The latest in pain relievers for canine arthritis includes Rimadyl, Adequan, and Palaprin, all available only from veterinarians. Long-term use of this drug requires periodic blood tests for liver function, but most dogs apparently do well on it. Like all drugs, however, Rimadyl is not effective for all patients. It not only relieves the pain of arthritis, it binds to damaged cartilage to facilitate repair, blocks the action of destructive enzymes that cause inflammation, and stimulates the production of healthy joint fluid. Diet also plays an important part in arthritis treatment, especially to control the patient's weight.
Excess weight causes more stress on the joints and exacerbates existing arthritis pain.
In large breed dogs, periods of rapid growth can lead to development of OCD and joint dysplasias if the underlying genetic code is present, so special attention should be paid to the diets of these puppies to prevent too-rapid weight gain. Whether drugs, surgery, or both are indicated in arthritis treatment owners should make sure their pets get plenty of rest and are not asked to perform painful exercise during treatment and recuperation. Veterinary advice in the matter of exercise should be followed even though it may seem that the recovery is slow. Ultimately, the type and duration of exercise will have to be restricted to reduce the pain as much as possible. Notes From Canine Orthopedics by Robert L. Rooks DVM and Connie Jankowski, the primary source of information for this article.