Creaky backs, stiff legs, and swollen joints: it’s bad enough to experience these symptoms yourself, but watching your beloved furry friends suffer the pain and immobility of arthritis can be nothing less than heartbreaking.
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. It’s common in humans, but affects our animal companions as well. In fact, it’s so common in dogs that one out of every four pet pooches in the U.S. is diagnosed with arthritis of one kind or another sometime in its life. Osteoarthritis is also one of the most common causes of lameness in horses. And, a 2011 study found that 61% of cats over the age of 6 showed signs of arthritis in at least one joint.
There are several types of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is caused by mechanical wear and tear on the joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the joints.
- A third type, septic arthritis, is a bacterial infection of the joint. It can be caused by injury directly to the joint, or from germs being carried to the joint from elsewhere in the body.
Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis in both people and animals. This article will largely focus on treating osteoarthritis in pets.
How Do I Know If My Pet Has Arthritis?
If your animal exhibits the following symptoms, it’s a pretty good indication that he or she may be suffering from osteoarthritis:
- Lameness or stiff gait
- Swelling of the joints (especially in horses)
- Difficulty with stairs or jumping into cars
- Trouble lying down or circles and changes position more than usual
- Loss of interest or decrease in play activity
- Reluctance to go for walks
- Whining, whimpering, or obvious signs of pain
- Grouchy behavior, may not like to be petted
- Decreased appetite
- Poor sleep
- Withdrawal and/or hiding
- Incontinence
It’s important to note that many animals are very good at hiding pain. By the time the symptoms become obvious, your pet may be experiencing significant discomfort.
What Is Microcurrent, and How Can It Help Relive Arthritis Pain In Pets?
Conventional veterinary treatment for osteaoarthritis typically consists of weight control through diet (to reduce strain on the joints) combined with anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs. While pharmaceuticals can provide relief for a pet suffering with arthritis pain, they do have side effects that can themselves be debilitating and/or shorten the life on an animal. For instance, NSAIDS, the most common type of pharmaceutical used to combat arthritis pain in dogs, has been linked to gastrointestinal ulcers and liver failure.
Because of this, many pet owners these days are seeking alternative, natural arthritis treatments for dogs and other animals to help relieve their pain and restore their quality of life.
If you are such a pet owner, we’ve got good news for you: microcurrent therapy is as effective at treating arthritis pain in animals as it is in humans.
Microcurrent therapy uses very low level electrical current to help balance and restore the body’s own electrical system back to normal. This helps to speed up all forms of healing. It provides pain relief and brings down chronic inflammation, boosts the immune system, and increases ATP which in turn produces new cells as well as the release of endorphins and neuropeptides.
Microcurrent was introduced in the United States as a physical therapy modality in the late 1970s and has been used successfully to treat many different disease conditions in animals snice that time. One of the first major distributors for microcurrent instruments was a veterinarian named Joel Rossen, DVM who was trained in acupuncture—a widely accepted alternative medical treatment for arthritis. Microcurrent can actually be used instead of acupuncture needles for meridian work. Many animals enjoy the treatment, making it a very effective and easy to use natural arthritis treatment for dogs and pets.
Treating Arthritis in Animals Naturally With Microcurrent
Just as in humans, microcurrent works best to relieve arthritis pain in animals when used as part of a holistic protocol. The 5 Interactive Elements of The Hache Protocol for Pain Resolution™ apply just as readily to our furry friends as they do to people. A natural arthritis protocol for dogs and pets should include:
- Adequate exercise. When a pet is overweight, it puts a lot of stress on their joints. Give your furry friends the exercise they need to stay in good shape.
- Good nutrition. Any pet needs high-quality food for optimal health. But if your pet suffers from arthritis, you may need to be especially selective about what you feed them. In addition to keeping them at an ideal weight, pay attention to the ingredients in your pet food. Some animals may have food allergies or sensitivities that cause or contribute to arthritis symptoms.
- Stress reduction. Are there things in your pet’s environment that are causing undue stress? These can make it more difficult for him to heal. If you’re not sure, ask an experienced animal trainer to assess your home and follow his or her suggestions to make it as comfortable as possible for your pet.
- Microcurrent therapy. If you already own a microcurrent device, you can definitely use it to help relieve your pet’s arthritis pain! We recommend using the Brush Electrode attachment and/or Conductive Gloves for best results when treating animals with microcurrent.
Want to Learn More About Holistic Health Care and Natural Arthritis Treatment for Dogs, Horses, and Other Pets?
Click here to pre-order your copy of our upcoming book, Animal Healing: Microcurrent and Alternative Therapies for the Treatment of Animals!
It will include never-before-published case studies and specific protocols for treating anxiety, arthritis, aging-related issues, and more using microcurrent, acupuncture, and other holistic methods—including:
- A protocol for the treatment of Arthritis in animals
- The Zephyr Ranch Protocol for natural treatment of broken bones and torn tendons in animals using microcurrent
- How to use homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine safely on your pets
- And much more!
References
https://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/vsd/article/view/5931/6327
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/feline-arthritis-a-condition-thats-more-common-than-you-think
https://www.horseillustrated.com/horse-health-the-top-5-causes-of-equine-lameness
https://www.acanimalhospital.com/blog/traditional-vs-alternative-veterinary-care
https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/special/comparing-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-osteoarthritis/aa19377.html
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/prescription-drugs-for-dogs-arthritis-pain/