| Loving your pet means caring about your | | | | arthritis from infection or tick bites. |
| pet's health. The health of your pet can | | | | This is inflammatory arthritis, the pet |
| depend upon its age, breed and | | | | health equivalent of rheumatoid |
| environment. | | | | arthritis in humans. Dogs that spend a |
| One area of pet health that most people | | | | lot of time outdoors in cold weather are |
| can relate to is arthritis. Like humans, | | | | also more prone to arthritis. |
| pets can get arthritic. Arthritis is | | | | Various pet foods have been developed to |
| particularly common in dogs. Like | | | | promote pet health. Minerals and |
| people, dogs' joins are lubricated by | | | | nutrients are used instead of medicine |
| synovial fluid, which decreases over | | | | to treat most pet health issues, |
| time; joints can become rough and | | | | including arthritis. Nutritionally |
| painful. Warmth is the simplest | | | | appropriate food, shelter, and a |
| treatment for arthritis in pets. Heating | | | | comfortable sleeping area are all |
| a confined area in which they rest is | | | | conducive to pet health. |
| one way of easing arthritis pain and | | | | In addition to arthritis, pets are |
| improving pet health. One in three dogs | | | | subject to various diseases carried by |
| may develop arthritis at some point. | | | | fleas and ticks. Many people are unaware |
| As with people, a joint injury makes it | | | | that pets can have an allergic reaction |
| more likely that arthritis will develop | | | | to flea saliva. This is true of both |
| in that joint. However, while a human | | | | dogs and cats, though it is rare in |
| will not develop arthritis in an injured | | | | puppies and kittens. Treatment is by |
| joint for at least five years, pet | | | | reducing exposure to fleas, using flea |
| health statistics show that a dog may | | | | powders and sprays, or even injections. |
| develop arthritis in as few as five | | | | Flea baths have very limited protection |
| weeks. | | | | ability, but can provide quick relief |
| Dogs and cats can also contract | | | | for a sensitive pet. |