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