Pet Arthritis: How to Support Pet's Healthy Joints & Activity

Arthritis can affect pets of any age or size, and the pain and distress it causes is not something to ignore. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and management strategies for this disease and make a plan to discuss your pet's symptoms with your doctor to develop a treatment plan as soon as possible.

What Is Pet Arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints that can affect both humans and animals. Over time, the cartilage that cushions joints in the body deteriorates. After a certain point, there is no protective cartilage left, leaving the joints to rub against each other, which causes pain and mobility challenges. In some cases, bone spurs can also form on or around the joints, leading to more pain and immobility. In dogs and cats, osteoarthritis can affect the joints in the legs, back, hips, and other parts of the body.

It is a progressive disease that worsens over time. Though it can be managed with certain treatments, there is no cure for osteoarthritis in animals or humans. Osteoarthritis is extremely prevalent in cats and dogs, affecting more than one in five dogs and likely as many cats. The disease often affects older dogs because a longer life adds to the deterioration of the joints. However, it is still considered a "young dog's disease," and diagnosis doesn't discriminate by age. In addition, it is less often diagnosed in felines, though cats likely suffer at similar rates. There are a few reasons for this discrepancy, mainly that felines often tolerate the symptoms because of their agility and smaller size and that physical exams on cats can offer inconclusive results.

What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis in Cats and Dogs?

Arthritis typically shows similar signs in dogs and cats, such as difficulty moving to a sitting, lying, or standing position or challenges with moving up and down stairs. Animals living with progressive arthritis usually show additional behavioral changes due to the pain and discomfort associated with the disease. Weight loss, appetite changes, shifts in attitude or mood, and challenges with grooming or bathroom habits can be signs of an animal in pain.

As a pet owner, you have the best insight into their habits, mood, and attitude. When you notice symptoms of arthritis, the best course of action is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Though you may suspect osteoarthritis as the culprit, only a veterinarian can diagnose your pet through a physical exam, discussion of symptoms, and in some cases, x-ray diagnostics.

What to Do if You Think Your Pet has Arthritis

Your veterinarian can help you develop a management plan to control the symptoms of arthritis and improve your pet's quality of life. Most often, a management plan will include several different strategies working together to combat symptoms, improve mobility, and support full-body health overall. These include weight management, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and the use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works to both reduce inflammation and lessen pain.

Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for managing your pet's arthritis because heavier weights can add extra strain to their body and joints. By ensuring your dog or cat has a healthy weight for their frame, you can help them stay mobile for longer and avoid increased pain.

Healthy Diet

Part of weight management involves offering your furry friend a healthy diet full of nutrients that support anti-inflammation and full-body health. Your veterinarian might even prescribe dog or cat food that is fortified with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and omega fatty acids, three elements known to aid in reducing osteoarthritis symptoms.

Regular Exercise

It might seem counterintuitive, but exercising is an important part of managing joint pain and supporting healthy activity in your pets. However, because exercise may be uncomfortable or even painful for your cat or dog, adding the correct type of activity is crucial. Your veterinarian can help you find exercises that will work for your animal without additional discomfort.

Pain Medication

In many cases, pain medication is prescribed to cats and dogs to improve their quality of life and make activity more comfortable. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), in particular, are often prescribed because they can limit pain while dealing with the inflammatory response at the source.

Alternative Strategies

More and more often, pet owners and veterinarians are looking to alternative strategies working in combination with the four changes described above. From acupuncture to cannabidiol topical products, all-natural options are becoming a popular choice.

• Acupuncture or Acupressure: Acupuncture is often used in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for pets. Thought to increase healing, boost blood circulation, and prompt the nervous system to release anti-inflammatories, acupuncture is an all-natural approach that has been used in Chinese cultures for over 3000 years.
• Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy: Also known as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), targeted pulsed electromagnetics has been approved by the FDA for various uses. The process is a non-invasive treatment that applies magnetic fields to the affected tissues to support healing, decrease inflammation, and reduce chronic pain.
• CBD Oil & Natural Products: A natural compound found in the hemp plant, cannabidiol (CBD) has become more popular in recent years due to its potential applications for a variety of uses. From enhancing relaxation to soothing discomfort, products containing the compound are an option for some pet owners. Other natural products, such as those containing menthol, arnica, and other plant-based ingredients, are similarly popular for their ability to soothe discomfort in humans.

*Cannabidiol products are not approved by the FDA to treat any conditions and should only be used with a veterinarian's supervision. They are not designed to treat, cure, or prevent diseases in humans or animals, including arthritis.

Learn More About CBD Pet Products

Your pet deserves an exciting life full of active adventures, whether that's hikes with you, games of catch across the yard, or a climb up to their favorite hiding place. If your cat or dog shows signs of physical discomfort, including the symptoms of arthritis, seek advice from a veterinarian as soon as possible to develop a management plan that will work for them.

Talk to your vet about adding a CBD pet product in combination with other strategies. Pet CBD oil may soothe regular discomfort for some pets when used appropriately and with a veterinarian's guidance.

If you're looking for safely-made CBD pet products, visit us at Science-Rite CBD™. We combine the power of Nanotechnology with plant-based ingredients in each formulation for fast-absorbing, high-bioavailability CBD pet products. Check out our Gold-Series NANO CBD Pet Chews in a 5mg strength to give to your furry friend as a daily treat. Or, use our 500mg Platinum-Series NANO CBD Pet Shampoo, made with Water-Soluble CBD, to soothe discomfort and make bath time fun.

Sources:

• Food and Drug Administration: Osteoarthritis in Cats: More Common Than You Think
• American Veterinary Medical Association: Getting ahead of osteoarthritis in pets
• Global Advances in Health and Medicine: Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future
• Pain: Research and Management: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial using a low-frequency magnetic field in the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic pain
• Frontiers in Veterinary Science: Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs