Pets Get Arthritis Too

by Patricia Collier

Researchers estimate approximately 25-30 percent of family pets suffer from arthritis. And dipping temperatures outside can often make a pet’s arthritis pain feel more severe.

Common in humans as well, arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint that affects the bones and causes friction at the joints, where the cartilage meets the bone.

Suspect arthritis if your dog or cat, no matter what age, exhibits the following symptoms:

Standing up slowly or limping after getting up.
Limping, especially on a leg that’s been previously injured or operated on.

Generally moving around more slowly; exhibiting less interest in being active, especially in climbing stairs or onto furniture.

A wide range of treatments is available for arthritis, from non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to natural supplements.

One popular prescription medication is Rimadyl. The active ingredient in Rimadyl is Carprofen, a member of the class of NSAIDs known as "arylpropionic acids", which also include ibuprofen.

While reported helpful for pain and inflammation, frequent and prolonged use of NSAIDs has sometimes been blamed on stomach upset in both humans and animals.

Natural remedies or dietary supplements, such as glucosamine, can work to rehabilitate damaged cartilage, reduce inflammation, ease the pain and even improve an animal’s mobility.

When purchasing natural remedies, purity is important. Consumers need to do some research into the manner of delivery of the remedy, i.e., tablets, liquid, etc., and proper dosage is important because too much of natural supplements can sometimes be as ineffective as too little, or may even be dangerous.

If traditional pharmaceuticals or even natural remedies don’t bring your pet relief, there are a number of holistic treatments available, including:

Acupuncture: From traditional Chinese medicine, this method has been popular among humans since 1997 and more recently has been used to treat dogs and cats.

Acupressure: Similar to acupuncture but without the needles.

Massage Therapy: A method of manual manipulation which can help relax tender areas.
Hydrotherapy: The use of cold, warm, or even hot water to relax joints and reduce inflammation. The animal is usually placed in a small pool of water where an attendant can exercise the affected joints more easily.

Magnets: A 1996 study in Tokyo found magnets worked just as well as acupuncture for relief of symptoms of arthritis. This method involves using magnetized bands on different parts of the body. The bands are supposed to work with the electrical activity already present in the animal’s body to produce a change in body temperature, which is said to provide relief from inflammation and pain.

2003 Animal News Center, Inc.

By Animal News Published: 12/27/2003

  

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