Arthritis in Pets
Dog Arthritis Pain Relief in Randolph, MA.
Arthritis is a debilitating joint disease that can impair your pet’s mobility. Osteoarthritic pain and inflammation can impact every aspect of your pup’s daily living, making it difficult to live a happy and healthy life. At Randolph Animal Hospital, our vets have the knowledge and experience with treating arthritis in pets to help improve your pet’s quality of life. Here’s what you should know about arthritis in pets.
Diagnosing Arthritis in Pets
Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed during a routine exam. Our Randolph veterinarians can generally detect signs of arthritis by palpating your pet’s joints and will confirm our findings with x-rays, CT scans, or ultrasound if needed.
Causes of Arthritis in Pets
Various factors can cause arthritis in dogs, ranging from how your pup is built to your dog’s body weight, joint development, health history, breed, nutritional deficiency, and past injuries. Some dogs are more prone to this condition due to genetics and breed. However, in most dogs, a combination of factors contributes to this condition. Age on its own is not a cause of dogs developing arthritis, but it can compound arthritic symptoms.
Arthritis Symptoms
Dogs with arthritis may exhibit different symptoms depending on the severity of their condition. Some common signs of arthritis in dogs are:
- Sore, swollen joints
- Difficulty getting up and down
- Limping or walking stiffly
- Lameness
- Unwillingness to tackle stairs or jump into your vehicle
- Not wanting to be petted or touched in certain areas
- Loss of energy
- Unexpected aggressive behavior toward people or other pets in your household
Treatment for Canine Arthritis
Although there’s no cure for arthritis, there are measures you can take to help manage your pet’s symptoms. Animal care experts recommend combining the following modalities to help your pet live a normal lifestyle with arthritis:
Nutrition – A nutritious, low-calorie diet will help your pet maintain a good weight to minimize painful symptoms.
Pain medications – Our Randolph veterinarians may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation.
Nutraceuticals – Our vet may recommend a nutraceutical, a nutritional supplement that has medicinal properties, to help counter the effects of arthritis.
Rehab – Rehab exercises are additional options for mobilizing your dog’s joints and managing painful symptoms.
Visit Us for Animal Care from Our Vets in Randolph, MA
Working with our veterinarians at Randolph Animal Hospital is the best course of action to manage arthritis in pets. To schedule a consultation for arthritis diagnosis and treatment, contact us today at 781-963-2298.