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Submitted by: Chris Redhead

Like human beings, dogs are prone to suffer from arthritis as they get older. Arthritis is essentially inflammation or swelling of the joints, which causes pain and makes movement difficult. It affects a dog s everyday activities such as running and jumping, and in severe cases can even make walking extremely strenuous.

There is no easy cure for arthritis. It is a chronic condition which is brought on by the regular wear and tear of a dog s daily activity, and once diagnosed it requires continual care and medication to relieve the symptoms.

Arthritis is believed to affect as many as one in every five dogs, so dog owners need to always be on the lookout for the signs of the condition in their own pet. Owners of large dogs such as Labradors, Retrievers, and German Shepherds should be particularly vigilant, as arthritis is most common in these larger breeds. Some signals that your dog may be suffering include favouring one limb over the others, gaining weight, being less alert than normal, and becoming disinterested in play and outdoor activity. If you start to see these signs over several weeks, it would be wise to have your dog checked by a vet, who will be able to tell you for sure whether arthritis is the cause.

Herbal medicines have been shown to be effective at treating many ailments in dogs, and there are several licensed herbal treatments for arthritis, including garlic and fenugreek tablets. These treatments rarely have any side effects, and can be given in conjunction with any conventional medicines your dog may already be taking.

When you begin treating your dog for arthritis, it may take a while for them to respond to the medicine, but you should start to see a gradual improvement over time. A higher daily dosage may be needed to start with, particularly over the winter months, and you can then bring this down as you begin to see improvement.

The inflammation caused by arthritis is often accompanied by the additional problem of loss of cartilage in the joint and in the synovial fluid, which nourishes it and acts as a lubricant. An effective supplement to combat this is a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. This is easily absorbed and will help to maintain the health of your dog s cartilage.

As well as the daily medication, frequent light exercise will be vital in helping your pet to regain its mobility, although this shouldn t be overdone. Doing more than your dog is comfortable with is likely to cause more harm than good in the long run.

The most important thing is not to underestimate the seriousness of the impact arthritis can have on a dog. It might not kill them directly, but it can be so debilitating for a dog that the animal might have to be put down in order to spare its suffering. Thus, it is crucial that arthritis is treated regularly and effectively, in order to make your dog s life as long and comfortable as possible.

About the Author: For more information on

arthritis in dogs

, get in touch with Dorwest Herbs, a leading provider of

herbal remedies for dogs

, on 01308 897272.

Source:

isnare.com

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byAlma Abell

Your home or business can easily become infested with a variety of pests including several types of insects, furry little rodents and even birds, bees and bats. The difficulty with unexpected Pest Control in Glen Burnie isn’t the unusual pests that invade your property, but the unique methods that each pest requires to eliminate the problem. For example, eliminating insects such as the cockroach is usually handled by a series of chemical applications designed to remove successive generations as the young hatch. Rodents on the other hand require the application of baits and traps to properly remove the problem.

Pest problems in your buildings can vary based on several different variables including the location of moisture, a ready source of food and a secure place to build a nest. Consider the termite. This is a small, whitish, pale or lightly colored insect with a social structure similar to the ant. However, the termite is no longer considered as a member of the ant species. Instead, it is considered as the infraorder Isopertera of the cockroach order Blattodea. You rarely see this insect outside of the nest and an experienced Pest Control in Glen Burnie contractor will need to find the nest and apply the proper baits for the termites.

Termites come in literally thousands of species, many of which actually perform a useful function in the wild, the breakdown and removal of dead plant matter, scientifically labeled as cellulose. Unfortunately, much of the material we build our homes with uses wood fibers and the termites aren’t smart enough to know they should find a different food source.

Another home invader that can be difficult to eliminate are rodents such as mice and rats. These pests usually enter your home or business through cracks in the walls or doors or holes that they gnaw away with their sharp front teeth. Once they have entered the building they quickly begin to build their nest in the warmer walls where they will birth their young. Mice and rats breed a lot and those new generations will soon find even more places to nest in the walls of your home which is why you should consider hiring an experienced contractor like Accutech Pest Management for your next pest elimination project.