Take That Pooch to the Pool

A dog's metabolism is known to slow with age. Additionally, their ability to participate in physical activities will decrease as they grow older. The more years that go by, the more likely your dog is to develop arthritis and joint pain—this will hinder the dog's ability to be active. The problem is, however, that exercise is important for a dog's overall health. If the only exercise your dog gets is walking to the food bowl, you've got a problem. Keeping your dog physically active and keeping excess weight off is crucial in arthritis & pain management.

If you can hardly get your dog to walk down the hallway, how are you supposed to get him to chase a ball or go for a walk? If these don't seem like viable options, try another form of exercise—swimming. Swimming is graduated and doesn't put lots of weight and stress on the bones and joints. It is not weight-bearing so the dog will be able to maintain or increase muscle strength without injuring himself any further.

Know the Signs

Is your pooch in pain? Sometimes it's hard to make the distinction between normal aging and the existence of arthritis. If your dog does have arthritis, however, it will worsen without proper treatment. Your dog cannot tell you how he feels so he's counting on you to take notice and take care of him. How can you detect arthritis? Here are some typical tell-tale signs:

• Excessive stiffness in the morning (especially if the dog becomes more active later in the day)
• Reluctance to exercise (arthritis causes pain in the joints and dogs are less likely to move around and more likely to lie around).
• Reluctance to use stairs
• Reluctance to jump up into a vehicle
• Decrease in appetite
• Reluctance to go outside—dog may become stubborn

If you notice any of these things haul your dog to the vet immediately.

Don't Let Fluffy get too Fluffy!

Older cats that show signs that they are suffering from aching joints may have Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a very uncomfortable disease that causes degenerative joints. Is Fluffy a little too fluffy? Extra weight is often a contributing factor in this disease. Getting your kitty some exercise and cutting back on fatty foods and treats, is an important part of the treatment of Osteoarthritis.

The good news is that new treatment options are surfacing that can help relieve your kitty's pain and even repair existing cartilage damage. When it comes to your cat, arthritis & pain management is up to you—help your kitty to lead a more comfortable life despite her condition.

Is Rimadyl Right for Your Dog?

As we've all heard, arthritis can be extremely painful. And pets are just as much at risk of suffering from the condition as humans. What can you do to help relieve some of your beloved pet's pain? Try Rimadyl. Rimadyl is an anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal, medication that can only be obtained by getting a prescription from a veterinarian. To save money, you can ask your vet for a written prescription and have it filled at an online pet pharmacy.

Rimadyl, however, isn't for all dogs—some may have an intolerance for it. If your dog is prescribed this medication look for the following signs of intolerance:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite

These symptoms may point to serious side effects involving the kidneys, liver, or digestive tract. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately for instructions.