Forth Valley Veterinary Clinic Blog

Our top tips and useful information regarding pet and animal health…

Exercise for Older Doggos
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Exercise for Older Doggos

The best rule for exercising your older dog is little and often. It’s important to keep those joints mobile. Several regular short walks throughout the day is much more effective than one long walk per day. And one long walk a week or twice a week can often make things much worse.

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Signs your Dog might be in Pain
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Signs your Dog might be in Pain

How good is it being a dog these past couple of months??! Walk in the morning, another one at lunch, and the hooman is bored again by 3pm and guess what! Yep! Another walk! While life is getting back to sort-of-normal, our canine kids are loving the extra time spent with us. But maybe you’ve noticed pooch is a bit stiff in the mornings or a bit sore after a big walk? It could be Arthritis…

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Arthritis and Joint Pain
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Arthritis and Joint Pain

Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint. These changes occur when cartilage is worn away faster than it can be replaced. Cartilage acts as a cushion to protect the bones. When it wears away, joints become swollen and painful.

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Joint Health
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Joint Health

For dogs that have stiff joints, the cartilage (the tissues that “cushions” the joint between the bones) is worn away faster than it is replaced. For example, when the cartilage in a dog’s hip joint wears away, mobility decreases, while pain and disability progressively develop.

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Arthritis and Diet
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Arthritis and Diet

There are several trains of thought within the veterinary profession; use grain-free diets, use homemade diets, or use prescription diets that focus on joint disease (and weight loss) and that may or may not include grain. Some grain-free brands of dry dog food include Meals-for-Mutts (stocked at the clinic), Taste of the Wild or Black Hawk – to name a few. Some Prescription foods for joint disease include Hills J/d, Hills Mobility or Hills Metabolic + Mobility. We stock both Hills and Meals-for-Mutts at the clinic.

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Elbow Dysplasia
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Elbow Dysplasia

Canine elbow dysplasia (ED) is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint. The elbow joint is a complex joint made up of 3 bones (radius, ulna, and humerus) (figure 1). If the 3 bones do not fit together perfectly due to growth abnormalities, abnormal weight distribution on areas of the joint occur causing pain, lameness, and the development of arthritis.

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Technyflex
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Technyflex

Technyflex is a natural product for dogs that may relieve sore and inflamed joints, arthritic symptoms, and is known for its anti-inflammatory activity. It is a natural alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Technyflex Canine is quality green-lipped mussel for dogs.

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Pentosan
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Pentosan

The star product for Arthritis

Pentosan injections are usually the best form of arthritic management, especially in the early stages of joint disease, and are the #1 choice if picking just one option.

Pentosan stimulates healthy cartilage production and has a long-term effect of preventing the amount of arthritis development. It can also improve pain levels and mobility in the short term and essentially improves joint lubrication.

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Arthritis and Our Pets
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Arthritis and Our Pets

It can be as uncomfortable for our dogs as it is in humans - but there are ways of managing the disease to ease your pet's pain.

Arthritis simply means 'inflammation of the joints' and is a common problem for many dogs. Most of you will no doubt know of a dog suffering from arthritis that has shown the textbook signs of pain, discomfort and stiffness.

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Arthritis and Joint Disease Management - Dietary and Food
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Arthritis and Joint Disease Management - Dietary and Food

If required, a gradual weight loss program would be a good idea, where overweight levels are identified. An excellent brand of food for joint disease is Hills j/d. This is a prescription food made by Hills for pets with joint disease. An alternative can be Hills Metabolic + Mobility – focussing on joint health as well as weight loss. This is a dry pelleted food.

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Arthritis and Joint Disease Management - Weight and Exercise Control
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Arthritis and Joint Disease Management - Weight and Exercise Control

Animals require regular exercise to keep their joints moving (this is important for joint health) and to help weight control – however take care to prevent excessive exercise, as too much will have a negative effect and could increase pain. Ideal levels of exercise may be as short 10-15 minutes, but can be up to 25 mins, of controlled exercise 2-3x per day (slow and steady leash walks, no stairs/steps). This is the ideal level to aim for but don’t worry if in reality it means it’s not possible.

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Arthritis
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Arthritis

t can be as uncomfortable for our dogs as it is in humans - but there are ways of managing the disease to ease your pet's pain.

Arthritis simply means 'inflammation of the joints' and is a common problem for many dogs. Most of you will no doubt know of a dog suffering from arthritis that has shown the textbook signs of pain, discomfort and stiffness.

Read More

Our staff are wildly passionate about animals and making sure your pet is living its healthiest and happiest life

Back that passion with expert qualifications and a love of learning, and it’s safe to say your fur family is in very safe hands.