Arthritis

As the colder weather sets in some of our more mature furry friends are feeling the very real and painful effects of arthritis. This fortnight we aim to provide you with a an understanding of Arthritis and how we can minimise its impact on our pets.

Arthritic pain is due to a loss of cartilage and synovial fluid within a joint.Cartilage and synovial fluid act as the shock absorber and lubricant for the joint, so without them you get a dry grinding painful joint. It is most commonly due to age-related degeneration but can be brought on much earlier with injury.

Like in people, arthritis in pets can be excruciating and debilitating, but often the first signs are subtle. Signs that your pet may be suffering from Arthritis may include:

1) Limping or gait changes- this is your pet compensating and trying to use a sore joint less or in a more comfortable way

2) Reluctance to get out of bed (!) and stiffness after rest

3) Unexplained changes in behavior (including grouchiness and aggression)

4) Resistant to touch (pulling away from you)

5) Difficulty in climbing stairs

Some positive and pro active steps towards managing arthritis in your dog is to keep them active. We are not talking about marathon walks, but gentle frequent exercise, for example making your pet keep you company when you collect the mail, or making them walk with you to the clothesline. Gentle movement encourages the production and release of synovial fluid, so small steps such as these help to keep the joints lubricated and helps to maintain them, and this also explains why joints sometimes ‘seize up’ after periods of rest.

Arthritis normally kicks into higher gear when the cooler weather sets in, due to poorer circulation to the joints, so consider bringing your pet in at night time and making their bedding as warm as possible with a extra blanket or two, and well insulated from the ground.

Fortunately there are some things we can do to manage arthritis. There are medications and herbal supplements to encourage cartilage repair and synovial fluid production. There is also effective pain relief which will ensure your mate can be mobile and pain free into their senior years. If you think your pet is showing signs of suffering from Arthritis please feel free to speak with one of us at the clinic about what we can do to help.