Older pets can come across all sorts of problems as they age, but owners are encouraged to be sure to pay careful attention to signs of joint disease.
With age, our pets slow down, sleep more and become less active, said a release from the Canadian Animal Health Institute. Although this decrease in activity is often normal, it is sometimes related to pain caused by osteoarthritis. Many distinct signs can indicate that a pet is in pain.
Although osteoarthritis is common in older pets, other factors can play an important role as well, including the breed of a dog, obesity, and repeated trauma to the muscles.
If a dog owner notices his or her dog climbing the stairs slower, having difficulty getting into the car, or sleeping more frequently, the animal may have join disease.
Classic signs of osteoarthritis in dogs include stiffness after vigorous activity, stiffness when getting up or after a long period of lying down, reluctance to jump into the car or take stairs, less vigour during walks, a tendency to lick or chew affected joints and limping.
Cats walk on the tips of their toes, walk quietly and stealthily, have amazing balance and can jump seven times their own height!
Because of the abilities cats have, their owners often think that cats don't get joint problems and fail to recognize the signs. Unfortunately, older cats can also develop osteoarthritis. In fact, this condition affects nearly 90 per cent of cats over 12 years of age.
Cats who suffer from osteoarthritis are less inclined to climb onto even low perches and have more difficulty grooming themselves due to losing joint flexibility. They may also stop using their scratching post.
Cats with osteoarthritis neglect their grooming, cannot jump as high as they used to, soil outside their litterbox, sleep less or sleep more and hide and avoid contact with their family members.
If a pet owner is concerned about his or her pet's behaviour and think they may be in pain, he or she should talk to a veterinary health care team right away. A veterinarian may prescribe a joint pain treatment plan that can include medication, alternative therapies or a weight loss program.
