If your pet has arthritis they will have sore joints. When we have sore joints we grumble and moan. How can Halifax help my arthritic pet? There is no cure for arthritis but virtually all pets can get incredibly significant improvement in their quality and enjoyment of life using one or more modalities from our 12-point arthritis plan.
Our online Halifax Canine Mobility Assessment or Halifax Feline Mobility Assessment can help you recognise if your pet may be in any joint pain.
If you think your pet is showing signs of arthritis call us and make an appointment. Not all soreness or lethargy is caused by arthritis. We can find out just what is going on and sort out the best treatment plan.
The Halifax 12 Point Plan to Manage Arthritis
- Weight management. Keeping cats and dogs lean throughout life dramatically reduces the incidence of arthritis. It is not just the extra wear and tear of carrying more weight. Fat produces a slew of inflammatory chemicals that promote inflammation throughout the body, including in joints. Even after pets have developed osteoarthritis, weight reduction reduces the signs of arthritis and often means easier control of pain. Halifax offers a pet weight loss clinic to support your pet’s weight-loss journey.
- Exercise management is a powerful tool for dogs. This doesn’t always mean less exercise but rather avoiding high-impact exercise like stick-chasing, running, and jumping. Having 2–4 shorter walks rather than one longer walk is helpful. Cats can also benefit from exercise management.
- Veterinary mobility diets are formulated specifically for arthritis in cats and dogs. These diets get the balance of nutrients, and especially the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids, just right so cartilage-destroying enzymes like aggrecanase are not released in arthritic joints.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can play an important role in managing pain in our pets. Dogs, and especially cats, cannot tolerate most of the NSAIDs used to treat humans, often developing life-threatening gastrointestinal or kidney problems. We often use NSAIDs as a short treatment trial to assess the level of arthritic pain a pet is suffering from. So many supposedly ‘old’ pets promptly regain such a zest for life that their owners can see the value in treating the arthritis.
- Additional pain relief medications. There are many other options, which we will tailor specifically to your pet and circumstances.
- Pentosan polysulphate is an injection that has several beneficial effects in arthritic joints, mainly in settling down inflammation and improving the lubricating quality of the joint fluid.
- Monoclonal antibody injections. These are injections designed specifically for dogs and cats. They target nerve growth factor, which contributes to pain and inflammation.
- Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements which can relieve signs of illness. There is no regulation in the nutraceutical industry, so it is important to use one that has studies to back up any claims. The results can be variable depending on the patient, other arthritis management modalities used, and the nutraceutical itself.
- A warm, well-padded bed helps most arthritis sufferers. In particular, getting dogs up off the floor pays dividends.
- Subtle home modifications such as anti-slip mats, steps, and ramps can help restore independence, give your pet back their confidence, and ease strain and pressure on arthritic joints. For cats or small dogs, a ramp or footstool to get up on a bed or the sofa can make a huge difference.
- Physiotherapy can help. Joint pain often results in the tightening of muscles around the joint, and most pets appreciate gentle massage of the muscles above and below the joint. We can refer you to an appropriate physiotherapist to show you how to perform this correctly.
- Acupuncture can help arthritic joints. Most pets tolerate acupuncture quite well, but it is not for the needle-shy!
Stay warm!
Best wishes from the Halifax Team
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