Top 10 ways to prevent orthopedic issues in dogs

I've done a lot of talking about orthopedic issues after the fact. Today I turn my attention to preventing orthopedic issues in dogs (cats seem to have far fewer issues with their bones than dogs):

1. Keep your dog nice and trim:
   Starting with the most obvious approach, slim dogs have fewer orthopedic issues. Excess weight can wear on cartilage, causing limping, pain, and worn joints. Find out from your veterinarian what your dog's ideal weight is, how many calories your dog should eat to keep to that weight, how often you should feed your dog, and in what form (not too many treats now!)
2. Exercise your dog in water:
   Another way to keep a dog's weight down is to exercise. Running and walking are all good but one excellent way to reduce exercise's burden on your dog's joints is exercising in water. The water's buoyancy supports and lessens stress on the joints, encourages freer movement and provides a safe environment for exercise. If you have access to an ocean, lake or river, make sure your dog feels safe in the water and is a comfortable swimmer first. You might want to start off in a kiddie paddling pool so your dog is nicely comfortable in water before larger and deeper bodies of water.
3. Feed your dog daily supplements:
   Some supplements such as methylsulfonylmethane, glucosamine hydrochloride, glucosamine sulfate, and glucosamine hydroiodide are thought to help joint health and perhaps prevent arthritis, which often occurs alongside other orthopedic issues. They come in pill form or are now being added to some dog foods.
4. Use elevated dog bowls for your dog's food and water:
   Dog bowls that are raised off the ground keep the spine aligned in a more natural manner, putting less stress on the vertebrae, leading to less wear and tear
5. Preventative acupuncture:
   An veterinary acupuncturist can find the weakest spot in your dog's ‘system’ and treat that before it gives clinical symptoms.
6. Good behavioral training:
   A well behaved dog that listens to commands and behaves well in public and among other dogs is much less likely to be in the position to have an accident, whether it be overly aggressive play leading to a cruciate ligament rupture or a car accident with multiple broken bones. I don't know how many times we've seen a dog park accident cause a tramatic hip dysplasia incident leading to surgery.
7. Preventative tests and examinations:
   Get your veterinarian to perform PennHip or OFA tests, as well as a thorough orthopedic examination to spot hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, luxating patellas before they becomes a serious problem. Knowledge is the best weapon against serious disease and once you know if your dog is likely to have problems in the future, you can really focus on weight reduction, arthritis prevention through supplements, and appropriate exercise regimes
8. Surgery:
   Correcting conditions such as patella luxation can help reduce the likelihood of related conditions such as a cruciate ligament tear
9. No breeding:
   Do not breed a dog with hereditary orthopedic conditions such as patella luxation, hip dysplasia or osteochondritis dissecans. These conditions can be passed down through genes to their progeny perpetuating these serious canine health conditions,
   ...and finally...
10. Neuter at 6-months old and onwards:
    Some studies have shown a higher incidence of hip dyslasia and cruciate ligament tears with early-age neutering. As your veterinarian about the right time to neuter or spay your dog

Related Posts:
November is Orthopedic Month At Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest post: A General Discussion of Orthopedic Issues in Dogs
Guest Post: Four Most Common Orthopedic Problems in Dogs   

See this video of Rottweiler Lula working on her hips and back in a hydrotherapy tank...