How Long Can a Dog Live with Arthritis?
We all know the sad fact that our canine friends don't live as long as we do. But there's a lot we can do to help extend and improve our pets' lives — and even after a veterinarian diagnoses arthritis, there's still plenty we can do to make sure our dogs get the care they deserve. How long a dog lives with arthritis is shaped in large part by the care they receive.
Arthritis means "inflammation of the joints," and this common human problem affects many dogs too — as many as one in five. In a healthy joint, the bone surfaces are covered with a thin layer of cartilage lubricated by joint fluid, letting the bones glide without friction. In an arthritic dog, that cartilage is damaged, so the bone surfaces can rub together, causing pain and further cartilage damage. New bone may form around the joint, making it stiffer and limiting movement even more.
How to Give an Arthritic Dog a Longer, Healthier Life
Diet & weight management. What we feed our dogs matters, especially with arthritis. A healthy, balanced diet supports general health and immunity. If your dog is overweight, those extra pounds put more pressure on the joints and can worsen discomfort, so portion control is important — talk with your vet about healthy feeding and, if needed, a weight plan.
Comfort & lifestyle. Help your dog live comfortably with supportive bedding — orthopedic beds cushion achy joints, and bedding protects against cold and dampness, which can worsen discomfort. Heating pads can help, and ramps or stairs make it easier to reach cars, beds, couches, and porches.
Exercise. Movement is key, especially early on. Keeping arthritic joints in motion helps prevent stiffness. Your dog may be less enthusiastic about walks, but try slower, shorter, more frequent ones. Gentle exercise helps maintain muscle in the affected limbs and improves stability and strength.
Supplements. A daily joint supplement helps ensure your dog's joints get nutritional support. Look for all-natural ingredients and a product with a good reputation that's recommended by vets and well reviewed.
An All-Natural Option for Joint Support
If you're looking for an all-natural option for your pet's joints, and you know that medications often carry side effects and only mask symptoms, Flexpet is an all-natural daily supplement formulated to support joint comfort and a healthy inflammatory response — without prescription medication. Flexpet is a supplement, not a medication — it isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent arthritis or any other disease, and it isn't a substitute for veterinary care. Flexpet is the only pet product on the market to use CM8® (cetyl myristoleate), a cetylated fatty acid that occurs naturally in certain mammals, first studied by a researcher at the National Institutes of Health for its role in supporting joint comfort. To support joint health over the short and long term, we combine CM8® with:
- Glucosamine Sulfate Potassium — an amino sugar that helps support the structure and function of joints; plays a key role in cartilage construction and the incorporation of sulfur into cartilage.
- MSM — a naturally occurring sulfur compound needed by the body to form connective tissue; supports a healthy inflammatory response.
- Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II — provides tissue-oriented nutritional support; collagen is the most common structural protein in the body and a building block of cartilage.
- Bromelain — found naturally in pineapple stems; supports a healthy inflammatory response.
- Vitamin C — supports tissue health and the maintenance of cartilage.
- Enzyme Blend — aids digestion and helps the body absorb larger molecules like cetyl myristoleate.
Serving Suggestions
- Small dogs & all cats (under 25 lbs): 1–2 Flexpet tablets daily
- Medium to large dogs (25–75 lbs): 2–3 Flexpet tablets daily
- Larger dogs (75+ lbs): 3–4 Flexpet tablets daily
At Flexpet, we're dog owners and dog lovers too. If your dog could use extra joint support, we invite you to try Flexpet risk-free with our 90-day satisfaction guarantee — if you don't feel it has helped, simply return your first order (up to three empty pouches/bottles) for a full refund of the purchase price, less shipping and handling. Questions? Call our customer care team M–F, 9am–6pm EST at 1-800-505-0575.