Pet corner
Natural remedies for arthritis
July/August 2000
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M.
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Natural remedies can ease the pain of your pet’s arthritis.
Photo courtesy of H. Troxell
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In my practice in Kansas City, I treat more
cases of arthritis than any other single disease. I have found that
a holistic approach for treating the broad category of
arthropathies (any joint disease) is quite simply the best way to
approach this multifaceted disease. I get much better results now
than I ever did with Western medicines, and I see far fewer adverse
side effects.
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Arthritis and its cousin, rheumatism, are catch-all terms that
encompass several dozen disease states of the joints and
surrounding tissues such as tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and
muscles. There are many conditions that cause arthritis and/or
rheumatism, including infections, trauma, old-age changes, and
genetic factors. Each of these causes has its own preferred method
of treatment, so get an accurate diagnosis from your
veterinarian.
Symptoms of arthritis
The most common arthritic problems I see in my practice are a
potpourri of osteoarthritic and degenerative arthro-pathies. The
typical patient is a mid- to old-aged dog (five years and older).
Lower back and hips are the most commonly affected areas, but I
think I’ve seen arthritis in every conceivable joint. (I see an
occasional cat with arthritis, too. But since they tend to be couch
potatoes, I suspect they are not often diagnosed by their
owners.)
Alternative medicine may provide lasting pain
relief.
Most of the dogs I see have some form of structural abnormality,
and because of the way they are put together, they’re constantly
putting abnormal pressure on their joint surfaces, causing excess
wear and tear and an increase of cell-produced free radicals.
Excess wear and tear results in erosion of the joint’s cartilage
and eventual loss of its cushioning effects. Without the cushioning
cartilage, a dog feels pain.
Typically, when I see dogs with arthritis, the dog has been
slowly getting worse and is having a difficult time getting around.
There may be enough pain and inflammation that we notice a limp
when he walks, and sometimes the joints are swollen. X-rays may or
may not show noticeable changes in joints, but chiropractic
evaluation often reveals joints that are less flexible than
normal.
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