Because wear on joint cartilage is permanent, catching joint pain early is critical so your vet can intervene and help prevent extensive damage that severely limits your dog’s mobility. Once identified, your vet can help you create a management plan for your dog. This can include:

• Weight Management: Weight and joint health are closely related, as excess weight increases the strain put onto joints and can result in more cartilage wear. Your vet can help you determine if a weight loss program would help your pet, and may recommend weight loss nutrition and regular exercise.
  
  
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can be a valuable part of managing joint pain, and can include manual therapy (like joint mobilization and stretching), therapeutic modalities (like ice packs, heat packs and, shockwave therapy) and therapeutic exercise (like hydrotherapy). Your vet can help you decide if physical therapy is right for your dog.
  
  
• Nutrition: Therapeutic nutrition enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids are among the most effective way nutrition can help with pain. Omega-3 fatty acids can help nourish joint health and preserve joint cartilage.
  
  
• Medication: Your vet may recommend medication to help alleviate pain as part of your dog’s treatment. The most popular pain relievers are NSAIDs, but additional medications may also be used.
  
  
• Environmental enrichment: Enrichment is an important part of every dog’s life but is especially vital to help less mobile dogs be mentally stimulated. Altering your dog’s daily routine, giving them one-on-one time, rotating toys and teaching new tricks are all ways to help keep your dog busy and happy.