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Emergency Info
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(916) 685-2494
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Arthritis
It is a frustrating fact of life that we all get older, including
our beloved pets. One of the results of the aging process on the joints
is arthritis.
Arthritis typically starts with some type of injury to the joint’s
cartilage. It may result from trauma, genetic reasons or simply the
"wear and tear" of old age. Once the degenerative process has begun, the
natural lubrication doesn’t work as well and enzymes start to "eat away"
at the cartilage tissue. Over time, this can lead to pain and reduced
mobility for your pet. Arthritis affects one in five dogs in the U.S.
Some of the signs you may see in an animal with arthritis is the
favoring of a leg, difficulty sitting or standing, acting stiff after
laying down, and hesitation to run, jump or climb stairs. You may also
notice a decrease in normal activity and less interest in play as well
as attitude or behavior changes.
Fortunately, there are many options now available to help your pet. One
option is the use of NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to
combat the pain and inflammation of arthritis. There are many drugs
available and some pets that do not respond well to one drug may do
tremendously well with another type. All drugs have side effects so it
is very important to use these medications with the direct supervision
of your veterinarian. NEVER use over-the-counter medications without
consulting your veterinarian first, as some may be extremely toxic. A
second option, which can be used with NSAID’s or sometimes just by
themselves is the administration of neutraceuticals such as glucosamine
and PSGAG’S (polysulfated glycosaminoglycans). These products help
control pain by breaking the cycle of joint degeneration while improving
lubrication and production of new cartilage tissue. They are available
in a chewable pill or by injection.
There are important things that pet owners can do at home for their pets
that suffer from arthritis. It is VERY IMPORTANT to feed your animal a
healthy diet and maintain its proper weight or to begin a weight
reduction diet if necessary. Eukanuba Senior Plus diet is a very good
diet for older dogs with arthritis. Providing a comfortable place to
sleep with padded bedding is very beneficial for larger dogs as is a
ramp to assist access to vehicles and stairways in the home.
Aging is inevitable, but we can help our pets live longer, healthier and
better quality lives by paying attention to this sometimes subtle
disease of our beloved pets.
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| Contact Bradshaw Veterinary Clinic today at
(916) 685-2494 to make an appointment for your pet! |
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