The pain associated with osteoarthritis can considerably affect the quality of life of your 4-legged companions. It is the leading cause of chronic lameness in adult and senior animals.
- 70% of dogs over 8 years of age and 90% of cats over 12 years of age suffer from osteoarthritis
- Only 23% of dogs and 13% of cats are diagnosed
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease that destroys cartilage. Unfortunately, it is irreversible. This destruction worsens over time, leading to pain and loss of mobility.
All animals can suffer from osteoarthritis, but certain factors can favour the onset of osteoarthritis, such as :
- Joint deformities (e.g. hip dysplasia)
- Previous joint or bone trauma (e.g. fractures)
- A dietary imbalance
- Being overweight or obese
- Ageing
How can I tell if my pet has osteoarthritis?
The most visible sign is BOITERIA. This is the main reason for consultation.
But many other changes in behaviour can be signs of osteoarthritis pain:
| DOG | CHAT |
|---|---|
Trailing behind on walks
|
|
As with us, the unrelenting pain has an impact on her quality of life.
How to manage osteoarthritis in your pet?
The approach is multifactorial.
- Designing the environment to avoid pain as much as possible: ramp for getting into the car, slightly raised bowls, soft cushions, etc.
- The right diet: osteoarthritis is often linked to overweight or obesity
- Physiotherapy and osteopathy to remuscle and regain mobility: pain leads to loss of mobility and therefore muscle wasting, so joints are less well stabilized, which worsens the degeneration of cartilage and therefore causes more pain. It's a vicious circle...
- Medication to manage pain over the long term and deal with acute attacks: several options are available, and your veterinarian will be able to suggest the solutions best suited to your companion.
In practice, a comprehensive background treatment should be put in place to limit osteoarthritis "attacks" as much as possible. During these "crises", anti-inflammatory/pain-relieving treatments should be considered.
If you think your dog or cat may be suffering from osteoarthritis, don't hesitate to make an appointment for an overall assessment. Our priority will be to offer your dog or cat a good quality of life despite its osteoarthritis, by implementing the therapeutic solutions best suited to your companion.
