Arthritis is a progressive deterioration of the cartilage layer within joints. Simply put, cartilage inside a joint creates a slippery layer that allows the bones to move smoothly over one another. As arthritis progresses, changes in the cartilage mean that the joint doesn’t move as smoothly as it used to and this causes pain and inflammation in the area.
Both cats and dogs can suffer from arthritis at a young age, but is far more common in older pets (over the age of 5 years). It is far less common in cats, but they too can be affected by this crippling disease.
We have also seen symptoms of arthritis in ferret patients. Some of these options may be suitable for your pocket friend. Contact the clinic to find out more.
Signs your pet could be suffering from arthritis can include;
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- Reluctance to walk or play
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- Difficulty climbing stairs
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- Difficulty jumping
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- Limping
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- Lagging behind on walks
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- Difficulty rising from a resting position
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- Yelping when touched
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- Change in personality
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- Licking joints
What are the causes of arthritis?
- Genetics: Some cat breeds are more susceptible to arthritis than others. Hip dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joints) is seen especially in Maine Coon, Persians, Siamese and other breeds. Patella luxation (dislocation of the knee cap) is more common in Abyssinian and Devon Rex breeds. In dogs, larger breeds such as Labradors and German Shepherds are all more susceptible to hip dysplasia than other breeds. However more and more often smaller breeds such as Border Collies and ‘designer’ dog breeds are having greater issues with arthritis development.
- Injury, Corrective Surgery and/or trauma: Fractures, dislocations and other joint injuries can cause abnormal joint conformation and irregular future development, particularly if surgery has been necessary to correct the fault (such as cruciate repair). This can result in secondary osteoarthritis developing around the affected joint.
- Obesity: There is no evidence that obesity causes arthritis, however, it can make an existing condition worse.
What do we do to diagnose this disease?
Often we can make a diagnosis just by examining your animal, taking an extensive history and putting them through a range of physical motions in consult. In some cases we may recommend x-rays to confirm diagnosis and rule out any other causes of your pets’ discomfort. There are more extensive measures that can be taken to confirm diagnosis including arthroscopy and synovial fluid sampling, however in most cases this is an unnecessary expense.
What can you do to help your pet?
It is important to realize there is no cure for arthritis but there are a number of things that can alleviate your pet’s symptoms. This includes:
- Environment: Make sure your pet has a cozy area, especially in winter, away from draughts. A padded bed is best. Try to reduce the number of stairs or slopes your pet has to climb. Allowing your elderly pet to sleep inside at night will help to alleviate arthritis symptoms as well.
- Exercise: Small amounts of exercise twice a day is ideal to keep the muscles strong and to support the joints. Doing longer exercise sessions once or twice a week puts excessive strain on these areas and may in turn exacerbate your pet’s condition. Swimming is a fantastic method of exercise as it supports the muscles without excess pressure. Avoid ‘high impact’ games such as ‘fetch’; the sudden stopping and turning causes increased pressure on the joints. Instead, look into more brain-stimulating games to keep them occupied. This could include hide and seek with their favourite toy; treat balls, food cubes and Kongs are also excellent mind trainers, just watch their calorie intake or use food from their daily allocation. Snuffle mats are available commercially, or you can make your own. Make them ‘work’ for their food rather than just putting it into a bowl.
Products that require an initial vet visit, and may be needed long term:
Cartrophen injections
This is a ‘Prescription only’ medication, usually given as an initial course of 4 injections over a month. Following this initial course the frequency of the injections will depend on the severity of your pets’ condition; some pets can have this every 6 months, others require monthly boosters.
Cartrophen has multiple actions including inhibiting cartilage destroying enzymes, stimulation of lubrication fluid in the joint and improvement of blood circulation. An appointment with the Veterinarian will be required to begin the cartrophen course. For further information on Cartrophen Injections for your dog, please follow this link.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
These are ‘Prescription only’ drugs that provide direct pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects to assist in the healing process and the comfort of your pet. There are many differing types depending on the patient, therefore can only be prescribed by a Veterinarian once they have been examined and a complete history collected. Occasionally, a blood panel may be recommended to rule out any underlying disease processes; this is particularly important in older pets.
Usually once your pet gets to the stage of requiring NSAIDs to keep them comfortable, they are used daily. It is important to remember any pet requiring ongoing prescriptions will need bi-yearly physical examinations. This is for the benefit of your pet to ensure there are no adverse side effects to long term medication use. For more information, please read our repeat prescription policy here.