Animal Wellness Excerpt from Managing Arthritis - 10 ways to help your companion get moving again by Friday Forsthoff October 2003

My German shepherd, Bridges, got up slowly one morning and just did not have the normal spring in her step. I thought at first she had sprained her leg, but she showed no signs of improvement even after a week. Following a check-up and x-rays, the vet determined the injury was no short-term condition, but the onset of arthritis. After hearing the diagnosis, my goals were simple: relieve Bridges' pain, keep her muscles flexible, provide healthy sustenance and give her lots of love. Thus began my search for ways to manage her arthritis. Also referred to as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint inflammation, arthritis causes inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain. It's a disease that starts with the smallest detectable discomfort and may progress to the point where the animal refuses to stand, walk, or even eat. While it can affect animals of any age, it usually develops in older and geriatric animals. Bridges was ten years old when diagnosed. While that qualified her as geriatric for her breed, I had spotted the signs early enough to start treatment, make adjustments in her routine and, hopefully, slow the disease down. There's no cure for arthritis, but there are many ways to treat the disease.

Dr. Signe Beebe DVM, CVA, of Sacramento, California, uses a number of approaches when treating arthritis, starting with physical therapy. "The cornerstone is therapeutic exercise," explains Dr. Beebe. Just like humans, animals need exercise to heal and regain the full range of motion in their bodies. The benefits are pain relief, muscle strength, flexibility, improved blood circulation and, if needed, weight reduction. Your vet will tailor a physical therapy program that includes standing, walking, trotting, stair climbing and strengthening exercises. Hydrotherapy, especially in the form of an underwater treadmill, is one of Dr. Beebe's therapies of choice. The soothing warm water makes the animal buoyant and facilitates movement. The resistance from walking helps build muscle mass, strengthen limbs, and provides a cardiovascular workout. Exercises should be introduced slowly and then gradually increased over time.

...More and more conventional practitioners are recognizing the healing benefits of acupuncture, a form of Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years. It's used to get the Chi, the vital energy force that flows along channels called meridians, moving through the body. Acupuncture points along the meridians are treated to stimulate the normal flow of energy, which in turn can relieve pain and help restore normal function. ...A certified veterinary acupuncturist, Dr. Beebe believes in treating an arthritis patient with more than one therapy. "It is important when treating animals with arthritis that a combination of herbal medicines, acupuncture and physical therapy is used to get the best results," she says.

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