Does your pet have arthritis?
Arthritis is an extremely painful joint condition affecting nearly 1.3 million humans every year, and the same condition commonly affects almost one in every four dogs as they age. If you cannot bear to see a family member or a loved one in pain due to arthritis then imagine the pain faced by a pet which cannot even understand the reason for arthritic pain.
What is arthritis and how often does it affect dogs?
Arthritis is a term used to describe abnormal changes in a joint. Each joint in the body has a protective pad of cartilage inside it which prevents the hard bones from rubbing against each other. The pad acts like a cushion to lessen the impact created during movement and it also serves as a lubricating pillow to allow easy movement. Inflammatory diseases, joint injuries, stress on joints, infections etc. can all attack and irreparably damage the cartilage pad inside the joint. When the damaged cartilage can no longer protect the bones, they start grinding against each other, causing pain and swellings. Each joint is also guarded by a joint capsule to protect the cartilage and the bones. However, with increasing friction between the bones of the joint, the capsule thickens and becomes less elastic. The thicker the joint capsule becomes the more effort is required to carry out any type of motion, thus leading to more injury and pain. In an effort to decrease the pain, pets try to limit the amount of movement of the joint. But more problems arise as reduced activity causes weight gain, thereby increasing the weight that the painful joint has to bear. It’s a vicious cycle of injury which has no permanent treatment.
However, it’s not as hopeless as it sounds. Modern medicine has improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years and there are now ways to enable your pet to lead a comfortable life even if he has arthritis. Just make sure you get them checked by a vet at least twice a year. The sooner you diagnose your pet as having arthritis, the sooner you will be able to help alleviate his pain.
Be a caring and observant owner, and watch out for these symptoms:
1. Increased weight gain- If your pet is in pain from arthritis, they will start to decrease their movement to control the pain from sore joints. The first sign most pet owners notice is an increased amount of weight gain, more sleep periods and a sudden decrease in alertness.
2. Slowing down- As your pet dog gets older, there will be a normal amount of slowing down in activities and enthusiasm level. Arthritis brings subtle changes, like a hesitation in climbing stairs, an increased reluctance for movement in cold or rainy weather, stiffness while getting up or lying down, hesitation about jumping up or down from high areas, etc. If your pet looks reluctant to greet you when you come home or does not like to perform an energetic action then there’s a chance your pet could have joint disease. All of these signs can indicate painful joints.
Making It Easier on Your Pet
Controlling weight- Exercising your dog is not easy, but the following simple and fun appliances can get your dog to lose weight while still keeping his arthritis under control.
• Lift-N-Aid is a really cool harness that pet owners can use to lift the weight of the dog’s body off his hip joints and limbs.
• Tread-a-Stair- These steps are designed to help a pet up and down raised surfaces without exerting his joints.
• Pet Ramp and Cargo step are the same as the Tread-a-stair but they are designed for heavier and bigger dogs.
• Aqua Paws Underwater Treadmill System is a great device which helps your dog exercise while also reducing the friction on painful joints. It’s a little expensive for personal home use, but some animal physiotherapy centers carry them.
Slip-free Flooring- Smooth tile floors are a little rough on the joints of arthritic dogs. Try placing soft carpeting or throw rugs in the areas frequented by your pet. Remember to put an anti-slip padding under each rug to prevent injuries and fractures.
Soft bedding- This is one of the best ways that you can support your pet’s arthritic joints. Use a soft foam mattress or even a waterbed or a hammock to make lying down and getting up as comfortable as possible.
Massage- Gentle massaging of your pets arthritic joints can increase their feeling of well-being . It also helps to soothe the pain of sore joints and improves blood circulation in these areas. You can either learn to do this yourself or call in a professional who can do it more efficiently for a fee.
The only way you can alleviate your pet’s health problems is by paying close attention to them especially as they get older. One rule of thumb is that the older your pet gets, the more frequently you should have them checked by a veterinarian. Don’t wait for symptoms to crop up; a biannual check-up for older dogs is necessary as they are more likely to suffer from arthritis.
