Arthritis is an uncomfortable and often painful condition that typically affects senior cats and dogs. However, it can affect younger pets too.
What is arthritis and what are the symptoms of arthritis in our pets?
Arthritis is breakdown of the joint surface (cartilage) and the resulting inflammation. This process creates a vicious cycle of inflammation as the joint surface continues to break down while the body keeps responding with inflammation to try and heal it. This eventually leads to chronic pain.
Symptoms of arthritis are often subtle in our pets, especially in the early stages. You may notice that your older dog is slower to stand up after lying down and is no longer tolerating long walks or runs anymore. Cats with arthritis may hesitate to jump up onto the counter and as the disease progresses, may refuse to jump at all. Of course, other medical conditions can cause similar symptoms, so please consult with your veterinarian.
Arthritis can be diagnosed by your veterinarian during the physical exam along with the help of your observations of your pet’s mobility at home. X-rays are also helpful to diagnose arthritis.
Because pets can’t talk, most of us mistake arthritis symptoms as our pets ‘just getting old’. Thankfully, there is a lot we can do to help our arthritic pets improve their mobility and to decrease their pain. Treatment involves slowing the progression of arthritis as it cannot be cured.
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Joint supplements: these contain ingredients like Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, and green lipped mussel to name a few.
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Pain medications: there are many options available. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s) are commonly used because they decrease inflammation in arthritic joints and alleviate pain. Other medications deal with the neuropathic and/or chronic pain aspect of arthritis. Please discuss with your veterinarian to find out which medications are appropriate for your pet.
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Other treatment modalities like physiotherapy, laser treatments, acupuncture, and underwater treadmill sessions may also help your pet with their arthritis.
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Exercise! Exercise improves joint health – the pressure exerted on joints during walking helps circulate joint fluid which contains important nutrients for joint health. It is also great for your pet’s mental health and strengthens the human-animal bond. Keep in mind that a pet with arthritis can not tolerate high impact, heavy exercise so talk to your veterinarian about the right amount of exercise for your pet.
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Weight loss: did you know that arthritis is typically worse in pets that are overweight? Gradual, healthy weight loss can be achieved with the help of our team and can really help with your pet’s mobility.
Let’s keep our pets mobile and happy well into their senior years!
References:
Osteoarthritis and obesity in pets go hand in hand (slowly), Tony McReynolds 6/26/2019
Decluttering osteoarthritis treatment options with experts, Conny Mosley, Dr.med.vet., Dipl. ACVAA, CVA | Laura Romano, DVM, Dipl. ACVSMR | Terri Schiller, BSc, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, CCRT 03-13-2022
