Dogs with arthritis oftentimes suffer from great discomfort as a result of their condition, which causes swelling, inflammation and tenderness throughout parts of their body. While there are a number of different types of medicines that you and your veterinarian may use to help reduce these symptoms of arthritis in your pet, sometimes these treatment methods are simply not as effective as you'd like.
If you and your vet have exhausted the options for medicines, you may wish to consider certain types of nutritional and natural supplements as well. Of these, cetyl myristoleate is one of the best at reducing the symptoms of arthritis.
Cetyl Myristoleate Overview
Cetyl myristoleate is an ester of the myristoleic acid. This chemical serves as a natural anti inflammatory agent. It works to stop the reaction that your pet has to arthritis which causes his joints to become swollen and inflamed. By reducing the inflammation of these joints, cetyl myristoleate works also to prevent painful discomfort that occurs when swollen joints and surrounding tissues are moved or rub up against each other.
Cetyl myristoleate is not a FDA-approved medicine. Rather, it is classified as a nutritional supplement. This means that it is available over the counter and without a veterinarian's prescription. However, you should only give this supplement to your pet with the express permission of your vet, as it's important to keep your vet informed of all of the developments surrounding your pet's health and arthritis treatment.
Using Cetyl Myristoleate for Your Pet
Cetyl myristoleate is typically provided in oral form, as a tablet. Because most of the tablets that are made for cetyl myristoleate are provided for human use, not animal use, you'll need to determine the proper dosage for your pet. This will be decided based on your dog's weight and partially on the severity of his case of arthritis. It's important to always work with a vet in order to determine the exact amount of cetyl myristoleate to give to your pet. You can typically provide this supplement to your dog along with food or with a treat, and it's usually given once per day.
Side Effects and Other Information
One of the excellent benefits of this method of addressing inflammation and pain due to arthritis is that it has very few, if any, side effects. The ester form of the acid is designed to remain in the body for a longer period of time than the acid, meaning that it will not be broken down by natural body processes and will have a longer life. Still, because the supplement does have the potential to react with other supplements and drugs in your pet's system, it's important to inform your vet of your administration of cetyl myristoleate.
Cetyl myristoleate has quickly risen to the top of inflammation and discomfort treatments for arthritis. If your pet suffers from this condition, speak with your vet about the possibility of using cetyl myristoleate to help treat his pain.