Easing the pain during your dog's golden years

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First, visit your veterinarian for an overall health assessment. Then consider some combination of the following, depending on what's appropriate for your individual pet. ( SXC.HU user: Andreas Wivestad Dr. Rosemary LoGuidice, of the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, has a special interest in rehabilitation medicine. She says, "I believe that many of our older pets can do better, improving their quality of life."

First, visit your veterinarian for an overall health assessment, says LoGuidice. Then consider some combination of the following, depending on what's appropriate for your individual pet.

Weight loss: About half of all older dogs are overweight, a problem which can exacerbate arthritis and other health problems. A change of diet and cutting out table scraps is a part of a weight-loss program.

Pain management: "This is crucial," says LoGuidice. "An animal in pain, of course, is not going to want to exercise. Quality of life begins with eliminating pain. Sometimes we don't realize our dogs are in pain, so a veterinary assessment is important." Depending on what your pet can tolerate, a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is the most immediate way to see results. Sometimes those results may be significant. There are also slower-acting herbal choices, which may or may not help. Science has also demonstrated that glucosamine chondroitin may help many dogs, particularly a product called Dasuquin (available through veterinarians).

Veterinary treatments: Options may include acupuncture and/or a new kind of laser therapy (not to be confused with a surgical laser), which LoGuidice says improves many pets' quality of life.

At-home rehabilitation: A veterinarian with an interest in rehabilitation can demonstrate stretching exercises and massage therapy techniques.

Walks: Depending on the condition of your pet (and the weather), more frequent short walks may be best. Aside from the physical stimulation, there's the mental stimulation dogs get as they sniff out what's going on in the neighborhood.

Swimming: This can make shoulder problems worse, and overdoing it can be a problem (sometimes we don't realize our older dogs have had enough). However, overall, LoGuidice says this non weight-bearing activity may be the best exercise your dog can get (if your pet swims, of course).

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