Download How can you help your pet`s joints stay healthy? Joints play an

How can you help your pet’s joints stay healthy?
Joints play an essential part in keeping your pet mobile & active. When joints age, they can
start to degenerate – known as osteoarthritis. This is a chronic & progressive condition
describing degeneration of one or more joints, from elbows to hips or even joints in your
pet’s spine. Just as in humans, it is a very common condition - every year up to 2 million
dogs & cats are expected to suffer from this disease & approximately 20% of older cats &
dogs are affected.
How do I know if my pet is suffering from osteoarthritis?
Different pets have different pain thresholds. In some, they tell you they are sore by
limping on a leg. You may notice your pet is slower on walks or less likely to initiate play.
Other pets are more stoical – you may only notice them licking at one or more joints, often
their carpii (the wrists), or perhaps being a little irritable. If both your pet’s left & right front
or back legs are painful, then limping won’t relieve any pain & you may not notice any
obvious signs, but your pet may be reluctant to get up after lying down for long periods. It
is particularly hard to see subtle signs in cats, but you may notice your cat has a matted
coat from being less able to twist round & groom itself properly.
What can I do to help my pet?
First, it is important to check with your vet to see if it is likely that your pet is affected by
this condition. Your vet will be able to assess the range of motion of your pet’s joints, feel
for changes in the bone structure & for any clicks or crunches when manipulating your pet’s
joints. In some instances, your vet may decide an x-ray is warranted to confirm diagnosis.
If your vet suspects osteoarthritis, there is a range of treatments available.
1. Joint supplements
Many people take joint supplements but it is important to give your pet one that contains
the right ingredients that your pet will effectively absorb, and in the right composition. Not
all high-street products are appropriate, so remember to read the ingredients carefully, or
contact your vet for specific advice. Joint supplements have no known side effects and so
can be safely given to pets regardless of other medications they may be receiving or other
medical conditions that they may have.
a) Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound essential for normal growth and repair
of joints and cartilage, which helps shock absorption in the joint. The best form for your pet
is a glucosamine hydrochloride. This is the highest quality and purest form of
glucosamine. Other glucosamines available are in the sulphate form, but these are
synthetically produced and result in a less pure form of glucosamine – meaning for every
gram your pet is receiving, the percentage of useable glucosamine is less than for a
hydrochloride form.
b) Chondroitin helps to maintain the fluidity of synovial fluid, so protecting the joint and
also being another building block for cartilage growth and repair.
As a rough guide, your pet should receive the above in the following quantities:
Weight of pet
<10kg
10-20kg
20-40kg
40kg +
Glucosamine
250mg
500mg
750mg
1000mg
Chondroitin
200mg
400mg
600mg
800mg
Other supplementary products may be in joint supplements such as:
 Zinc - important for healing in the body & required for production of collagen – collagen
is the main supportive protein found in cartilage, ligaments, tendons & connective tissue.
 Vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant, required for the production of collagen
 Boswellia
 Green lipped muscle
2. Anti-inflammatories
If your pet is particularly sore, or the changes are marked, your vet may decide that antiinflammatory drugs are required. Often if your pet is receiving a joint supplement, they will
need a lower dose of anti-inflammatories to achieve the same effect, which can lower the
risk of side effects to your pet.
Remember that the anti-inflammatories that we give dogs and cats are different to those
that we take ourselves. Unlike with joint supplements, it is essential that you do not give
your pet ‘human’ anti-inflammatories as these can be extremely toxic to your pet. Even
small doses of paracetomol can be fatal to cats, and ibuprofen can cause significant
toxicities to dogs and cats.
Anti-inflammatories fall into a category of drugs called non-steroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDs). These work by decreasing production of inflammatory agents
in the body that are responsible for the development of pain. They are prescription drugs
meaning you will have to see your vet for such medicines to be prescribed.
Most dogs & cats tolerate these drugs well over prolonged periods of time, but they can
result in gastrointestinal irritation (with vomiting, diarrhoea or even the production of
stomach ulcers). If your pet suffers from such side effects, your vet may suggest trying a
different drug in the same family of drugs, as different drugs may suit different individuals,
just as with ourselves. NSAIDs can also reduce the blood supply to the kidneys. If your
pet’s kidneys are already struggling, for example if your pet is in renal failure, this can
result in progressive worsening of their kidney function. Your vet may therefore suggest
regular blood and urine checks to keep an eye on your pet’s kidney function. Although most
pets will tolerate these drugs well, they are not appropriate for all patients.
3. Pain killers such as opioids
Opioids are other painkillers that we can use in animals – these have no anti-inflammatory
action but can ease discomfort from the joints. They are often used as a last resort when
patients are already on high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs and are still uncomfortable,
or in those patients that have side effects with other drugs. These are also ‘prescription
only’ drugs, requiring a veterinary examination to allow them to be dispensed. In the tablet
form, they are not licensed for use in dogs and cats, but your vet can prescribe these ‘off
license’ provided you consent to their use. One such example is the drug tramadol which
appears to be well tolerated in dogs and cats, but at higher doses can cause some
drowsiness. As they are ‘off license’, only short prescriptions (up to 1 month) can be
prescribed at a time.
Is there anything else I can do for my pet?
 Behavioural modification
 Gentle exercise will keep your pet moving, but remember not to overdo it, and to
keep daily exercise regimes constant rather than one long walk every weekend.
Frequent short bouts of exercise are best.
 Keep your pet slim – extra weight will put an extra strain on your pet’s joints. If
in any doubt, contact your vet for advice as to whether your pet is the correct
weight. We offer free weight clinics with one of our nurses, Lorraine, to help
keep your pet in optimal condition.
 Easy access to food and water – if your pet is developing any osteoarthritis in the
neck, your pet may struggle to put his/her neck down to reach the food or water
bowl. Feeding on a small step or box may help relieve this.
 Help your pet groom – if your pet is struggling to keep in condition, gently groom
your pet regularly.
 For cats, make sure your pet can get in the litter tray easily – high rimmed trays
may prove more difficult as your pet ages.

There are other complementary treatments that may help your pet, but it is always
best to consult your vet first.
 Acupuncture – this is an alternative medicine originating from ancient china,
involving the insertion and manipulation of tiny needles into trigger points in the
body. Not all pets will respond to acupuncture but we have seen a good response in
a number of our chronically affected patients receiving acupuncture for osteoarthritis.
 Hydrotherapy – this is often an enjoyable way for your pet to receive
physiotherapy. Exercising in water allows build up of muscle strength without putting
weight on the joints. Correspondingly this increased muscle support can help the
joints function more easily.