Dog Arthritis Symptoms

Dog arthritis typically begins slowly, and at first you may not notice the symptoms. But as the disease progresses, your dog will begin to show more signs of discomfort. Contact us at Parker Center Animal Clinic if your dog develops:

  • Limping or lameness
  • Yelping when touched or when moving
  • Changing behavior (especially irritability)
  • Licking, chewing, and/or biting
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle atrophy

If we determine your dog has arthritis, we’ll start working on a treatment plan right away to help ease your dog’s pain and regain any lost mobility.

Cat Arthritis Symptoms

Cat arthritis can be much more difficult to identify because cats are much more adept at hiding pain from their owners than dogs. Instead, cats with arthritis are more likely to display changes in behavior, including:

  • Reduced movement
  • Changes in grooming behavior
  • Changes in personality
  • Changes in activity level
  • Limping
  • Tiredness

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact us for an examination. If we suspect it’s arthritis, we’ll put together a treatment plan to help minimize the impact on your cat.

Ways to Mitigate Pet Arthritis

If your dog or cat is diagnosed with arthritis, the important thing to remember is that you’re treating the condition, not curing it. We offer a range of cat and dog arthritis pain management treatments, and including the following:

Weight loss management
Obesity puts extra pressure on your pet’s joints. We’ll help you manage your pet’s diet to safely bring your pet’s weight to an acceptable level, or help them maintain an appropriate weight.
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Laboratory
Class IV Laser Light Therapy is proven effective for the treatment of arthritis in humans and animals.
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Environmental support
You can help your pet by modifying their environment. This includes, among other things, raising food and water bowls, installing ramps and steps, and providing lots of soft, warm places for them to rest. +

Natural supplements
Like humans, pets can benefit from natural supplements and pain medicine. We carry Dasuquin a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement that comes in chewable tablets or soft chew treats. +

Prescription Medication
We also carry and can prescribe (if recommended by your veterinarian) Rimadyl, Galliprant, Onsior and Metacam. These NSAIDs help reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
If your pet is prescribed one of these, annual bloodwork to evaluate kidney and liver function, as well as all other organ functions and cell counts, will be recommended. These NSAIDs are also formulated specifically for dogs and cats. DO NOT give your pet ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen. These medications are for human use and can cause illness and even death in animals. +

Adequan
Adequan may also be recommended for the treatment and prevention of arthritis. This injection is given in a series of 7 initial injections 2-3 days apart, then once every 25 days. Adequan helps rebuild and maintain the joint cartilage destroyed by arthritis. +

Remember, just because there is no cure for arthritis doesn’t mean there’s no treatment. If your dog or cat is diagnosed with arthritis, Parker Center Animal Clinic will be here to help give your pet the care they deserve.

Class IV Light Therapy Laser

Don’t you sometimes wish you could wave a magic wand and take away your pet’s pain? Although not actually “magic”, the Class IV Therapy Laser uses a wand that sends focused beams of light to stimulate healing cells to help reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and speed healing. The Class IV Therapy Laser is the newest and most powerful therapy laser available. It is FDA approved for use in humans where it is commonly used for sports injuries and chronic pain.

Please note, the Class IV Therapy Laser is different than the CO2 Laser used for surgery.

What Does It Do?

  • Helps decrease inflammation
  • Increases blood flow
  • Stabilizes damaged cells
  • Decreases pain

What Can It Be Used For?

  • Arthritis
  • Inflammation associated with ear infections
  • Anal gland issues
  • Hot spots
  • Acute injuries
  • Any situation that may be painful or need fast healing

What Does It Do?

  • Helps decrease inflammation
  • Increases blood flow
  • Stabilizes damaged cells
  • Decreases pain

What Can It Be Used For?

  • Arthritis
  • Inflammation associated with ear infections
  • Anal gland issues
  • Hot spots
  • Acute injuries
  • Any situation that may be painful or need fast healing

How It Works

The Class IV Laser Therapy is completely painless, in fact, the gentle warmth it produces is often comforting and soothing to pets. Your pet will sit or lie comfortably during the procedure (with you if you prefer) while the technician administers the laser.

Sessions usually last 2-5 minutes per site. Multiple sites can be treated at each session. A typical treatment of a chronic condition (i.e. arthritis) might consist of 3 treatments the first week, 2 in the second, 1 in the third week, and then 1 treatment per month. Packages are available for the first 7 session treatment plan if recommended by your veterinarian.

Often owners are noticing a difference in their pet after the first session. Each pet is unique, however, and treatments will vary. Please contact us if you are interested in Class IV Laser Therapy at 303-841-8833.