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Valley Veterinary Hospital

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Arthritis and Your Pets

While there is no cure for arthritis, we can effectively manage the pain our pets suffer and significantly decrease that pain while increasing their quality of life. We have chosen to spotlight arthritis during the month of December because, with the cold weather, arthritic pain can definitely worsen, thus giving us a very good reason to bring awareness to this condition and the options we offer to treat your pet during this time. Oral anti-inflammatory and pain medications were once the main treatment option for arthritic pain in our pets, but this is no longer the case.

Dog getting leg examined

As mentioned earlier, due to the nature of our pets, they sometimes don't show clear signs of pain or discomfort in any way. Some of the subtle signs of pain are decreased levels of activity and slight lameness or a stiff gait. They may be slower, or struggle, to get up when they're lying down and sometimes are completely unwilling to try. Our canine companions may pant when we can't find an obvious reason that they should be panting or they may tremble. We may notice that our feline pets are not jumping up on the furniture or their favorite "higher ground" spots like they used to. Conversely, we may also see outright signs that our pet is in pain such as whining, crying out, noticeable lameness or complete non-weight bearing on the affected limb.

Arthritis Treatment

While there is no cure for arthritis, we can effectively manage the pain our pets suffer and significantly decrease that pain while increasing their quality of life. We have chosen to spotlight arthritis during the month of December because, with the cold weather, arthritic pain can definitely worsen, thus giving us a very good reason to bring awareness to this condition and the options we offer to treat your pet during this time. Oral anti-inflammatory and pain medications were once the main treatment option for arthritic pain in our pets, but this is no longer the case.

While prescription medication is still on the list of treatment options for arthritic pain, we also offer other modalities that can effectively treat and manage your pet's arthritic pain.

Because, like us, every pet is different, the best treatment plan for your pets arthritic pain will start with a physical exam by your veterinarian and, possibly, x-rays to help determine the extent of the arthritis. With this knowledge, your veterinarian will work with you to establish a treatment plan that may involve diet and exercise changes, physical therapy, prescription medications, laser therapy and oral vitamin, mineral and omega fatty acid supplements.

For severe arthritis, a local injection into the joint may be an option for your pet.

If you suspect your pet may be suffering from arthritis or if you would like to discuss a more extensive treatment plan for your arthritic pet, call our office today to schedule an exam and consultation for your pet so that we can work together to give your pet a better and less painful quality of life.

small dog walking in the park

Arthritis treatment options may include:

  • Diet and Exercise

  • At Home Physical Therapy

  • Prescription Medications

  • On Location Laser Therapy

  • Natural Oral Supplements

  • Local Joint Injections