Arthritis

Arthritis is a debilitating disease your pet can develop at any time. When the cartilage between their bones begins to wear down your pet starts to have inflammation and joint pain. The disease doesn’t have a cure but a veterinarian can offer different types of treatment to make their life easier. To learn more about how we can help your pet if they have arthritis, please contact us at 519-763-1082.

How does my pet develop arthritis?

The disease is mostly known to develop due to a pet’s age, but there are other factors that may cause them to develop the disease. If your loyal companion is overweight or has multiple injuries they may be at a higher risk of developing arthritis.

How do I know if my pet has arthritis?

Pets who suffer from joint pain tend to hide their pain in the early stages. Pay attention to the new behaviours your pet develops as they can be a result of discomfort related to arthritis. Here are some symptoms associated with the disease:

1. Easily irritated
2. Limping
3. Difficulty using stairs
4. Yelping in response to being touched
5. Swollen and stiff joints

What treatments are available for arthritis?

Once our veterinarians have diagnosed your pet with arthritis we will create a treatment plan to give them a better quality of life. A treatment plan may include a combination of the following:

• Different forms of weight management such as modifications to their diet and regular exercises (a healthy weight helps minimize the strain on their joints)
• Nutritional supplements that help the joints
• Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for inflammation and pain
• Laser therapy
• Surgery