Putting the Spring Back in Your Pet's Step

                                                                 

                                Another year is coming to a close, and I am reminded that  I, too,  am another year older.  While I am blessed with excellent health in my thirtieth year of practice,  I am not certain that many  realize veterinary medicine is a physically demanding career.

                                Veterinarians and their staff often spend long hours on their feet.  The nature of our job requires a lot of bending, squatting and kneeling to attend to our larger and "table-timid" patients.  Lifting anesthetized or  disabled pets and restraining unwilling patients can and does take its toll on one's back as well.  We also perform  many repetitive motion tasks which lead to hand and wrist arthritis (she states after performing ten toenail trims during a six hour shift).

                                While some of us might feel  the discomfort of every day occupational aches and pains, I hurt more for my arthritic patients who experience chronic pain and suffer in silence.  Osteoarthritis, or inflammation of bones and joints, occurs when  cartilage lining the surface of bones is damaged or absent.  Since cartilage acts like a shock absorber in joints, when it is defective bones begin to wear abnormally within the joint, and they, too, become deformed and ultimately painful.

                                It is not a secret that I adore senior pets, but along with their aging counterparts, even young pets  develop osteoarthritis. The joint discomfort noted in this younger group is often a sequela to congenital defects, athleticism, or injury.  Common causes include obesity, shoulder/hip dysplasia (malformation of ball and socket joints), torn knee ligaments (ruptured  anterior cruciate ligaments or ACL's), or unstable knees (medial patellar luxation).

                                Most multiple pet households have at least one pet that is suffering quietly with osteoarthritis pain.  In my pet family, our two Border collies have taken their "jobs" to assist their shepherd quite seriously.  Twelve year old, "Robbie,"  still puts in long days of "watching her man's back" to keep him safe around rams.  She and her nine year old brother, "Jimmy," are also a dutiful  herding team,  circling wide and near, repeatedly, to move the flock as a unit. These two herders love to work so an occasional limp is sometimes observed.

                                Even our low-riding Welsh Corgi, "Betsy Louise," is an athlete that lives to "play ball-y"--- so much so, that she had to have knee surgery after she ruptured her ACL when she was  just two years old.  Now, if she has a full day of activity or exerts herself, she sometimes shows  it.

                                Pets with osteoarthritis will show their discomfort in varying ways. Symptoms may include limping, difficulty sitting or rising, stiffness, reluctance to climb or jump, unusual irritability or aggression, vocalizing when handled, or licking/chewing painful areas. Cats tend to hide their discomfort more so, but even they can show pain by no longer seeking their usual perches, sleeping on or near heating vents, or resting in sun beams.

                                To further diagnose arthritis in pets, veterinarians  may recommend  x-rays to visualize the shape of bones and damage to joints. Once diagnosed, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed, along with glucosamine chondroitin supplements. The latter are nutritional supplements provided as powder, flavored chews or tablets (Nutramax's Cosequin or Dasuquin) that  rebuild cartilage on joint surfaces, thus reducing  inflammation.  Please be aware that not all glucosamine chondroitin supplements are created equally! A large number of human and pet supplements are available; most are costly and not all are actually utilized fully by the body.

                                Some pet foods  such as Hill's Science Diet Healthy Mobility or Prescription Diet J/D also  contain glucosamine chondroitin.  Be certain to seek your veterinarian's advice when selecting diets,  joint supplements and anti-inflammatory medications. Note also that pets should never be given Tylenol and aspirin is not always a good choice, especially for cats.

                                Speaking of diet, obesity is a major contributing factor for the development of arthritis in pets. If you own a "Flabby-Labby" or "Tubby-Tommy," please heed your veterinarian's recommendations for weight reduction and exercise. Even pets with joint pain can benefit from short periods of exercise, especially low-impact walking, jogging or swimming. 

                                In addition, consider providing heated and cushioned pet beds and shallow litter pans for aging cats.  And, who doesn't love a good massage? Many pets will enjoy your  undivided attention during a personal massage of their sore joints.

                                Finally, please don't ignore your pet's subtle signs of discomfort! Limping equals pain and should never be considered "normal"  or tolerable! Your veterinarian can help you understand and treat your pet's seemingly silent osteoarthritis pain.  Why not resolve to put the spring back in your pet's step in the New Year?

 

By Dr. Bonnie Jones