If your vet suspects your dog has arthritis, they may require treatment on numerous occasions over their lifetime, with treatments varying greatly in terms of medication and timescale between patients to give your dog the best immediate and long-term solution. Cartilage protectors cartilage protectors are designed to reduce cartilage damage (including hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycans and pentosan polysulphate). These may all reduce cartilage degeneration, as well as promote repair of joint structures and reduce painful inflammation. The importance of weight loss arthritis is commonly worse in overweight and unfit dogs, so the most important therapy is the combination of weight control and exercise management: minimising load on the joints, and maximising the range of movement and fitness of the muscles around those joints. Arthritic dogs often develop muscle atrophy from inactivity. The decreased use of certain muscles will cause them to deteriorate over time. If the arthritis is in one or more legs, you may notice that those legs look thinner than the others. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, please make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. While arthritis is not curable, creating a treatment plan in the early