Thin Is In
Research has consistently shown that dogs who are on the skinny side live longer, healthier lives than dogs who are overweight, or even what’s considered “normal” weight. A landmark study published a few years ago tracked a group of Labrador Retrievers from seven different dams and two different sires over their lifetimes. Starting at eight weeks, half of the dogs were fed a standard diet; the others were fed 25 percent less. At age eight, they were x-rayed for arthritis, and the leaner dogs had much less of it: Only about 5 percent of the dogs fed a limited diet, compared to 45 percent of the control group, had arthritis in two or more joints. “We know that a lot of arthritis is preventable just by keeping your dog at an ideal weight,” says Julia Tomlinson, PhD, a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and member of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians in Burnsville, Minn. “At least half the dogs that walk into my rehab clinic are overweight, and most of them come because of a specific problem that’s being exacerbated by their weight.”
“Reading” Your Dog
How do you know if your dog is in pain? Vets and other experts say that certain breeds (including working and hunting dogs) have huge pain tolerances, and the “typical” signs of pain—whining or whimpering; constantly licking a body part; being aloof or clingy, restless or lethargic—are all over the map. But you can “read” your dog’s pain if you know what to look for.
“Typically, dogs who are developing arthritis look a little stiff first thing in the morning, but seem fine after they’ve been up and about for a while,” says Jamie Gaynor, DVM. “Or they’ll look okay unless they overexert themselves, and then they might limp for a bit.”
But not all dogs are typical. “Some dogs let you know pretty quickly when something hurts, but others are incredibly stoic. Also, arthritis pain waxes and wanes, so your dog might do the same thing today that he did last Wednesday, but today, it hurts.”
The bottom line: Keep an eye out for anything that’s unusual. Some dogs get grouchy when they’re hurting, while others seek more affection than they used to. “What’s important is to start picking up on patterns,” says Dr. Gaynor. “Watch the dog to see if he looks stiff at certain times or if he looks worse when it’s rainy or cold, or after you bring him home from the dog park. If you see that over and over, over a period of weeks to months, that’s the signal that a veterinarian really should take a look.”
For gift subscriptions, 
I have five dogs, and two of them suffer pain from arthritis. One is much worse than the other. In fact, our vet, and an orthopedic surgeon, commented that they didn't know how Argus is able to walk, let alone get around as well as he does. He is an eleven year old American bulldog who never knew the meaning of "can't", and he always seemed impervious to pain. I guess that's why he is able to move as well as he does despite his condition. He has slowed down over the past year. He is happy with shorter walks, he sort of gallops instead of runs, and he takes his time going up the three steps into our home.
I hate to see him this way. He's always been our super dog! He's supposed to be invincible. I started doing research on ways to help him be more comfortable, and this article has given me some new things to look into. My research turned up fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin. I actually started my own website to help others learn the benefits of fish oil for dogs. I don't sell anything on it, so please feel free to click on over: http://efishoilfordogs.com It's not that pretty, but I think it has some good information for people looking to begin their dog on fish oil supplements. Good luck to all who have dogs with arthritis. Give'm a hug from me!