Is your dog behaving differently these days?  Is he experiencing a loss of appetite or is he less active?  If so, it’s possible man’s best friend could be experiencing some dog pain.  Animals as a general rule are very good in hiding their condition and rather than wincing in pain, they just stay put.

All concerned dog owners should be proactive about looking for certain symptoms and things just out of the ordinary . It can be a simple wound, cut, or infection. Your dog might’ve hurt its limbs while running or may have gotten into a fight with another dog. Whatever it is, it’s important you find out what the cause of the pain.The pain may actually be caused by a serious health problem. If you’re not able to detect the problem right away, it could become very dangerous for your dog.

Understanding Dog Pain

As is the case with any pet, you should keep track of your dog’s eating, playing and sleeping habits and visit your local veterinary. For simple cuts, wounds, or sprains, bandages and cold compresses should suffice.After you’ve found out what the problem is, it’s time to think about the dog pain relief options. Some problems are due to joint pain and inflammation.

Arthritis can occur to older dogs and younger dogs as well. If your dog has arthritis, it’s probably hard to see your dog limping around when you remember how lively it used to be.One way to help your dog until he starts to recover is to give him painkillers. It’s important to understand that pain killers for dogs and humans are totally different. You can get the prescription from your vet and find great deals for the medication online.

Apart from medication, it’s imperative to get plenty of exercise for your dog to keep him in optimum health. Light exercise will help build muscles and lessen the stress on your dog’s joints. Always consult your vet before engaging in any type of exercise for your dog.

.Believe it or not, dog pain relief can be found through acupuncture. Acupuncture promotes blood flow and stimulates the nervous system to fight off pain. In some situations, dog owners may not have to administer a pain killer.

For best results, the best approach is to use a multi pronged treatment. Again, start by finding out the root of your dogs pain. Examine his behavior and movements and make a mental note of all his habits. If it is, then you can follow up with a combination of diet, exercise, medication, and alternative treatments. Using the best approach, your dog can be pain free in no time and get back to his normal day to day activities.

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Panosteitis or “Pano” is a bone disease that can affect young, large breed dogs.  It is characterized by inflammation near the growth plates in the bone, causing severe pain and leg lameness which can last anywhere from a month to 6 months.  The bones of the front leg are most often affected but It can affect the hind legs, front legs or both and the pain can shift from leg to leg.  This disease can occur in dogs from the age of 5 months to 2 years but it has also been found in dogs as old as 5 years. Typically, males are more affected than females.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms include a sudden, unexplained pain in the legs or pain when the legs are touched; lameness for no apparent reason;  lethargic and lack of appetite; vomiting; high fever

Panosteitis can sometimes be referred to as growing pains and wandering leg lameness.  This lameness can last from a day to a few weeks and is characterized through switching leg lameness; one leg will heal, after that another may be affected.

This disease is more common in German Shepherd dogs or dogs which are mixed with this breed. Nevertheless, many other factors can be associated with pano: diet, viral illnesses, autoimmune problems, hyperestrogen, as well as vascular problems.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis for Panosteitis is done through xray where it will show an increased density in the cavity of the bone, often near where the vessels enter the bone.  Pano can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the evidence may not be present until 7-10 days after the leg lameness has occurred.

Treatment

Panosteitis is treated with pain medication, exercise restriction and diet.  Medication may consist of an anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal drug or NSAID.  Some vets may recommend supplementing dogs with glucosamine and vitamin C or an anti-inflammatory drug to keep the dog comfortable.

There are no long-term effects with panoseitis and your dog will return to a playful pup when the pain subsides.  Never assume any symptoms are considered Pano and always check with your veterinarian if you have any questions.

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Dog arthritis generally occurs to large dog breeds and senior dogs. It is a canine disease characterized by a pain in the joints. In cases where your dog has arthritis, you will observe a drastic change in his physical activities. He will be reluctant and fatigued to move, jump or play and is lagging behind on walks. Your dog will also yelp in pain when touched.

If your own dog is suffering because of arthritis or hip dysplasia, there are several treatment options that you can do to address the problem, which range from dietary supplements to dog pain relief medications.  Whatever method you choose,  please make sure to consult your veterinarian first to determine which treatment method is best for your dog.

Most dogs with arthritis that experience intense pain usually require anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and carprofen to address the pain. These types of drugs are effective at reducing pain and inflammation and are used during the first few days of beginning a glucosamine regimen. Though these medicines don’t have the ability to remodel the joint, they can lessen the inflammation at the nerve endings so that the dog remains comfortable.

Certain medications such as steroids prednisone, dexamethasone, and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to minimize swelling of joints. There are also nutritional supplements that you can give to your k9 to boost his immune system against complications related to arthritis.

Besides the medical treatment, dogs with arthritis should also be under careful and intensive veterinary care, as well as proper food intake. Changing your dog’s diet also is also important in dog arthritis treatment. It is very essential that your dog maintains the correct weight for his age and always eats well-balanced diet with the necessary nutrients. You must control the weight of your dog by limiting snacks and foods that can worsen the inflammation of joints. Your dog must also gets regular exercise to enhance his strength and metabolism.

Please keep in mind that excess weight or fat in your dog causes more stress in the joints and can make matters worse for dogs with arthrithis.  Among large dog breeds, periods of swift growth can result in the formation of dysplasias if the causal genetic makeup is present. In this case, it is a must to to pay attention to your dog’s diet to avoid rapid weight gain.

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Fits of head shaking or scratching around the head are good indications of a dog ear infection.  If an animal is also whining, there is a good probability that the ears are hurting badly.

A foul odor emitting from the dog’s ears is another sign of an infectious condition that is probably caused by bacteria or possibly a yeast infection.  Some home remedies might work if the condition is not allowed to go for a long time before being treated.  In advanced cases, it is always best to see the vet.

Preventative medicine is always the best policy for these types of problems.  Practicing good hygiene and keeping the animal clean is a positive way to keep infections to a minimum.  The hair inside the ear should be clipped so it does not tickle and irritate the animal, leading to scratching.

When a dog gets into water, especially creek or river water, infections can set in if its ears are not washed with clean water and dried.  Even if a dog has not been in water, its ears should be periodically examined to be sure foreign objects haven’t gotten in that can cause damage or lead to infection.

A water and vinegar mixture will help with a dog ear infection; just mix apple cider or white vinegar in a spray bottle that can be misted directly into the ears.  Apply this every other day while the infection is present.  The spray is the best way to get the vinegar deep into the ear, but some dogs will take exception to it and it may be necessary to use a cloth applicator.

The healing benefits of vitamin E oil can aid a dog just as well as a human.  Use an eyedropper to drip two or three drops in each ear on a daily basis until the infection is gone.  After the drops are applied, massage the ear for several minutes to make sure the oil goes deep into the ear.

Similarly, garlic oil can be used by placing drops in the ears.  This is a natural antibiotic and it should soothe the ache somewhat.

A warm compress has soothing tendencies too.  Soak a cloth in warm water, wring out the excess, and then lay it over the ear opening.  Pull the ear over the cloth and gently massage so the water goes down into the ear.

Keep in mind that the dog will not care to have much done to its ears if they are hurting a lot.  Try to work with the animal and don’t force the issue, because this can cause a lack of trust and make it even harder to treat the problem.  Always be gently with massages and watch the reactions to be sure that the animal doesn’t get disturbed.

A dog ear infection can be traumatic to the animal because it can’t understand why it has the pain.  Any pain relief treatment that you do to the ears should be limited to the outer part.  Any intrusion deep into the ear might make the hurt worse and cause damage.

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