ARTHRITIS IN ELDERLY PETS
When we have pets that are getting on in age it can be easy to dismiss certain changes down to “just getting older”.But few people realise that there is a lot more than you think that we can do for our elderly pets to not only improve their quality of life, but possibly prolong our time with them also.
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of a reduction in life quality in our older pets.
Signs can range from mild stiffness when first getting up in the morning, difficulty getting up or down stairs to marked lameness and obvious pain.
Signs often become much more profound in the colder months as joints are colder and therefore stiffer, making winter a particularly hard time for older pets.
Arthritis occurs when the joint surfaces become roughened through wear and tear and sometimes, old injuries.
These joint surfaces then grind against each other and cause swelling and pain. This can then develop into a vicious cycle, as pets are reluctant to exercise as much, causing muscle wastage and less support for the joints making the problem worse.
The most important preventative measure that we can take for our older pets, is to keep them fit and in the healthy weight range. This keeps up muscle bulk and joint support and not carrying excess weight avoids unnecessary strain on aging joints.
For those that can, says Tania Bishop from the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery, swimming is one of the best exercises for arthritic dogs. It builds up muscle and is non-weight bearing, placing minimal pressure on joints. According to Tania, this form of exercise is also much less painful for dogs with severe arthritis.
Dogs prefer to swim where they have access to a graduated beach to get out like a creek or river. For those where this isn’t an option or for debilitated patients, hydrotherapy pools are available especially designed for this purpose.
If swimming is not an option, gentle regular lead walks are best. Vigorous, rough exercise, like chasing objects, should be avoided.
Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can also help maintain the health of the joint cartilage and delay the progression of arthritis.
Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (fish oils) help in the diet also by acting as low-level anti-inflammatories. They also help maintain active brain functioning for longer, which is useful in our older pets!
In the early stages of arthritis the above measures can comfortably maintain older pets for quite some time. If, however the arthritis is more advanced then medical intervention is beneficial.
Injections such as pentosan and cartrophen return the cushioning and lubricating function of the joint fluid avoiding the roughened joint surfaces rubbing against each other, offering good longer-term relief to many sufferers.
Other than this, anti-inflammatories and other stronger pain medications are used to maintain quality of life for as long as we can.
Finally keeping your pet warm and snug during the coldest times can be a huge help. Raising bedding to stop cold transfer from the ground or a warm doggy coat can make the world of difference to their comfort.
Managing arthritis becomes a balancing act between the many options available to keep our pets active, pain free and happy for as long as possible.
Is your dog suffering from arthritis? Book an appointment at the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery to discuss the treatment options best suited for your pet on 3425 2222.
Signs can range from mild stiffness when first getting up in the morning, difficulty getting up or down stairs to marked lameness and obvious pain.
Signs often become much more profound in the colder months as joints are colder and therefore stiffer, making winter a particularly hard time for older pets.
Arthritis occurs when the joint surfaces become roughened through wear and tear and sometimes, old injuries.
These joint surfaces then grind against each other and cause swelling and pain. This can then develop into a vicious cycle, as pets are reluctant to exercise as much, causing muscle wastage and less support for the joints making the problem worse.
The most important preventative measure that we can take for our older pets, is to keep them fit and in the healthy weight range. This keeps up muscle bulk and joint support and not carrying excess weight avoids unnecessary strain on aging joints.
For those that can, says Tania Bishop from the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery, swimming is one of the best exercises for arthritic dogs. It builds up muscle and is non-weight bearing, placing minimal pressure on joints. According to Tania, this form of exercise is also much less painful for dogs with severe arthritis.
Dogs prefer to swim where they have access to a graduated beach to get out like a creek or river. For those where this isn’t an option or for debilitated patients, hydrotherapy pools are available especially designed for this purpose.
If swimming is not an option, gentle regular lead walks are best. Vigorous, rough exercise, like chasing objects, should be avoided.
Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can also help maintain the health of the joint cartilage and delay the progression of arthritis.
Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (fish oils) help in the diet also by acting as low-level anti-inflammatories. They also help maintain active brain functioning for longer, which is useful in our older pets!
In the early stages of arthritis the above measures can comfortably maintain older pets for quite some time. If, however the arthritis is more advanced then medical intervention is beneficial.
Injections such as pentosan and cartrophen return the cushioning and lubricating function of the joint fluid avoiding the roughened joint surfaces rubbing against each other, offering good longer-term relief to many sufferers.
Other than this, anti-inflammatories and other stronger pain medications are used to maintain quality of life for as long as we can.
Finally keeping your pet warm and snug during the coldest times can be a huge help. Raising bedding to stop cold transfer from the ground or a warm doggy coat can make the world of difference to their comfort.
Managing arthritis becomes a balancing act between the many options available to keep our pets active, pain free and happy for as long as possible.
Is your dog suffering from arthritis? Book an appointment at the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery to discuss the treatment options best suited for your pet on 3425 2222.
