A painful, progressive disease, osteoarthritis (OA) causes joint inflammation, reduces mobility and flexibility, and lowers quality of life in pets who suffer from it. OA cannot be cured, but the disease can be slowed, especially if caught early. The condition is also more common than you might think.
How Common is OA?
Arthritis affects at least 20% to 25% of dogs. And size doesn’t matter. Although larger dogs may be more prone to getting OA, any dog can develop the disease. OA can be caused by wear and tear on the joints, but more often in dogs, it’s the result of developmental joint diseases.
Arthritis is also fairly common in cats. Studies have found evidence of OA ranging from 22% up to more than 90% of cats.
Doesn’t OA Only Affect Old Pets?
Although we may think of OA as a disease that develops as pets age, that’s not always the case. In fact, cats and dogs of almost any age can develop OA.
However, OA may become more noticeable in pets as they get older. Ideally, we want to catch the disease while it’s still in the early stages.
What Are Signs of Arthritis in Pets?
Signs of OA-associated pain in pets include changes in mobility, activity, or sociability. These changes may be subtle. If your pet is older, don’t assume that any changes you notice are just related to age.
Osteoarthritis is a painful, progressive disease. The earlier we catch it, the more we can do to help your pet—even potentially slowing down the disease.
In dogs, signs of OA include:
- Limping
- Favoring a leg
- Lagging behind on walks
- Lameness
- Reluctance to get up from a seated or lying position
- Trouble jumping up onto or off the sofa/bed or into or out of the car
- Reluctance to go up or down stairs
- Sleeping more
- Eating less
- Hiding or avoiding contact with other pets or family members
- Irritability, especially when handled or approached
- Chewing, licking, or biting painful areas
- Lack of interest in playing
In cats, signs of OA include:
- Making small jumps instead of a big leap to get up onto a table or countertop
- Reluctance to jump from heights
- Changes in daily routines
- Difficulty getting in or out of the litterbox
- Urinating or defecating outside the litterbox
- Trouble with or lack of grooming
- Reluctance to go up or down stairs
- Awkward movements (less graceful than normal)
- Hiding or avoiding contact with other pets or family members
- Changes in mood or tolerance of being handled (irritability)
- Sleeping more
- Eating less
- Lack of interest in playing
You can use these checklists to help spot arthritis pain in your dog or cat—and share the results with your Jacksonville vet:
Can I Help Prevent My Pet from Getting Arthritis?
Although we can’t be sure what we do will stop OA from developing, these steps may help reduce the chance that your pet will get the disease:
- Keep your pet at a healthy weight.
- Make sure your pet gets enough low-impact exercise, such as walking and swimming.
- Ask your Jacksonville vet whether your pet could benefit from a special diet or supplement.
These steps can also benefit pets who already have the disease.
What Do Vets Recommend to Help Pets With OA?
Although arthritis can’t be cured, your pet doesn’t have to live with the pain from arthritis. At Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics, we have many options to help pets with OA.
Younger pets and those in the early stages of OA may not show obvious signs of the disease (such as limping). However, the earlier we detect the disease, the more we can do to help your pet with OA. That’s why it’s important for us to screen your pet for arthritis.
Schedule your pet’s OA screening today or give us a call to set up an appointment at our Beaches or Westside location. You can also visit our mobile pet clinic. We’ll work with you to get your pet moving more comfortably again and to make sure your pet stays as pain-free as possible.
