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12-28-2010, 04:18 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 77
| Wear and tear on joints over a lifetime. I'm concerned about Knox's jumping. He's a sub five pound male. He's in good shape. I feed him healthy food. We walk about a mile almost every day. He's very happy and excitable, and he loves jumping from the floor to the couch, from the couch to the chair, off the top of the back of the chair to the floor...you get the picture. Is there anything I can do to limit the risk of joint damage from the constant jumping. Watching his weight seems obvious enough. He jumped off the couch the other morning, and for the first time he hurt his front leg. He limped for a few minutes, but within fifteen minutes he was right back at it. He hasn't shown any other signs of discomfort since then. I have carpet, which cushions the impact somewhat, but it still worries me. I wonder if giving him glucosamine supplement would be a good idea. He's only a year old. Thanks for any suggestions. PS...My best friend calls him frogger. This four pound dog is literally flying around half the time at eye level. It's ridiculous. lol |
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12-28-2010, 05:13 PM | #2 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| You know, I'm curious about this too. Jackson is 15lbs so bigger than Knox, but he is such a jumper. He's constantly going from couch to couch and he lays on the top of the couches like a cat, etc. He is a little over 2yrs old and no problems thus far but I know he's still young. I always get his knees checked every vet visit and we also did agility classes with no joint problems... but I often wonder if I should use some kind of supplement or if it wouldn't be worth it for a young, athletic, healthy dog.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
12-28-2010, 06:44 PM | #3 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,410
| Like their human companions, our pups are also susceptible to this form of bone/joint degeneration caused by aging and general wear and tear. Osteoarthritis affects approximately 14 million dogs every year, many who go undiagnosed and untreated. Unfortunately, when it comes to osteoarthritis in canines, the disease is often diagnosed when it is too late, often in the irreversible stages. At this point the only treatment performed is for pain and to arrest the progression. Currently U of M is researching potential biomarkers in pups for early detection. This is very interesting research, which could affect a change in early detection across species. As with humans, Omega 3 fatty acid studies were also conducted on canines through the research of Dr. Kevin Kahn in early 2010. As with humans, Omega 3’s are efficient in their ability to reduce inflammation, which is the promoter of pain. The major issues that appear to be the primary contributing factors to degeneration are obesity, general long term wear and tear including excessive repetitive stress on the bones and joints, and nutrition. Prevention goes along the same lines as humans, the less damage done over time, the better off the joints and bones will be. Maintaining a healthy diet with complete proteins and calcium and vitamins, as well as exercise to keep the joints flexible appears to be the best bet on prevention and delay of the degeneration. However, if age and wear have promoted osteoarthritis in your pup, Omega 3’s in combination with other meds such as NSAIDs would probably be a treatment prescribed by your vet. Early signs are joint pain and lameness especially after exercise. Later stages progress and chronic symptoms become obvious: reluctance to take stairs or walks, refusal of activity, rising slowly, licking or chewing of an affected area, and also they may seek warm and soft areas. If your pup is constantly jumping from heights which are causing damage or injury, I would stop the behavior. Get a set of stairs and encourage him to use them through treat/praise-training. Mine is also a jumper and I am trying to snuff this behavior right now at 2 years, as consistent injury promotes damage and eventually degeneration. Best of luck! |
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