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Dog Arthritis Treatment -
the Natural Way

Dog arthritis treatment does not have to be harsh - remedies such as herbs and other natural supplements are milder and more effective!

Our page on Dog Arthritis talks about common types of dog arthritis as well as dog arthritis symptoms.

This page introduces some useful herbs for arthritis, as well as using some supplements as part of a natural arthritis treatment program for dogs.

Natural Remedies for Dog Arthritis

For a complete dog arthritis treatment program, we need to use herbs and other supplements to:

reduce inflammation
relieve joint pain
detox the body
maintain dog joint health

Herbs to Reduce Inflammation

Garlic

Dog Arthritis Treatment

Garlic strengthens the immune system and stimulates the growth of good healthy cells. Fresh garlic can be fed to dogs that are overweight and suffer from hip pain. Be careful, however, not to overfeed garlic to your dog as some studies have found that it may cause anemia in animals such as dogs and cats.

Devil's claw

Devil's claw is an anti-inflammatory effective in treating arthritis and rheumatism.

Turmeric

This culinary herb's anti-inflammatory effect is said to be comparable to those of cortisone. The good thing about using turmeric is it does not cause the same nasty side-effects as cortisone! Turmeric is effective in treating arthritis and it can be safely fed to dogs (just sprinkle some of the dried herb on their food) as a dietary supplement.

Licorice root

Another herb with anti-inflammatory properties whose effect is similar to those of cortisone. (One of the herb's major active constituents has a chemical structure similar to that of natural corticosteroids). Licorice can reduce joint swelling caused by arthritis.

Alfalfa / Parsley

Alfalfa and parsley have been found to be effective in treating arthritis in both people and dogs. Both herbs are safe and can be fed to dogs as a nutritious dietary supplement.

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Herbs to Relieve Dog Joint Pain

To relieve joint pain in dogs, these herbs are effective:

Cayenne

Taken internally, cayenne seems to be effective in relieving pain caused by arthritis.

St.-John's wort

This herb reduces pain and speeds up the healing process.

There are some effective natural herbal products that contain a lot of the essential herbs mentioned above for dog arthritis treatment:

Dr. Harvey's Ortho-Flex for Dogs 8 oz.

This formula is used not only to help in the relief of pain but also to treat the underlying problem. It includes herbs such as garlic, alfalfa, devil's claw, licorice, burdock, dandelion, cayenne, etc. - All essential herbs to reduce inflammation and relieve pain!

Only Natural Pet Easy Strider for Dogs

This formula contains not only anti-inflammatory herbs and herbs for arthritis pain relief, such as cayenne, ginger, turmeric, yucca and devil's claw, but also tonic herbs such as black cohosh and the Chinese herb Dong Quai. In addition, it also contains antioxidant herbs such as black cherry. On top of that, it includes glucosamine as well.

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Herbs & Supplements to Detox

Sometimes, arthritis is caused by accumulation of free radicals in the body. As a dog ages, more and more free radicals will be accumulated in his body.

Some culinary herbs, such as oregano, thyme, basil, ginger, as well as turmeric are natural antioxidants and can be added to your pet's daily diet to remove the toxic free radicals. These herbs should be considered and included as part of the dog arthritis treatment.

Green tea is another herb that has been found to be excellent in removing toxic substances.

The herb milk thistle is also known for its ability in assisting the body in combating environmental pollutants and supports healthy liver function.

Vitamins A, C and E; Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, and flaxseed oil) are excellent natural antioxidants that can help eliminate free radicals from the body.

There are some very good commercial natural antioxidants.

Only Natural Pet Kelp Boost

This product (in powder form) contains, among others, vitamins A, C and E, as well as flaxseed and kelp.

Only Natural Pet Whole Food Antioxidant Blend

This product also contains a lot of helpful herbs, such as milk thistle, green tea, and turmeric.

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Supplements for Joints

More and more dog owners are turning to natural supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM for maintenance of dog joint health and prevention of dog arthritis.

For more information on these supplements, see our pages on Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate and MSM for Dogs.

Other Natural Dog Arthritis Treatment

Homeopathy

Many dog owners have tried homeopathic treatments for their dogs' arthritis with good results. There are quite a few homeopathic remedies for dog arthritis depending on the particular symptoms. Consult a holistic vet for the one treatment that is best indicated for your dog's condition.

Here are a few most common homeopathic remedies that can be used as dog arthritis treatment:

Rhus toxicodendron 6C

This remedy is for dogs with chronic arthritis, pain, and stiffness which gets especially obvious after a long period of rest such as getting up in the morning.

Silicea 30C

This remedy is effective for hip dysplasia, joint arthritis, and spondylitis (arthritis of the spine). It is most suited for dogs whose arthritis symptoms (stiffness and pain) are getting worse as they age.

Belladonna 30C

This homeopathic remedy is indicated for dogs whose arthritis condition has come on suddenly and rapidly. The dog is irritable because of the severe pain, which is accompanied by a fever (average normal dog body temperature is 101 �F or 38 �C).

Some dog owners have reported good results from the use of a commercial homeopathic anti-inflammation product called Traumeel. It uses such effective anti-inflammatory homeopathic botanicals as Arnica, Belladonna, Aconitum, Calendula, etc. and comes in ointment and tablet forms.

Aromatherapy to Relief Pain

Aromatherapy can also be incorporated as a part of the dog arthritis treatment. It can be used to relieve joint pain caused by arthritis and hip dysplasia in dogs. Here is an aromatherapy recipe that you can try.

References

D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999).
R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000).
Pitcairn & Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).

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