You may not think that it’s possible, but dogs can, and do get arthritis. Usually you will notice that maybe they aren’t as active as before or just don’t seem to be themselves. As responsible, loving dog owners we will of course try our best to help out our furry friends, but most often you will need the help of a vet to relieve their pain and prevent the disease from spreading further.

Arthritis can strike dogs of any age, size, and physical condition. It’s still a mystery as to what causes arthritis, but many researchers suggest it is an autoimmune disease — a disease that causes the body to turn against its own immune system.

This disease affects the cartilage of the joints and causes it to degenerate. Since cartilage connects and projects the joints between bones, when cartilage breaks down it can lead to the bones rubbing against each other which is very painful. In dogs, most owners will first notice arthritis in the major joints such as the hips and knees, although arthritis can affect any joint in the body.

If you suspect arthritis in your dog, consider these major symptoms:

- Problems getting up, sitting or standing
- Keeping weight off a leg
- Tiredness, less active and not interested in playing
- Weight gain
- Behaviour changes
- Appearance of stiffness
- Swelling or warmth around the joints

Glucosamine has been identified as a substance that can help dogs who suffer from arthritis. This compound occurs naturally in the body to help cartilage cells produce the proteins they need to hold the joint tissue intact. As you dog begins to age, they are less able to produce this ingredient themselves, causing their cartilage to begin to stiffen and wear down.

Along with glucosamine you may want to consider chondroitin, which is found in cartilage and can help slow down the enzymes that are causing the breakdown of the cartilage. Combining these two components and giving them to your dog regularly can help them create new cartilage and relieve their arthritis suffering.

By jointly giving your dog glucosamine and chondroitin you are not only slowing down the progression of the arthritis by halting the enzymes, you are also giving them more fuel to create cartilage which can actually reverse the affects of arthritis. Best of all, you should be able to find these compounds as a local health store.

If your dog is stiff or sore as a result of surgery or injury, he may have a form of secondary arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are also effective on this condition as well as osteoarthritis.

Last, but not least, studies indicate Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements are a safe and effective supplement to add to your dog’s diet at an early age. However, there are conflicting reports on this topic and it’s best to consult with your veterinarian and determine if this is the best option for you and your dog.

When you own a Siberian Husky you need to be aware of possible issues as any dog owner should be aware of. Many of the Siberian Husky problems you will encounter are a result of their built in need to be busy and working and while that can lead to problems it can also be a good thing as well. All you need to do is keep track of your dog’s behavior and know what the warning signs are of prospective Siberian Husky problems and then you should be alright.

One of the things the Siberian Husky is known for is its love of running. It was bred as a working dog and cannot stand idle for very long. If you plan on using your Husky as a hunting dog or training it as a racing dog then that works, but for a family dog that is a problem. As long as you can give your Husky some running time every day then it can adapt to down time as well.

You are going to want to take the time to teach your Siberian Husky social skills with other people and animals because one of the big Siberian Husky problems is that the dog can get very protective of its human family and become a less that hospitable host to strangers.

One of the more surprising traits of the Siberian Husky, which for some people can become a Siberian Husky problem, is that your Husky will sometimes prefer not to bark but rather it will start to howl like a wolf. That is because the Siberian Husky is a direct relative to the wolf and at many times the Husky much prefers howling as its form of communication over barking and this can sometimes trigger other dogs to start howling and this can be bad.

The Husky is a direct relative to the wolf so, rather than spending their time and energy barking, the Husky likes to howl a lot. This can be especially troublesome when your Husky starts to get all the other dogs in the neighborhood howling as well. It is a built in behavior that you will never be able to completely suppress but obedience training can help get it under control.

Not all Siberian Husky problems are behavioral. You need to get your Husky to regular vet appointments because the Husky is prone to many health issues. They can get bone deterioration that causes their joints to become very painful.

They can also get digestive problems that can be an issue for everyone and they are also known to get eye infections every once in a while as well. Regular vet visits will keep your dog healthy and everyone happy.

A Siberian Husky is a hard working and active dog that is a direct relative to the wild wolf so you can imagine that their instincts can sometimes be a problem. But they are also very loyal dogs and if you take the time to develop a good relationship with your Husky then you can work out any Siberian Husky problems that may come up.

All dog owners want to be sure their pets are well cared for. To do this they must provide proper exercise and seek the opinion of a veterinarian to keep their dog healthy. This also includes making sure their pet is well fed. Many people think that purchasing the best food available is all that is necessary for their pet to live a long and healthy life. It only makes sense to believe that commercial dog food is better for our pets. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.

Like all companies, pet food manufacturers want to make money. Because their regulations are not as strict as the ones that producers of human food follow, they often use ingredients that are not very good. These include items that most people would never feed their prized pets. Now that you are aware of the situation, here are some ideas on how to be sure your dog meeting its nutritional requirements.

Though it is more time consuming, a lot of pet owners have started making homemade dog food. It does take longer than purchasing ready made food at the store, but the advantages certainly make it worth while. Paying attention to prices will allow you to spend a similar amount to what you spent previously on commercial dog food. Here are some things to take into account when preparing homemade pet food.

Dogs are perfectly capable of living on a vegetarian diet. Although we grew up believing that it is necessary for dogs to eat meat to get the nutrition that they need, it really isn’t true. If given the right vegetables and if they are prepared properly your dog will have everything that it needs to live a full and happy life. Many times a dog will even live a longer life on home prepared food than it will on manufactured food. Imagine if you ate out at a fast food restaurant every day. You would certainly suffer from malnutrition even though your belly was full. The same is true with your dog. If you feed your dog homemade dog food they certainly will be healthier.

One thing that you will need to be careful of is that there are certain types of food that are not good for your dog to eat. Some of these include chocolate, macadamia nuts, milk and milk-based products, grapes, and raisins. You would also never want to give your dog an alcoholic beverage. Other than some restrictions on what you can feed your dog, you’ll find that you have a wide range of homemade dog foods to choose from. Just make sure that you know your restrictions.

You’ll always be taking care of your dog throughout it’s life. The extra nutrition found in homemade food may actually make your pet live longer. Your dog will love you for it and this will definitely make you happier too.

Knowing that you can give your dog homemade dog food can put you in a financial setback as far as food prices are concerned, but in reality, who can say that they don’t feed their dog human food scraps or care to?

So in the long run although a dog is generally catogorized as having a different diet requirement, it is perfectly fine to have homemade dog food as their body digests the same way that humans do and their is no scientific proof otherwise.