Elderly Pet Information

Does your pet seem to be moving slower or acting stiff? Maybe they do not want to jump onto the bed or sofa anymore? Or worse, they are acting cranky and don't like to be touched or petted like they used to. Your pet most likely has arthritis and is feeling aches and pains in his joints. Like us, our dogs and cats can lose the protective cartilage between the bone joints through normal wear and tear as they get older, more obese, or if they have an injury. They are most likely to develop arthritis in the hips, stifles (knee), elbows, spine, and hocks (ankle).

But there is great news: They don't have to suffer! There are many things you can do to help alleviate their pain. With a few changes, dietary supplements, or NSAIDS, your cranky old kitty or stiff mutt can be feeling better in no time.

	Heat- A heated bed will do wonders for your pets' bones.  Just think of how great it feels to curl up with a heated mattress pad at night. They will wake up feeling less stiff and able to move with a fuller range of motion.
	Sweaters- Never feel "ridiculous" for putting your dog into pet-wear. A simple sweater will keep their body temperature up and have them feeling more comfortable in the winter.  Cats can wear sweaters too (Just ask our receptionist Cassandra  about her kitty wearing her pink hoody. Just adorable!)
	Glucosamine/Chondroitin sulfate- This is a dietary supplement that encourages joint function/ lubrication and prevents further deterioration. We carry the product "Cosequin" because this brand has actually been proven to work in dogs and cats.  This is a long acting supplement so it may take 30-60 days of building up in your pet's body before you notice an improvement.
	Omega three fatty acids- Fish oils are a great dietary supplement with many benefits.  They comfort itchy skin, help with coat condition, and have anti-inflammatory properties that will help with your pet's arthritis. This is a long acting supplement so it may take 30-60 days of building up in your pet's body before you notice an improvement.
	NSAID's- This stands for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.  Pet health care has come a long way in the last decade! Even old arthritic cats can now have pain relief. In the past, cats did not have any safe arthritic pain management, but now we can really help them.   We have medication that has been specially developed to reduce inflammation and pain in your dog or cat. Medications like Rimadyl, Metacam, Derramaxx, and Previcox are all NSAID'S that are fast acting and proven to bring pain-relief to your pet. Never give human pain reliever to a dog or cat!  Before any long-term NSAID's are prescribed the doctor has to perform a full physical examination and run blood work to establish baseline values of the kidneys and liver. Though these products are generally safe to use, there are always side effects that we must watch for. These may include: changes in appetite, water consumption, behavior, urination, and skin (such as scabbing).  Long term side effects may include decreased liver and/or kidney function. This is why we must run blood work to establish baseline values, and then repeat every 6 months to a year to continue monitoring. If there is a change in values then switching to a different NSAID will generally solve the problem.

Old age shouldn’t mean pain and discomfort for your companion.  Our Doctor's will be happy to take a look at your pet and talk with you about the choices you can make for your elderly friend. Call us at (509)-332-6575 to schedule your appointment.