Arthritis in Pets: What to Look For and How It’s Treated
Like people, dogs and cats can also experience the pain and discomfort caused by arthritis. More common in dogs than cats, degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. Senior and large breed dogs are most likely to develop this ailment. While there is no cure for this degenerative condition, if caught early, arthritis can be manageable, allowing your pet to remain active and improve their quality of life.
Risk Factors
Although any dog can develop arthritis, some are more at risk for the condition. Risk factors include:
- Large or giant breeds (such as German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers)
- Obesity
- Age (particularly middle-aged to senior dogs)
- Repetitive stress from athletic activities (such as agility, flyball, or diving)
- Injuries (such as fractures or ligament tears)
- Prior diagnosis of hip or elbow dysplasia
- Infections that affect the joints (such as Lyme Disease)
- Improper nutrition
- Poor conformation
- Genetics
If your dog is predisposed to developing arthritis, it’s important to maintain regular wellness visits with your vet.
The Signs of Arthritis
Knowing the early signs of arthritis will help you address the condition sooner, providing much-needed treatment options for your pet. Here are important signs to look for that may indicate your pet is suffering from arthritis.
Dogs
- Stiffness, lameness, limping, or difficulty getting up
- Lethargy
- Reluctance to run, jump, or play
- Weight gain
- Irritability or changes in behavior
- Pain when petted or touched
- Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, or having accidents in the house
- Loss of muscle mass over the limbs and spine
Cats
- Difficulty getting up and down
- Walking stiffly
- Lameness in one or more legs
- Reluctance to go up and/or down stairs
- Reluctance to jump up or down (onto/off furniture or into/out of a vehicle)
- Stiff, swollen, or sore joints
- Reluctance to be touched on some parts of the body
- Unexpected aggression towards other cats or towards humans
If you notice your pet experiencing any of these signs, it’s important to contact the clinic for an evaluation by one of our vets. They will assess the condition through range of motion exam. X-rays can also be helpful, determining the extent of the damage caused by this degenerative joint condition.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis. If your pet should develop arthritis the treatment is usually multimodal, meaning several therapies are used simultaneously to treat the condition and achieve the most favorable outcome possible.
Treatment options include supplements (glucosamine and chondroitin), Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and cold laser therapy. Additionally, the vet may recommend weight management through diet and exercise to help reduce the pressure on your pet’s joints. In severe cases, surgery may be an option.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis is a painful, debilitating condition that needs early diagnosis and intervention to effectively manage a pet’s illness. If you notice your pet experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s important to schedule a thorough exam with one of our vets. If a positive diagnosis is confirmed, we will develop a treatment plan to help maintain your pet’s comfort and slow the progression of their arthritis.
Sincerely,
Julie Grimes, DVM
