68 Your Dog March 2020Answers
DOG
HEALTH
Therapies such as
hydrotherapy can help
arthritic dogs.Pain relief
for arthritis
HEALTHHow can I soothe my
Lurcher’s sore gums?
Vicky says: Adult teeth start to emerge
from about four months old, and most
dogs have all their adult teeth through
at seven months. Frozen carrots and
raggy toys soaked in stock are both excellent
for teething dogs, but if yours is particularly
miserable, visit your vet to ask about suitable
pain relief. Be aware that some dogs have
a second period of intense chewing which
seems to coincide with the end of their bone
growth (9 – 18 months).Q
My 12-year-old dog
has bad arthritis
and struggles in the
morning when she fi rst
gets up.
I took her to the vet’s to
see if there was anything
I could do to help alleviate
any pain.
The vet has recommended
a number of medications,
but these don’t seem to
agree with her and give her
an upset stomach. Is there
anything else we can use to
manage her pain?
Graham Wright, Lancashire.Vicky says: Ask
your vet about
referral for
non-medical
therapies such as
hydrotherapy, physiotherapy,
laser, or acupuncture.
Your vet should also be
able to suggest supplements
to support mobility. Herbal
medicines can be useful too.Products containing turmeric
are all the rage at the moment,
but I strongly suggest
consulting a vet trained in
herbal medicines to obtain
quality products that are safe
for your dog.
If these complementary
therapies are not enough,
there is a new drug on the
market that targets just one
pain-causing prostaglandin
and has very minimal
side eff ects compared to
traditional drugs. Weight
control and moderate
exercise are vital in any pain
management programme too,
so it’s worth checking your
dog’s weight, and reviewing
her exercise regime.Pups love to chew,
particularly during teething.Q
My Lurcher puppy
recently started
teething and he seems
to be struggling. His gums
have been bleeding and he
seems agitated. I’m currently
trying cold vegetables. What
else can I do to help, and how
long should the teething
phase last?
Laura Thyme, Cambridgeshire.Products containing turmeric
have become extremely
popular for pain relief.