How to spot arthritis in your pet: 7 symptoms

Arthritis is a long-lasting, inflammatory disease that affects your pet’s joints, making every day movements, such as jumping onto the sofa or into a car, a struggle. It develops when the cartilage between joints become damaged and less smooth, causing the surface of the bone to rub together and the joints to stiffen, swell and become painful. Even young animals can be affected, especially if they've had an injury or if they are carrying a bit of extra weight.

Symptoms of arthritis

So, how can you tell if your pet has arthritis? Look out for limping, tiredness, or changes in behaviour like grumpiness. Here are the main tell tale signs:

• Limping before and after walks. Your pet may limp if only one leg is affected, but if more than one joint is affected the limp may be less obvious.
• Tiredness and showing an unwillingness to get up or walk around. Your pet may seem a bit stiff in the morning, or they can’t get comfortable when lying down.
• Licking or chewing painful areas
• Signs of pain when standing, walking, or sitting up or down
• Behavioural changes. Their behaviour may change and seem a bit grumpy if being cuddled or wary of you touching the affected joints.
• Slowing down. Most owner will report their pets as “getting old suddenly” or appear to tire quickly
• Muscle wasting. Changes in the muscle mass around the shoulder or hindquarters can be a subtle sign of joint pain.  ****

How can my pet develop arthritis?

Most commonly arthritis affects older animals, typically through wear and tear of the joints. It can also be the result of previous injury, genetic conditions such as elbow or hip dysplasia or abnormalities of the joint caused by too much or too little exercise during puppyhood. Certain breeds, such as Labradors, retrievers, German Shepherds or Rottweilers are sadly more prone.

How is arthritis diagnosed?

In most cases an online consultation with a clinical assessment will be able to tell you if it is arthritis. If we are unsure we may suggest a direct physical exam, where joints can be manipulated or potentially x-rays or other scans may be done to establish the underlying cause.

Is arthritis curable?

Sadly, there is no cure for arthritis, but the pain can often be managed. Your vet can recommend diet adjustments, environmental modifications, supplements, medication or potentially adjunctive therapies such as physiotherapy, laser therapy or acupuncture.

How to treat your pet with arthritis

Prevention is key! Whilst you can't stop arthritis, you can slow its progression through a combination of supplements, medication and healthy lifestyle changes.

• Provide a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regime - Keeping your pet at a healthy body weight is the most important thing you can do. Exercise moderation is also essential. Frequent short walks, with recovery time can be more beneficial than longer walks. Consider low impact exercise on firm, flat terrain or even swimming!
• We can prescribe both anti-inflammatories and pain killers to relieve pain and improve overall mobility. Each case is individual so we tailor the needs accordingly. We can also recommend an array of supplements or particular diets that may benefit.
• Newer therapies - Hydro therapy, laser therapy, stem cell therapy or plasma cell therapy are now more readily available in practice, and are yielding some promising results . Our vets are happy to discuss these options with you.

Vetsy is the best way to treat long-term conditions like this:

• Your Vet will be able to advise on supplements and give you a prescription for necessary medication (Our prescription's are included in the consult fee, saving you £20-£40 per appointment).
• Online consultations mean you don’t have to travel with your pet for the appointments
• You can book an appointment at a time that suits you

What happens in the long term?

Remember, arthritis is progressive, so regular check-ups with your vet are important to allow us to review the condition and ensure your pet still has a good quality of life. If you feel your furry friend is in pain or not quite responding to treatment as well as they used to, we are always happy to offer further advice.

‍