Taking Your Pet for an Annual Check-up

Does Your Dog Have Arthritis? Alternative Treatment Options To Consider

by Camila Holmes

If you have an older dog, one of the issues that you may need to concern yourself with is arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that affects many senior dog at some point. And if your dog has recently been diagnosed with arthritis, you may be looking for treatments to help ease their discomfort and help them feel better overall. There are many different options that you may want to consider, including alternative therapies and treatments. Get to know more about some of these alternative therapies. Then, you can be sure that you are doing everything possible to address your dog's arthritis issues going forward. 

Hydrotherapy

One of the treatment options to consider when you are looking to help your dog with their arthritis is hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is a form of exercise therapy performed in water. Your dog will be able to stretch and exercise without putting a great deal of pressure on their arthritic joints. This will help to keep their muscles strong and supple as well as help to keep their joints as flexible as possible. 

Hydrotherapy can be done with a veterinarian or physical therapist at first, and then it can be repeated at home if you have a pool deep enough to accommodate your dog. They will stay healthier, get the exercise they need, and improve their arthritis symptoms. 

Acupuncture

While you may not know it, acupuncture is also a treatment option available to dogs with arthritis. Acupuncture is a treatment that dates back to ancient Chinese culture. It is based on the idea that the body functions through the flow of energies throughout the body. The flow of energy can become blocked or otherwise diverted, though. And when this happens, the body suffers a variety of symptoms and ailments. 

To help remedy those issues, an acupuncturist will use tiny needles that they insert into specific energy points throughout the body. These needles are designed to trigger the flow of energy and to break up blockages in that flow of energy. Although this is usually a treatment performed on humans, there are animal acupuncturists as well. Your dog could benefit from these treatments as they promote muscle relaxation, healing throughout the body, and stress relief. 

Now that you know more about two of the alternative treatment options to consider for your dog with arthritis, you can be sure that you put these treatments to use in your dog's arthritis treatment program as soon as possible. Click here for more info about alternative therapies for dogs.

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