Arthritis

As the weather gets colder, it’s common to see signs of arthritis in our older pets. Signs that your pet may have arthritis include:
– Slow to get up after resting, especially in the morning
– Difficulty rising
– Stiffness when walking, especially after resting
– Lameness or limping
– Reduced activity levels
– Tiring quickly during exercise
– Reluctance to exercise
– Reluctance to go up and down stairs or jump on the couch

Arthritis is due to degeneration of the cartilage in the joints, and is very common, especially as animals age. Injuries, obesity and conditions such as hip dysplasia can also contribute to arthritis. Arthritis can be diagnosed by a veterinarian based on the history, an examination and the severity can be determined with radiographs (x-rays).

There are many things you can do at home to help keep an arthritic pet comfortable:
– Comfortable/padded bedding
– Providing warmth/heating to sleeping areas
– Moderate exercise
> When animals are lying still for too long, it often is harder for them to get moving again.
> It’s important to allow them to do moderate levels of activity, not too much or too little.
> Swimming is an excellent, low impact activity for arthritic dogs.
– Weight loss
> Excess weight puts more stress on the joints, which increases pain levels.
> Maintaining muscle and losing excess weight can be a huge benefit to an arthritic animal.
> Reducing food intake, limiting table scraps and treats and increasing activity levels can help with weight loss.
– Arthritis supplements
> There are many different arthritis supplements available.
> There is not a lot of evidence as to which one’s work best, or if they help at all.
– Pain relief
> There are many different pain relief options.
> If you think your animal needs medication, then you can contact the clinic for a veterinary consultation to discuss the best options for your pet.