Many of our older furry friends suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints, most often affects knees and hips. Early detection can help slow the progression of the disease and the pain that comes with it. Detecting arthritis most commonly occurs during your pet’s annual (bi-annual for pets over 8) physical exam. The doctor will mention any possible signs to you and discuss treatment options.
Signs your pet may be suffering from arthritis:
● Difficulty getting up after laying down
● Difficulty with stairs
● No longer greeting you at the door
● Reluctance to jump (usually onto furniture like the bed or the couch)
● Limping or lameness
● *Cats particularly* may bite or strike out when affected area is touched
Treatment
1. Keep your pet trim! Just like in people weight management is one of the most effective tools that we have to help arthritis. If you are unsure if your pet is a healthy weight, please discuss this with your veterinarian! We can come up with a diet plan (whether prescription food or using the food you have at home) to keep your pet at, or help your pet achieve a healthy weight!
2. Daily exercise is important for patients with arthritis. High impact sports or running can make things worse, but walking and swimming are great low impact exercises that can help strengthen the muscles that help support the joint.
3. Natural supplements are a great way to start treating arthritis in its early stages, and they can also help in a multi-level approach in late stages of the disease. Glucosamine/ Chondroitin and Omega 3 fatty acid supplements are the first supplements that we typically recommend. While these can be found over the counter, we generally see more success with veterinary specific products.
4. Adequan is an injectable disease modifying drug. It is designed to inhibit cartilage loss and restore joint lubrication. It is not currently approved for use in cats
5. There are several different medicines that a doctor can choose from when we feel that a pet is in pain. Many of these drugs affect the liver and kidneys, so it is important that we have recent bloodwork prior to starting long term care with most drugs.