Osteoarthritis

As our pets age, the cartilage that protects their joint surface can become damaged. The loss of protective cartilage leads to friction, inflammation and pain in the joint. Young dogs and cats can suffer from arthritis too, especially if their bones and joints developed slightly abnormally or their weight bearing is not completely evenly distributed when they walk or run.

Symptoms

Signs that your pet might be suffering from arthritis include:

stiffness, especially after exercise of a long period for rest
irritability
changes in toileting behaviour
changes in appetite
unexpected weight gain
inability to complete activities they previously could, like getting into the car, going up stairs
tiredness on walks or tired after walks

Treatments

While arthritis is a common occurrence with ageing, it doesn’t need to be suffered in silence. We have lots of treatments available to us to improve your pet’s comfort levels and joint health.

These include

Joint supplements like omega fatty acids, chondroitin and glucosamine
Mobility foods with joint supplements included which are lower in calories to account for your dog’s reduced activity levels and to reduce the load being borne by their joints
Injections to support cartilage health like Cartrophen or Osteopen.
Non steroidal anti inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Regular monitoring of liver and kidney values on bloods is essential during NSAID treatment as dogs with impaired liver or kidney function cannot metabolise these drugs as well.
Librela is a monoclonal antibody therapy given as a once monthly injection. This is a biological treatment which binds to proteins in your dog’s joints and interrupts the pain pathway.

What You Should Do

If you notice your pet showing signs of osteoarthritis contact the clinic for a chat and/or an appointment to see what treatments best suit your four legged friend.