Arthritis and Pets
Arthritis is a common problem in older pets and people. Many people attribute their older pet slowing down as just "because he or she is old". However, often arthritis plays a role in older pets slowing down. Whether it is your senior cat who doesn't jump on and off furniture as much or your senior dog who doesn't want to go on as many walks, arthritis is very common in our senior pets. Some pets also start limping on one limb because of the pain.
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and can happen in any limb or in the spine. It is caused by degeneration of the cartilage which normally protects the bones of the joint. The result is bone-on-bone grinding which causes inflammation and pain.
The best way to prevent arthritis in all pets is to maintain them at a health weight. When pets are overweight, the extra fat puts additional strain on their joints, resulting more degeneration of the cartilage. If you are unsure if your pet is at his or her ideal weight, bring them in for a weigh-in! We can discuss their Body Condition Score and ideal weight. Making sure your pet is active is an excellent step in maintaining an ideal weight. The other important factor is their diet. If your pet is overweight, he or she may benefit from a weight reduction veterinary prescription diet. Through reducing the amount of fat in the body, the diets help take pressure off the joints and aid in preventing arthritis. If your pet is already showing signs of arthritis, it is still important to get them back to a healthy weight in order to relieve their joints. It will help alleviate some of the pain and the clinical signs you notice at home. A weight reduction diet is an important part of arthritis treatment in older pets. Exercise can be more difficult in pets with arthritis but through pain management techniques we can alleviate some of the pain and thus encourage pets to be more active. Additionally, swimming is great exercise for dogs with arthritis because the buoyancy helps relieve some of the pressure on their joints.
Pain management for arthritic pets comes in many different forms. The best way to determine what level of pain management your pet needs is to take an x-ray of the affected joints. By analyzing the x-ray we can assess the amount of inflammation in the joint and prescribe the best treatment of your pet. Treatment may consist of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, neuropathic pain medication, or joint-supportive nutraceuticals.
If you think your pet is suffering from arthritis, give us a call to book a physical exam. The vet will examine and assess your pet's joints and muscles (in addition to a full physical exam) and discuss diagnostic tests like xrays and the appropriate pain medication. Remember, your older pet "slowing down with age" may be due to arthritis and there are ways we can help reduce that inflammation and manage their pain - leading to a healthier and happier life!