun, simple activity can help your pet overcome dog arthritis. The answer is simple, dancing is like exercising. When you dance with your dog, you hold their front paws, and your dog is forced to stand upright. This position adds more weight on the hind legs. When a muscle is used more, it gets stronger. This is good for your dog since the muscles surrounding joints protect them from wear and tear. Strong muscles in the hind legs mean healthier joints that are not easily injured.  

As mentioned, it is an unnatural position for dogs to stand upright. Therefore owners should take things slowly. Be very observant - look for when your dog is in pain or when your dog is getting tired. The objective here is to help and not to cause injury.

When dancing is done right your dog needs to concentrate on the movements.  As a result, your dog’s balance is improved and he will be able to familiarize himself with how you dance, anticipating the movements which will make him move with you in harmony!

So when you have decided to use dance therapy to treat dog arthritis, remember that dog dancing should be aimed at:

• Strengthening the joints. Standing on the back legs can be a helpful exercise for dogs with hind limb arthritis. The additional weight placed on the hind limbs will strengthen the muscles of the legs.

• Increasing muscle mass. Muscle mass is only increased through physical activity. With an increase in muscle mass, the joints are stable and less prone to injury. The increased muscle mass also protects the joints from wear and tear.  

• Improving balance. Dogs are not made to dance. It takes a lot of concentration for them to dance. However, with their focus sharpened their balance is greatly improved and they become more conscious of their movements. This can protect your dog from joint injuries that can worsen dog arthritis.  

Physical therapy will definitely help your dog overcome some of the pain related to dog arthritis. That is why dog owner should at least invest some of their time in administering physical therapy and dog dancing is a good place to start.

Dog Arthritis Physical Therapy (PDF) 

Are Dog Arthritis Glucosamine Supplements Helpful?

Do not let your dog suffer from the pain of dog arthritis; you should try everything to make his life better. And one of those things you’ve been trying is glucosamine supplements for canines.

That’s terrific! Obviously you’re a caring pet owner, but before you go congratulating yourself, let’s check to see if those glucosamine supplements are really working.

In just five minutes I’ll be able to tell you everything you need to know about glucosamine supplements so you can decide whether or not you’re going to continue to use the supplement, or try something different.

 

Here are The Top 3 Questions Regarding Glucosamine Supplements

1.    When do I know if the glucosamine supplements are really helping?

2.    How much time before I see improvement once I begin giving my dog glucosamine supplements?

3.    What are the disadvantages as to why my dog might not benefit from these dog joint supplement drugs?

Now let’s discover the answers:

How to tell if the Dog Arthritis Glucosamine Supplements are actually Helping

Search for improvements regarding the following:

•    Mobility: frisky and limber

•    Lameness: limping less and willing to put more weight on his arthritic joints when standing, walking, running or jumping

•    Joint Licking: less joint licking and chewing

•    Behavioral Changes: aggression and tension dropped or lessened, or have a more friendlier attitude and a good appetite

You can pay to have a professional study conducted but don’t bother. You can observe these conditions yourself without spending a penny. For best results, keep a log of your dog’s activity during his performance on normal movements once per week for a two-three month period for actual results. This is how long it will take to accurately judge if your dog’s arthritis symptoms are improving or deteriorating.

What Time Length Should I Continue Administering the Glucosamine Supplements?

A two month minimum trial is required for the glucosamine supplements - it’s never a quick fix for dog arthritis. After two months, without any improvements consult your vet before discontinuing treatments. It’s a possibility that there maybe extenuating circumstances that should be identified such as cruciate ligament ruptures.

Your veterinarian can diagnose the cause of you dog’s arthritis and recommend other  treatments. The treatment could include dog glucosamine, but the vet may recommend several supplements and progressive treatments to help your pet. Continued observations on your part and consultations with your vet, can go a long way to relieving your dog’s painful arthritis condition.