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NEWS ALERT

WHAT: Canine Arthritis - New Study Shows Diet Can Help Delay and Reduce Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Use in Dogs.
More than 11 million dogs, or 1 in 5 dogs, of all ages suffer from arthritis!

WHY: Many dog owners attribute canine arthritis signs and symptoms to "old age" or "slowing down." The fact is that the older pet that is "slowing down" might actually be experiencing canine arthritis.

WHO: DR. ERNEST E. WARD, JR., DVM: OWNER AND CHIEF-OF-STAFF OF SEASIDE ANIMAL CARE, PA, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, AWARD-WINNING SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, AND FEATURED VETERINARIAN ON ONE OF ANIMAL PLANET'S NEWEST SHOWS.

PLUS: BOB EVANS, NICK & LUKE: BOB IS OWNER OF NICK; 4 YEAR-OLD AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD AND WINNER OF 2003 ASHLEY WHIPPET INVITATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND 13 YEAR-OLD LUKE, 1998 FRISBEE DOG WORLD CHAMPION. BOB & LUKE & NICK HAVE APPEARED ON THE THE TODAY SHOW, ESPN, ANIMAL PLANET, FOX SPORTS AND A&E NETWORK.

MORE ABOUT CANINE ARTHRITIS AND THE NEW STUDY:
CANINE ARTHRITIS FACTS:
--Symptoms of osteoarthritis in your dog include: stiffness in the joints, favoring a limb, difficulty in sitting or standing, hesitancy to jump, decreased activity level, and lethargy.
--Osteoarthritis is a serious danger for many breeds and thousands of dogs with a high risk of congenital joint problems, like hip dysplasia.

STUDY: A new study has shown that the same philosophies that doctors use to treat arthritis in humans can make a difference in dogs, too. Preventive measures such as feeding your dog a balanced diet that encourages lean body mass along with joint-friendly ingredients such as glucosamine, chrondroitin sulfate and L-carnatine can promote healthy cartilage and minimize the stress on the dog's joints. In the study, dogs fed one of three different senior canine diets found that they were able to delay first use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for up to 4.5 months, which is similar to the ability to postpone NSAID use for up to three years in humans.