Canine Bursitis

When your dog injures his shoulder, it affects the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac protecting tendons, muscles and dog joints. The bursa acts as a cushion between moving body parts, and when it's infected or injured, it typically swells with fluid. The condition, called bursitis, is painful, but responds to home and veterinary treatment.

Features
Bursitis can occur abruptly, such as from blunt trauma when a dog runs into a barrier; or happen over time, such as from repetitive exercise that strains the shoulder. The bursa may sustain a direct or indirect impact from an injury to the adjacent bones or tendons. Obesity is a factor, as weight puts added pressure on the shoulder joint. Watch for sudden limping after strenuous exercise, reluctance to get up due to pain or irritability when the area is touched. Sometimes the dog licks or gnaws at the painful shoulder. If you gently extend your dog’s leg and shoulder, putting light pressure on the shoulder, you can often feel the swollen bursa. Treat bursitis promptly, because chronic inflammation can cause permanent tissue damage.

Typical Bursitis
The primary treatment for bursitis is rest, sleep and more rest. Gentle massage of the swollen shoulder often eases discomfort and helps to reduce inflammation. In the early stages, a cold compress over the swollen bursa can help reduce swelling. After the swelling goes down, warm compresses help the body absorb exudates and bursa fluids. Some dogs benefit from nonsteroidal anti inflammatory dogs drugs or corticosteroid injections and joint meds for dogs to help reduce inflammation and pain.

Suppurative Bursitis
Treatment for suppurative bursitis requires antibiotics. This type of bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes infected and fills with pus or purulent fluid. Suppurative bursitis can be caused by an open wound on the shoulder due to a fight, accident or other trauma. Bacteria migrate from the wound causing infection and pain, and sometimes rupturing the bursa. Treatment includes wound cleaning, local or injected antibiotics and rest. The vet may leave the cleansed wound open to drain or close it with a drainage tube to draw off fluid.

Surgery
Surgical treatment helps some bursitis conditions. When a wound is contaminated, surgical exploration cleans the wound of foreign objects such as a foxtail or barb and removes infected bursal tissue. For some dogs, bursitis doesn't improve, and pain becomes more intense despite antibiotics, pain relief and rest. Chronic infection with recurring pus discharges is another sign that the bursa isn't healing. For a damaged bursa or chronic bursitis that leaves the dog with continuing pain and mobility, the preferred treatment may be surgical removal of the affected bursa. Your dog loses the bursitis pain and recovers mobility.

Strong Bones in Canines

For many people, dogs are an important part of everyday life. Some would even consider their dog to be an official member of the family so it's crucial to keep your four legged friends in the best of health. Making sure your dog has strong bones will help him reach and retain that health for many years to come. With some effort and the proper education you can help strengthen your dog's bones today.

Promoting Strong Bones
Pay attention to the ingredients in your dog's food. A healthy, well balanced diet is crucial to his bone strength. Dogs vitamin d, calcium and phosphorus are all well known for promoting bone strength so try to find a dog food with all three of these ingredients. Bone meal is a great source of these best dog multivitamin and minerals and can be added to most foods, if needed.

Take your dog out for exercise on a regular basis. When it comes to strengthening a dog's body, bones included, there is no substitute for good old exercise. Using the leash, take your dog on walks at least 2 to 3 times a week, but he won't mind if you want to walk him every day. If you have the physical ability, play with your dog often. Dogs can store lots of energy they must release, and this way they get even more exercise.

Look for food that also has glucosamine, which will strengthen both your dog's joints and bones. The dog joint and muscle health are just as important, and keeping other aspects of your dog healthy will help keep the bones as healthy as they can possibly be.