We humans aren’t the only ones who can benefit from physiotherapy and massage therapy for the treatment of pain.

If you’re a dog owner, you know how heart-wrenching it is to see your pet painfully walking up stairs, or not exercising as much as he or she should, or wants to, because it’s too painful.

Joint and arthritic pain can be a debilitating for dogs as for people. Except pets can’t tell you where it hurts, or how much it hurts.

But you can tell.

While pain relievers are a possibility, especially in severe cases, they come with a long list of side effects.

Fortunately, a drug-free approach to relieving your dog’s joint and arthritis pain is much the same as doing so for yourself.

Here are five ways to reduce your pet’s pain.

Weight Management

The more weight your dog carries, the more stress is placed on painful joints and muscles. The problem is that the pain may reduce the amount of activity the dog is able to do, which makes it more difficult to manage weight. If your dog is overweight, put her on a weight loss plan as soon as possible.

Activity

If the pain has restricted the dog’s activity, avoid long walks and exercise, opting instead for more frequent but shorter bouts of activity. Do everything you can to keep your dog as active as possible.

An Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The pain in joints and from arthritis is due to inflammation. Some dog foods have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Talk to your vet about other anti-inflammatory foods, like papaya, alfalfa and celery, that you can add to your dog’s meals.

Physical Therapy

If your vet doesn’t offer physical therapy services, ask her where you can get them. Many veterinary hospitals will provide the service to help dog’s with injuries, arthritis and other mobility issues. Those therapists can show you techniques that you can use at home.

Massage Therapy

Your dog will enjoy a good massage as much as you do and many massage therapists offer services for pets. Holistic veterinarians will also provide massage therapy for dogs.

From making sure your floors are non-slip, to providing a supportive orthopedic bed, there are a number of other ways you can help your pain live more pain-free. Do your research, talk to your vet and show your pet all the love he or she deserves.