Could Your Pet Be Suffering from Arthritis?

Careful Movement May Signal Osteoarthritis

Have you recently noticed that your pet has been more carefully getting up and laying down, limping, and just moving more slowly in general? It could be a result of a number of different ailments, but one in particular could be a form of osteoarthritis. Just like in humans, our furry family members are susceptible to joint changes and destruction from trauma, congenital defects, and infection just to name a few. Arthritis is a common but complex condition as it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.

Common symptoms to watch for:

  1. Stiff walking
  2. Reluctance to attempt going up and down stairs
  3. Swollen or sore joints
  4. Loss of stamina, or lethargy
  5. Unusual aggression towards other animals
  6. Lameness in one or more legs
  7. Difficulty getting up and down
  8. Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate

Causes of arthritis:

  1. Genetics/Breed (?)
  2. Nutritional history
  3. Body condition and weight
  4. Abnormal joint development as often seen in some specific breeds of dogs (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc)
  5. History of injury
  6. Previous orthopedic surgeries
  7. Age

Steps toward Prevention:

  1. Diet (such as food high in EPA to reduce joint inflammation)
  2. Exercise (to keep joints supple)
  3. Weight Management (to prevent cartilage breakdown)
  4. Use of protective joint supplements (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, GLM)

While there isn’t a œcure for arthritis, there are several things that you can do to make your pet’s pain more manageable and improve their quality of life. Those things include giving them joint supplements, pain medications, as well as certain therapies such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, underwater treadmill, or cold laser therapy. A change in diet could be helpful, as well as environmental changes like making sure their food and water is lifted off the floor (to elbow height), providing soft but supportive bedding, using a ramp for getting in and out of cars, and utilizing rugs, etc so that floors aren’t slippery and they’re able to get a grip.

Collette: should the above be bullet points as well?

While there isn’t a œcure for arthritis, there are several things that you can do to make your pet’s pain more manageable and improve their quality of life.

Those things include:

  • Joint supplements
  • Pain medications
  • Physiotherapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Underwater treadmill
  • Cold laser therapy
  • Dietary changes

Environmental changes like making sure their food and water is lifted off the floor (to elbow height), providing soft but supportive bedding, using a ramp for getting in and out of cars, and utilizing rugs, etc so that floors aren’t slippery and they’re able to get a grip.

  1. Raise food and water bowls
  2. Soft supportive bedding
  3. Ramp for getting in and out of cars
  4. Utilizing rugs, etc so that floors aren’t slippery and they’re able to get a grip.

If you’ve noticed some of the symptoms listed above and suspect that your pet may have arthritis, please talk to your veterinarian. They can perform a physical examination which includes palpating joints and assessing range of motion, as well as possibly ordering x-rays to determine the extent of the issue. They can then work with you to create the best plan for you and your pet.

In-depth discussion of the above points can be found at:

American Kennel Club: Osteoarthritis in Dogs ” Signs and Treatment

VCA Hospitals: Arthritis in Cats

MedVet: Using Laser Therapy, Acupuncture, and the Assisi Loop for Alternative Pain Management in Dogs and Cats

Icon Images Source: Canna-Pet – Osteoarthritis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Management

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Photo by Travis Rupert from Pexels