Life
arthritis in dogs
what you may not know
Did you know that one out of every five dogs
suffers with some form of arthritis? This number
almost doubles in dogs older than 7 years.
This occurs as both dogs and cats grow older.
The joints don’t function as smoothly and lose
some of their ability to lubricate joint movement
as time passes.
Often a pet owner overlooks this pain as
simply “the pet is getting older.” In fact, some
veterinarians believe that more than half of all
dogs and cats with painful arthritis are going
untreated because their owners don’t recognize
the subtle and insidious symptoms of joint pain.
The top five signs your pet is in arthritic pain
include;
1 - stiffness and reluctance to move
2 - unexplained behavioral changes (more
3 - easily tiring-
4 - not wanting to jump or noticeably limping
5 - panting when at rest
Few pets really whine when they move, and I am
afraid if pet owners wait for the pets to vocalize
their pain, it is too late and that poor animal has
suffered chronically in silence.
The treatment for pain should be a multimodal
approach, using moderate exercise, nutrition
and proper supplements, acupuncture and
pharmaceuticals.
Moderate exercise is recommended to keep
pets’ weights in a normal range and not add to
the stress on already-stressed joints. If possible,
Meet the Doctor
swimming is a good form of exercise because it
is non-weight bearing. Soft warm beds, ramps for
getting in the car and elevated dog bowls all help
pets with arthritis pain.
Veterinarians also have new-generation, nonsteroid
medications that can help. Many pets,
especially those with chronic and progressive
hip dysplasia are getting good relief with these
medications, especially along with proper home
care and physical therapy. As both cats and
dogs may have serious side effects to aspirin
and ibuprofen, pain medications should only be
prescribed by your veterinarian. I do recommend
a blood screening to assess the liver function
before starting any of these drugs.
Acupuncture and massage therapy are proving
to add pain relief and quality of life to pets with
arthritis. The stimulation of certain acu points
can provide long-lasting relief of pain by releasing
endorphins, but there are other physiological
changes that occur involving the motor nerve
endings, which result in less muscle atrophy.
As a certified food therapist, I cannot stress
enough the importance of a high-quality diet
and the supplementation using glucosamine
and antioxidants.
Maintaining an ideal body weight can add years
to your pet’s life because obesity puts extra
pressure on those joints.
Chronic pain can change a person, and it can
change your pet’s personality and interaction
with people.If you are concerned that your pet
may be in pain, ask your veterinarian.
Mitsie Vargas, DVM, CVA is an assistant
acupuncture teacher at the Chi Institute and
a consultant with Disney Animal Kingdom.
You can reach her at drv@osahvets.com,
@osahvets on Twitter or her Facebook page.
Orchid Springs Animal mal Hospital
615 Overlook Drive
Winter Haven
863.324.6964
osahvets.com
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