How can I treat arthritis in my dog or cat?
Arthritis is unfortunately a common ailment seen in both dogs and cats as they age.
Your pet may be suffering from arthritis if you are starting to notice any of the following signs:
They appear stiff or slow to rise after lying down or sleeping
They are sleeping longer
They are reluctant to jump onto a bed/couch or go up and down stairs
There may be muscle wasting in their hind legs
They may be limping on one or more legs
Arthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the presence of inflammation in a joint. As the cartilage in the joint starts to wear, this causes inflammation, swelling and discomfort.
Arthritis can affect their backs, hips, legs. So normal everyday activities start to become painful.
There are several causes that can make the cartilage wear:
Abnormal joint conformation
Being over weight
Underlying joint disease
Gait abnormalities
Diagnosis:
To diagnose arthritis, x-rays are required on your pet
Arthritis management:
Once arthritis develops, unfortunately it can’t be cured. However, it is possible to slow its progression. The management of this condition is usually a multimodal approach:
Weight management: maintaining your pet at an ideal weight is of great importance to help alleviate any excess pressure placed onto their joints
Exercise: light, regular exercise will help to keep their joints mobile. The length of the walk will often be pet dependant. However, a 10-20 minute walk is often ideal. Swimming is also recommended for our arthritic pets.
Natural treatments: supplements or food containing Epitalis, Rose Hip, Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids can be given to help ease the symptoms of arthritis in your pet.
Acupuncture: this procedure, provided by trained veterinarians, can often give great relief
Cartilage protective treatments: Pentosan polysulphate injections are administered once a week for 4 weeks. The treatment course is usually repeated every 6 to 12 months. This medication is usually the initial treatment of choice due to the very minimal side effects seen. Pentosan helps to alleviate the signs of arthritis by increasing the blood supply to joints (which helps with joint healing), helps stimulate the production of cartilage, increases the quantity (and quality) of fluid in the joint, helps to prevent cartilage degradation and it has anti-inflammatory effects
Anti-inflammatory medications: these medications (e.g. Carprofen, Meloxicam) reduce the inflammation present in joints which will help to alleviate discomfort. This medication is often used to treat acute pain, however, it can also be used, in combination with other treatment options, to help control chronic arthritic discomfort. Often your veterinarian will offer a blood test to be performed prior to staring this medication, especially if your elderly pet will be placed on this medication for an extended period of time.
Created by Dr Tina Walder BSc. BVMS (Hamersley, Western Australia)