The hills of ones youth are all mountains. Mari Sandoz American writere
With arthritis, the opposite is also true, it's really hard to physically do the simple things that one enjoys when everything hurts. A great resource for the basics of arthritis can be found on the AAHA Healthy pet.com website. They even have printable brochures. Their article on cats and arthritis shows just how far we've come in the recognition of our companions needs.
So what can we do for the arthritic pet, and how can we slow down the degradation of the joints so they can continue for many years to enjoy their time with us? First off, start now. If you're feeding too much and they are tending to overweight, cut back and maintain them at a healthy weight. The wear and tear of extra weight on any joints is bad, but it also effects the heart and body in other ways, so it's a serious issue to address. What to feed? A good quality, name brand, well-known food like Science diet, Royal canin, ProPlan, Nutro, etc. Don't go for bulk, store brands, or local fad brands, if the track record is unknown, your pet is the guinea pig. For pets with clinical symptoms of arthritis, clinical trials have shown Science Diet J/D (joint diet) to ease the pain. The food has more than some supplements can do, so if it's an option I recommend it.
As for supplements that actually help, I swear by chondroitin/glucosamine and omega fatty acids (like fish oil). Some of these supplements also contain MSM or antioxidants, which have been proven to not hurt, and possibly help. As with any new addition to the diet, watch for a response (usually >3 weeks to see), and allergic reactions (vomition, hives, itchy). These are all things that are safe in younger dogs, all the way through their golden years. Recently I've seen a few people advocating vegetables as anti-inflammatories. I don't see anything wrong with eating vegies, and they can make a dog feel full without eating a lot of calorie-dense food, but be sure to avoid toxins (grapes comes to mind immediately) and only feed well washed samples. I prefer the frozen kind just because they're easier for me.
Mild gentle exercise is best all the way around, something like walks or swimming, but if your dog is a sporter, make sure to have him on good surfaces that encourage strong landings without damage. Wet surfaces that are slick, hills, hard uneven surfaces, and other hazards play havoc on their joints just as they do on ours.
A good egg-crate bed decreases the pressure points when your pet is sleeping. There are several models available, though my dog just uses my old ones, and sometimes the new one on my bed as well.
Medications are a last resort before unconventional methods of pain control associated with arthritis. I use the weaker NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) at low doses until a stronger dose is required or the pet proves the drug is incompatible with them. for a run-down on the NSAIDs available, teh fda.gov site has an animalveterinary/resourcesfor you section that outlines them all. NSAIDs are strongly discouraged in cats, as they develop life-threatening diseases from them, so we usually still use steroids. Ketoprofen does work but tastes awful, and robenacoxib is still in the research stage as far as I can see. Some sources are using tramadol, and that does seem to provide effective and safe pain control in some cats. I use the tramadol more for it's synergystic effect with the NSAIDs in dogs. This allows me to use a lower dose of both to achieve longer use of lower doses, resulting in less side effects from the medications (vomition, kidney and liver disease, GI upset).
Acupuncture (veterinary certified), laser, massage, ultrasound, stem cell treatments (from fat no less), surgery, and braces are all out there. Each of these is used in specific spaces and places, and should be on the recommendation of your veterinarian. They are important in some cases, but not in all, so should be approached with a discerning eye. I've worked with a few really great acupuncturists over the years, and the dogs (and cats) being treated really seemed to enjoy it.
This isn't a comprehensive overview of everything available, but hits the most common and most promising available modalities for pain control and arthritis control. Keeping dental disease, and for that matter any whole body diseases that lead to inflammation, can also help decrease the pain from arthritis. If you have questions, or wish for an evaluation, give me a call. 303-279-2322
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