Senior Moments Part 1 - Arthritis

Hi everyone! November is "Celebrating Seniors" month at the Elmsdale Animal Hospital so we thought it would be the perfect time to start our blog series on senior pets! Part 1 will be focusing on something that plagues many seniors: Arthritis. 

​Senior pets have always had a soft spot in my heart. With advances in science and research we have been seeing pets live longer and more comfortable lives. With this in mind, there are many things to watch out for as our pets age. When a pet ages normally, you will still see them engaging in their normal everyday activities, just a bit slower. They may not jump as high, walk as far or run as fast, but they should still be interested in doing these things. Their hearing may not be as keen, and their eyesight may weaken, especially at night. 

​There are however some things that our senior pets may do that are not a normal part of aging. Inappropriate urination (peeing where they’re not supposed to) is not a normal part of aging and can be caused by underlying senior pet illness such as diabetes, infection, hormone changes or arthritis. Being picky or having difficulty eating could be due to dental disease, while waking up through the night could be associated with cognitive disfunction. 

​One of the most common diseases that afflict senior pets is degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis. As in humans, arthritis in pets is caused by a breakdown of the cartilage and underlying bone of a joint. This will cause pain, stiffness and a decreased range of motion. The most common places to find arthritis are the knees, hips, and spine. It can also be frequently found in the jaw with cats and in the elbows with dogs.

​Because our four-legged friends can’t tell us what hurts in words, we have to look for other clues of arthritis. In cats, the signs are usually that they are jumping up less and finding it harder to get in and out of the litterbox. Dogs with arthritis may not be as excited to go for a walk or play with their toys. 

Luckily, there are many ways to help our arthritic pets. Nutritional supplements like glucosamine, green lipped mussel powder, and omega 3-6-9 fatty acids are very beneficial and can be started when your pet is young to help promote joint health. Some diets also contain these ingredients and are also low in calories. This is crucial for pets with arthritis as extra weight puts more pressure on the already painful joints. Losing weight can also help in other ways. Fat can release inflammatory chemicals, so less bad fat can mean less overall inflammation. 

​Alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage and therapeutic laser treatments have also been shown to help many senior pets by reducing pain and inflammation.

​There are also many prescription medications that can help with arthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an excellent way to make our arthritic pets more comfortable. They work by blocking certain cellular pathways that produce inflammatory enzymes. This prevents inflammation of the arthritic joints, effectively stopping pain before it starts. Keeping that in mind, the human forms of these medications (Tylenol, Advil etc) are harmful to our pets. They need pet-specific forms of these medications that they are able to metabolize. 

While these drugs are tolerated well by most pets, there are some possible side effects (mostly gastrointestinal upset) so you should only use them after consulting your veterinarian. ​

​The most important thing to remember when you have an arthritic pet is that their quality of life is the top priority. We never want our pets to be in pain, especially our older friends who have given us years of companionship and love. So, whether it takes supplements, medications, alternative therapy or any combination of the above, if our pets are comfortable, we’re happy 😊     

**MAKE SURE TO CALL THE OFFICE AT (902)883-7080 TO HEAR ABOUT OUR NOVEMBER SPECIALS FOR YOUR SENIOR PET!**