Our dogs, just like us humans, can also be afflicted with arthritis. That is because the joints of dogs are also subjected to wear and tear with the passing of time. Large breeds of dogs in particular are more susceptible to canine arthritis because their weight-carrying joints deal with more body mass than smaller dogs.

How do we know if our pooches are suffering from canine arthritis? Here is a checklist of what we should look out for in case our dogs have developed the ailment:

1. Lameness is observed in one or more limbs.

2. Swelling of the joints; expressions of pain when these joints are touched.

3. Unwillingness to go on long walks; the dog starts carrying his hind legs after walking a considerable distance.

4. Difficulty in climbing stairs.

5. Stiffness or difficulty to rise in the mornings, which disappears as the day passes.

The typical cause of canine arthritis is old age. However, there are other causes that could have triggered the development in our pets. It could be the result of a traumatic injury or of obesity. It could also be a genetic disposition in the dog, or the failure of his bones to develop properly when he was still a puppy.

Regardless of the causes, it is important for our pet dogs to receive proper care and treatment at the onset of canine arthritis. Just like in humans, if canine arthritis is left untreated, it can leave the dog suffering in constant excruciating pain, and it can also lead to the dogs permanent disability.

There are many ways by which canine arthritis could be treated. In the case resulting from trauma, almost always the treatment needed is surgery. If the cause is obesity, the dog would need to lose weight through frequent exercise like walking and swimming.

There are other treatments and supplements that can help the dog to cope with the joint pain that is attendant to canine arthritis. These treatments include holistic treatments like acupressure, herbal medicine and massage. Among the popular supplements for managing canine arthritis are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, supplements that are also known to work on humans. There are many supplementary products for canine arthritis and one such supplementary product is Syn-flex Liquid Glucosamine for Pets.

Just like in humans, glucosamine is the main component of cartilage in dogs. When taken as a supplement for canine arthritis, Syn-flex glucosamine helps rejuvenate the cartilage of the dog that was damaged by the ailment. Syn-flex also contains chondroitin sulfate, which works together with glucosamine by attracting and trapping liquids that will provide lubrication to the joints. Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are produced naturally by the dogs system, but its production gradually lessens as the dog advances in age, just like with humans.