As pets age, they may start showing signs of slowing down. One of the main reasons of lack of movement in pets is arthritis. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joint and surrounding tissue. The most common form of arthritis found in most pet is osteoarthritis. The definition, from Wikipedia, of Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. As you may well know inflammation causes some degree of pain.
Your pet may express pain in many ways. Recognizing the signs, that your pet is in pain, will enable you to get the help and comfort they need. Pain may be seen by a noticeable lameness or even vocalization. Other symptoms, of pain, that your pet may experience are:
•Reluctance to walk, run, climb stairs, jump, or play
•Difficulty in rising from a resting position
•Stiffness
•Soreness when touched
•Excessive licking of a joint or leg
•Lagging behind on walks
•Avoiding activities they used to enjoy
•Change in eating habits
•Behavioral changes: withdrawal or aggressive behavior
•Reluctance to walk, run, climb stairs, jump, or play
•Difficulty in rising from a resting position
•Stiffness
•Soreness when touched
•Excessive licking of a joint or leg
•Lagging behind on walks
•Avoiding activities they used to enjoy
•Change in eating habits
•Behavioral changes: withdrawal or aggressive behavior
There are many approaches to pain management for your pet. The use of diets and supplements, acupuncture, Laser treatments, and medications can help your pet with decreasing pain. Which will give your pet a better quality of life.
- Supplements and diets :
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can be used to help improve joint mobility and support better joint functioning for dogs with arthritis.
Good quality Senior Adult Food helps keep pets in a health weight range and decreases stress on the joints
- Medications:
Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) injections helps prevent the cartilage in your dog’s joint from wearing away. So it keeps the existing cartilage healthy and intact.
NSAIDS( non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) helps decrease the inflammation of surrounding tissue of the joints. Examples are Metacam and Previcox - Laser therapy:
Companion laser therapy is a sterile, pain-free, surgery-free, drug-free treatment that decreases inflammation and helps increase mobility.
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