5 Interesting Facts About Arthritis In Pets

Did you know that the word arthritis has more than 100 rheumatic diseases connected with it? We bet you did not see that coming. Similarly, there are several surprising facts about arthritis in pets that you need to know which would make you better acquainted with this pet disease. Let us first of all try to understand different things that you need to know about arthritis in pets. Arthritis starts when there is something wrong with the working of the pet's joints. The cartilage in the joint wears down and loses its elasticity. The more wear and tear the cartilage faces, the more ligaments and tendons become extended and battered resulting in inflammation and pain in pets.

Things You Need To Know About Pet Arthritis

To get certain pet arthritis facts straight, it is important to learn about some interesting things about this condition in pets. So, let us look at some of these things from the perspective of a renowned veterinarian of our country:

1. The most prevalent reason for arthritis in pets is ageing. Since a very early age, cats and dogs learn to jump and run around that causes lots of wear and tear on their cartilage and joints. With age, the cartilage of the pets does not regrow with the same strength as it did in their younger days which causes symptoms of painful arthritis.

2. Arthritis is not a critical condition. But it does take out a lot from the pet's life and makes it painful and even deteriorate varied range of motions of the pet. The pet may find it difficult to climb the stairs of the house or play with other pets. If you observe any of these signs, rush to your veterinarian before the situation worsens.

3. If you notice your pet limping it may be the first signs of developing arthritis. It is more common to see when your pet moves after a long period of rest. If you see that he finds it difficult to sit or lie down then it means that he has reached an advanced level of arthritis and needs immediate medical attention. You can check whether your pet is suffering from arthritis by scrutinizing his legs and looking for intense variances in muscle mass from limb to limb. If you find that one of his limbs is smaller in width it would mean that your pet is trying to rest that leg so that he does not experience pain.

4. Obese pets are the prime victims of arthritis. In order to relieve the arthritis pain from your pet, it is important to keep him in shape by providing a well-balanced diet and regular exercise regimen. If your pet is obese, his excessive weight will put lots of load on his joints. Hence, it is very important to check for the ideal weight of the pet according to his size and breed. Then select healthy pet food that assists him to be in shape. But take care that you do not over exercise the pet as putting too much of a strain on his joints can cause further deterioration of his joints. If possible, encourage him to swim which would not only keep him fit, but also avoid excessive exertion on his joints.

5. To treat arthritis, it is important to give relevant joint care treatments to your pet. It has been observed that Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most effective in reducing inflammation in the joints and also providing pain relief. But please note that although NSAIDs are highly effective means of arthritic treatment for dogs, they are poisonous for cats. Hence, for cats it is recommended to give joint supplements that can assist in relieving the joint pain.

So, the next time you see your pet stiff and sore rush to your veterinarian immediately to ensure speedy treatment and recovery.

Arthritis in Cats - A major Problem

According to a research conducted by U.S. veterinarians in the year 2012, it was found that house cats get osteoarthritis (OA) as frequently as dogs. In the last one decade, there has been an increase in the number of older cats, especially 12 years and above to suffer from arthritis. In the year 2011, veterinarians used x-ray which showed that 61% of cats over the age of 6 years were suffering from osteoarthritis in at least one joint while 48% had two or more affected joints. An older cat of 14 years had 82% chance of getting arthritis. So what causes arthritis in cats?

It is very difficult to answer this question as the signs of feline arthritis are very subtle and difficult to spot. Arthritis happens when the cartilage within the joint becomes damaged. Once the cartilage within the joint gets destroyed, the two bones rub together, which results in bones getting damaged leading to arthritis.

Causes of Feline Arthritis

Feline arthritis is commonly found in middle-aged cats. It is more prone in obese cats than lean cats. Those cats who have injured their joints in the past are also prone to becoming arthritic in the latter part of their lives. There are certain congenital abnormalities that make a cat suffer the effects of arthritis. One of the prime reasons for that is congenital abnormality which leads to arthritis.

Symptoms of arthritis in cats

• Pain caused in the joints of the cat
• Cats becoming less active and may lie down more often.
• Cats may become anxious and restless
• Cats find it difficult to find a comfortable place to rest or sleep
• Avoiding contact with the family members and become irritated
• Cats may become more social trying to seek more attention from their family members
• Arthritic cats may find it difficult to urinate in the litter box and defecate in the open outside their litter box
• Cats ceasing to groom themselves as a result they might see unkempt hair
• A decreased appetite in cats due to excessive pain in joints leading to drastic weight loss
• Cats may show signs of lameness while walking but this is very difficult to notice as they are quite good at concealing these things from their owners

These symptoms may show up gradually when the joints of the cat start paining a lot. But if you observe keenly about the behavior of your cat it would be very easy to find out about any abnormality in their behavior.

Treatment of feline arthritis

If you find that your cat is suffering from joint pains they should be immediately taken to a veterinarian. They would then conduct certain tests like x-ray to try and find out about the nature of their disease.

Once arthritis has been detected, you can take the help of treatments like Canine Joint Support, Joint Formula, Joint Guard, Joint Health Tablets, Nature’s Answer Glucosamine, Osteocare, Osteoforte Natural Animal and Osteosupport after consulting your veterinarian. These treatments will not only give relief to the feline, but it will also make him comfortable.