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Arthritis
is a condition in which an animal's joints become
inflamed. It is accompanied by pain, heat, and swelling
in the joints, and it usually results in increasing
stiffness and immobility. It doesn't have to mean a poor
quality of life for your pet, however. There are
medications, therapies, and ways you can accommodate
your home to help your pet be more comfortable and enjoy
her life with you.
Your
Veterinarian
The first
step in caring for your pet with arthritis is making
sure the disease is diagnosed correctly. The symptoms of
arthritis can be hard to distinguish—animals can't
complain about their aching joints, so all that we see
is a response to pain. Animals with arthritis might
avoid the activities they used to enjoy, stop jumping
onto the furniture, or they might nip or seem upset when
touched. Some animals may become depressed or change
their eating habits; others may simply seem grumpier
than usual. To be sure your pet is healthy, it's
important that you take you pet to the veterinarian if
you suspect she has arthritis.
Your veterinarian can also help your pet by finding out
what kind of arthritis she has, using a combination of a
medical history, physical exams, X rays, blood tests,
and occasionally tests on the fluid inside the joint or
MRI imaging. Though it is relatively uncommon, sometimes
arthritis can be caused by a bacterial infection inside
a joint or an autoimmune disorder. These are treated
with different medications than the more common
osteoarthritis. Arthritis caused by hip or elbow
dysplasia can sometimes be treated surgically. Your
veterinarian needs to rule out these options before you
move on to treating your pet's arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease,
is the most common type of arthritis in animals as well
as in humans. Most elderly dogs and cats suffer from
osteoarthritis to some degree. Over time, the cartilage
that cushions joints wears down and bones start rubbing
against each other. As the condition progresses, the
friction can wear down and damage the bones themselves.
This kind of arthritis can occur anywhere there is a
joint, though it is most common and causes the most pain
in the weight-bearing joints like the shoulders, hips,
elbows, knees, and ankles. It can be easily seen in
large-breed dogs, because their frames have to carry the
most weight, but cats and smaller dogs are affected as
well. Though there is no cure for osteoarthritis, it can
be managed well through medical treatment, environmental
adaptation, and diet and exercise.
Diagnosing Arthritis
After
diagnosing your pet's arthritis and determining the
severity of the disease, your veterinarian will decide
which treatment will be most effective in treating her.
In recent years, many new medications have made the
treatment of arthritis much more promising. Your
veterinarian might prescribe steroids and
anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the swelling in
joints and make movement easier. Some veterinarians also
recommend dietary supplements, which fortify the
cartilage in damaged joints. It is very important that
you not try to medicate your pet's arthritis on your
own, however, as human anti-inflammatories and
supplements can be dangerous for animals. Acetaminophen
(Tylenol) is toxic to cats, for example, and cats
metabolize aspirin extremely slowly and are easy to
overdose.
Surgery is
also an option for some animals with arthritis,
particularly younger animals. Veterinary surgeons can
try to reconstruct joints to give them more stability,
or they may perform an arthroscopy to remove chips of
damaged bone. In some large and medium breed dogs,
veterinarians will chose to replace the entire hip
joint. In cats and smaller breeds, they may recommend
removing the top of the femoral (upper leg) bone—the leg
muscles are able to compensate for the loss. In some
extreme cases, where joints are very painful, unstable,
and immobile, a veterinarian may perform arthrodesis—"fusing"
the joint together. Your veterinarian will be able to
tell you how viable surgery is for your animal—depending
on your pet's age and general health and the progression
of the arthritis, surgery may or may not be an option.
Caring for Your Furry
Friend
Even
with treatment, arthritis makes animals less able to
deal with the physical challenges of their world,
whether it be slick floors, steep steps, or cold drafts.
As your pet's human "parent," however, you have the
ability to take some of those challenges away and make
it easier for your furry friend to cope. A few
alterations around the house can help your arthritic pet
to move around more easily and confidently.
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Keep litter boxes and food and water dishes
at a comfortable height, easily accessible, and
on a non-slip surface such as a rubber bath mat
or a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet. In a
multi-level house, keep them on every floor.
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Supply a padded surface to cushion your pet's
joints while she sits and sleeps. Pet store dog
and cat beds will work, as will bean bag chairs
and old mattresses. Place the padding in a warm,
draft-free spot.
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Make slippery surfaces like wood or linoleum
floors safer with non-skid runners, available at
most home improvement and hardware stores.
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If your cat's litter box has high sides, cut
a cat-sized opening in one side to let him step
in and out easily, leaving one to two inches at
the bottom to keep litter from spilling out.
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Ramps can help animals make it up and down
stairs, on and off the porch, on and off the
couch, and anywhere else where the jump may be
too far for their sore joints. You can construct
your own ramp with a sheet of heavy plywood
covered in indoor-outdoor carpeting. Just make
sure that both ends are completely secure when
your pet is on the ramp, and be sure that the
angle is not too steep.
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Some pets that are too stiff to use the
stairs will try to use them regardless, possibly
falling and hurting themselves in the process.
Supervise your pet when she is using the stairs,
and use a baby gate or sheet of plywood to keep
the steps off limits the rest of the time.
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If you have large dog, a homemade sling can
help you support a little of her weight as she
tries to move around. Slip a long, wide strap
made of leather, canvas, or a thick, durable
fabric under her chest and hold one end in each
hand. You can pull up on the ends to help her
stand up and get her balance; you can also use
the sling to help your dog into the car and up
the stairs.
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A little warmth can help a sore animal get
through a long night. Consider wrapping a hot
water bottle in towels or tucking a
microwaveable heating pad into your pet's bed.
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If your pet is used to spending time alone in
the yard, be sure you have a clear view to keep
an eye on her. Pets with arthritis are
vulnerable to attacks from other animals, they
can fall and injure themselves easily, and they
can become very stiff in cold or damp weather.
Stay by the window and watch them when they're
outside; even better, sit outside with them.
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Groom your pet regularly. As animals lose
flexibility in their joints, they can't reach
around to scratch or groom themselves the way
they used to. Cats, particularly, may develop
matted or dirty fur—very upsetting to a finicky
feline! Regular brushing will help your pet feel
comfortable and allow you to spend some quiet,
affectionate time with her.
Exercise
Once you
have modified your pet's environment, you can modify her
lifestyle as well. A little exercise can go a long way
toward making your pet more comfortable. Light activity
helps strengthen muscles, keeps ligaments and tendons
flexible, prevents obesity and helps blood circulate to
stiff joints. Many arthritic animals move more easily
and with less pain after they "warm up" with a minute or
two of walking or gentle playing. Your pet may be
reluctant to move at first—it can be hard to convince
animals to get up when their joints are aching. You may
have to provide an incentive—trail Kitty's favorite
feather toy across the floor or fill a Kong ball with
food for your pup and make him chase after it. Make the
exercise as positive an experience as possible by
including lots of petting and affection before and
after, or perhaps a healthy treat afterward.
Exercise
has a flip side for arthritis patients, however. While a
little moderate exercise is vital to your pet's health,
exercise that is too strenuous can cause damage to their
joints. You may have to keep a close eye on your pet to
prevent her from overexerting and injuring herself,
particularly if she has always been used to a lot of
activity. Monitor her while she's exercising—watch for
signs of exhaustion or pain, and stop the activity if
you notice any discomfort.
Your pet
will also benefit from a healthy diet and weight
management. Obesity makes arthritis hard to manage. It
increases the stress on an animal's joints and makes it
harder for them to move. Arthritis patients do well on
high quality diets, fed in controlled portions, which
maintain their weight at a healthy level. If you can't
feel your pet's ribs easily, consult your veterinarian
about dietary and exercise management to bring her
weight down to normal.
There are a
lot of options for coping with a pet with arthritis, and
sometimes they can be overwhelming. Your closest ally in
your battle against the disease is your family
veterinarian. Talk to your veterinarian: he or she will
know which treatment or combination of treatments is
best for your pet's individual needs. Most importantly,
try not to get discouraged. Arthritis may well change
your life with your pet, but it certainly doesn't mean
that that life is over. You may not be able to jog with
your dog like you used to, for example, or get your cat
to jump up after his feather toy, but you can replace
these lost activities with time spent petting, grooming,
massaging, or simply being near your animal friend. As
you spend time caring for your pet with arthritis, you
may find your bond with your pet actually increasing.
Your energetic, playful friendship may eventually be
replaced with the joy of a gentle, caring life together.
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