The topic of this newsletter is arthritis and how it effects our pets. Arthritis is a
painful joint condition that is commonly seen in dogs and cats. Cold and
wet weather seems to aggravate the problem which is why we need to talk
about this important topic before we enter the winter months.
Often resulting from elbow or hip dysplasia, arthritis can occur as the
result of an accident or injury, or as part of the aging process.
Common symptoms of arthritis:
1. Limping on or favoring one or more legs.
2. Reluctance to jump up on furniture or in the car.
3. Slower to rise and move about after sleeping.
4. Tiring easy after walks.
Dogs with arthritis by weight:
Small (under 25#) 27%
Medium (25-50#) 28%
Large (50# +) 45%
Dogs with arthritis by age:
Under 5 years: 5%
5-7 years: 14%
8-10 years: 27%
11-13 years: 35%
14 years +: 19%
There are many treatments for arthritis depending on the severity of the
pets condition. One of the first things that should be done is to x ray
the suspected area to determine if arthritis or another condition is
responsible for the pain. Once arthritis is diagnosed, the treatment
depends on the pets age, weight, severity, and type of arthritis.
If your pet is overweight, then sometimes simply changing the diet to a
low calorie/high fiber food will shed those extra pounds and take
significant pressure off painful joints. Hills R/D and Purina O/M are two
prescription diets available that are very effective in our experience.
In addition to proper diet, exercise is also a very important part of
managing arthritis. Exercise is a great way to shed extra pounds and
maintain our pets flexibility and muscle mass. Increasing muscle mass
helps to support the skeletal structure and prevent many problems such as
intervertebral disc disease (lower back pain). It should be pointed out
that an exercise program should not be implemented until the acute stage
(flare up) of arthritis is under control.
We are fortunate to have many effective treatments available for arthritis
control.
The more common medications include:
1. Rimadyl
A non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication in chewable tablet
form. Rimadyl is a fast acting
pain reliever that has been shown to be very effective in reducing
the symptoms of arthritis. Side
effects are low (less than 1%) but could include
vomiting/diarrhea/appetite loss. Pets should have
their blood tested periodically while on Rimadyl.
2. Adequan
An injectable medication that not only helps to relieve pain, but
also helps to break the cycle of
joint degeneration, slowing destructive enzymes, while stimulating
the production of fresh
lubrication and new cartilage components. The injection is given
twice a week for 4 weeks and
then a booster injection every 2 months. Results are generally
noticed after the second or third
injection. 78% of dogs that responded to Adequan were still
improved 6 months later. Adequan
is very safe and side effects are rare.
3. Cosequin
An oral medication that provides the raw materials that are
essential for the synthesis of joint fluid
and cartilage production. This is a nutraceutical (nutritional
supplement) type of product so it
takes 3-4 weeks in most cases to notice results. Cosequin is also
very safe with few side
effects.
4. Anti- inflammatory steroids
Oral and injectable drugs such as prednisone that can provide
temporary relief of pain in some
cases. These drugs are not meant to be long term solutions for
arthritis.
I urge you to take some time to really observe your pets closely this Fall
for any signs of arthritis and contact us early before the winter is upon
us. You may contact any of our doctors at 361-4646 or click on our
site www.priestlakevet.com and then on "Ask Dr. Pennington".
On another note, I am often asked about pet information on the
Internet. I have compiled a few interesting and useful sites for your
enjoyment.
