Winter Is Coming!

Just like some of us with bad knees or other joints find it difficult to get around during the winter, many of our pets feel the effects of the cold weather as well.

In fact, winter is a common time for some pets to begin showing evidence of joint disease for the very first time. Signs may include difficulty rising, reluctance to go outside, hesitation when looking for a place to lie down or when faced with having to navigate a flight of stairs and increased pacing or other signs of restlessness. Many pets will often even whine or cry due to pain or anxiety. Panting is also one of the more common signs of arthritic pain and is often one of the first signs owners will notice.

Determining the underlying cause for your pet’s joint disease is important as the direct treatment of such diseases/disorders as Lyme Disease, autoimmune joint disease or Cruciate Ligament Rupture/Degeneration is required if improvement is to be expected. However, once the underlying cause for the joint disease has been found and addressed (whether medically or surgically), our fight is not over.

Prevention of arthritis/joint disease may include limiting certain activities while promoting others (for example limiting marathon jogs and increasing swimming); physical therapy and associated treatments (such as accupuncture and LASER therapy); herbs and supplements (such as MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate); and medications (including aspirin based/NSAID anti-inflammatories and various pain relievers).

It is important to tailor your pet’s treatment protocol to his/her specific situation as not every option is ideal for every pet. The location, type and stage of joint disease, the pet’s overall health and the owner’s situation (not only in terms of their ability to adminster certain treatments but also their ability to afford them as costs can add up quickly).

If you suspect that your pet may be developing joint disease OR are not happy with his/her response to current treatment, call us to set up an in-home consultation. Your pet is depending on you!

p.s. In many pets, evidence of arthritis is often considered to simply be signs of “aging” by owners. Signs often considered as such include a decreased level of activity, decreased desire to play, decreased appetite and/or increased restlessness or “clinginess” (ie. never leaving the owner’s side). This goes for cats as well as for dogs. So be careful before you simply chalk any type of new behavior off as “aging” because our best chance for successful treatment comes with early detection!