Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease are common in pets as well as us. It usually occurs in older, larger dogs but quite often in small dogs too. There are different kinds of arthritis and it is important for you to obtain a correct diagnosis from your veterinarian. In some cases surgery may be appropriate. However, most often our aging dogs will show signs that can alert us to appropriate action, i.e. slow to rise, lethargy, licking of joints, trouble walking, jumping and generally not his normal self. This is a progressive disease and although there is no cure yet, there are things we can do to maintain quality of life and reduce swelling and pain.
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