Pet Health

Joint Health and Arthritis in Pets

By Brad Speed

How do you know if your pet is hurting? What do you see? How do they act? This becomes a difficult question for most pet owners. As humans, we tend to apply human behaviors to our animals, and often expect them to act like we do. This leads most people to play down their pet’s pain level. A common visit we get in the Vet office goes like this: An older lab comes in for his annual visit. Let’s say he’s 10. His human mentions that he’s been “slowing down a bit”. He seems stiff when he gets up, and he doesn’t play as hard as he used to. As a Vet, we can see he has reduced muscle mass in his back legs. He bears most of his weight on his front legs. We begin to discuss arthritis and “bad hips”. When we start to mention treatments such as anti-inflammatories and joint supplements, we commonly hear, “well I don’t think he’s that bad yet, he still gets around pretty good.” A good bit of the time, that pet will then leave without further care. injury rather than arthritis, and you Vet can help determine that. It is important not to assume your pet has arthritis while a treatable problem goes undiagnosed. Next, watch your pet’s weight. The number one contributing factor to bad joint health is weight. The one guarantee we can make in the Vet world is that if you get your pet to a healthy weight, they will move better. It is crucial not to lean on supplements and medications when your pet is clearly overweight, as this one factor can often keep pets from needing more and more meds.

Good moderate range of motion activity is also helpful to joints. Unless your Vet tells you differently, it is almost always better to get your pet out and moving to keep arthritic joints healthier. It’s also a good idea not to let your arthritic pets “overdo it”. If they’ve been going hard all day, they are going to pay for that just like a person. Slow them down and let them rest accordingly.

The dog in our example is clearly showing signs of pain, but the average person is not trained to see those signs. Most people believe that their pet will let them know when they are hurting. They are missing the signs that are already there. Of course we have our baby chihuahua’s that will cry if the wind blows the wrong way, but our Lab friend will never make a peep. The dog in our example will wag his tail and eat until the day he can no longer stand, but he will likely never whine or cry about his condition. It is important to recognize and understand the signs your pet shows regarding their joint health. If your pet is “slowing down” their joints are likely affected. If they have difficulty getting up, they are hurting. If they are losing muscle mass in a particular limb, front or back, they are hurting. If your pet is limping on a leg, they are absolutely hurting. These are the signs owners need to recognize. If you sit back and wait for a sign while these are already present, you are very likely missing some crucial opportunities to improve your pets joint health. First and foremost, go see your Vet. They have the ability and the training to diagnose exactly what is causing your pet’s pain. Occasionally, your pet could be limping because of a fixable Consider anti-inflammatories. A common pattern we see is people turning down anti-inflammatories because of their effects on the liver or kidneys. What most people don’t realize is that your pet’s joints are likely to wear out long before the kidneys or liver. We have far more quality of life discussions over mobility than organ failure. If you use these medications responsibly, in accordance with proper meds, dosing, and monitoring by a Vet, they can literally add years to an arthritic pet’s life. Finally, consider joint supplementation. There are a variety of products and diets out there that provide mobility boost to joints when used properly and in conjunction with these other treatments. Think of these products like a person taking a multivitamin. You may not see a tangible improvement that day, but you will have more balance over time. There is so much that can be done for the average pet that is “slowing down”. The conversation starts at your local Vet, and continues at other professional resources, like Clayton Claws and Paws. The staff is well versed in products that can help your pets mobility and activity. Use these resources effectively, and your pet will be moving better in no time!

Brad is an associate Veterinarian at Rabun Animal Hospital. He graduated Rabun County High School in 2002, earned his bachelor degree in Animal and Dairy Science (2005) and then his DVM in Veterinary Medicine, both at the University of Georgia (2010). He lives in Clayton with his wife, daughter, son, and many 2, 3, and 4 legged animals.