While dogs experience pain just like us, they don’t often show it. If your dog doesn’t seem like himself, he may be in pain. Signs of limping, decreased activity levels, and stiffness, can be misinterpreted as signs of aging, but sometimes it can be symptoms of canine osteoarthritis. When your dog suffers from osteoarthritis, the cartilage between bones breaks down, resulting in inflammation and pain due to bone-on-bone contact. Cartilage is a rubber-like, resilient, and smooth elastic tissue that cushions the surfaces where two or more bones meet to form a flexible joint. When your dog is in motion, there is tremendous pressure on the joint. The cartilage, the joint fluid, and the connecting bones, all work together to allow smooth and flexible joint function while acting as a shock absorber. Canine osteoarthritis doesn’t just affect older dogs, it can happen at any age and be caused by developmental disorders like hip and elbow dysplasia, abnormal stress on joints due to obesity, and trauma, or injury. When caught in the early stages, it can be easier to treat. Rimadyl is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation, for dogs suffering from osteoarthritis or to control pain after they went through orthopedic or soft tissue surgery. Rimadyl works by reducing hormones that cause pain and inflammation in the body. It will ease pain and swelling due to joint problems and arthritis, which can help increase your dog’s mobility and activity levels. Rimadyl will also help manage your dog’s pain and inflammation to keep him comfortable as he recovers from his injury. Rimadyl is available on Vetito veterinary pharmacy in three forms: caplets, chewable tablets, and an injection.