Apr 03, 2022

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

Arthritis can cause your pet significant pain and distress. The disease can affect pets of any size or age, and the symptoms should not be ignored. Learn what to look for and to develop a treatment plan with your veterinarian’s guidance, along with management strategies that may benefit your pet here.

What Is Pet Arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints that affects humans and animals. The progressive disease causes the cartilage that cushions the joints to deteriorate over time. Eventually, that deterioration leaves no protective cartilage left, causing the joints to rub against each other and produce painful movement or even immobility. In some cases, bone spurs can form on or around the joints, leading to additional pain and immobility. Though it can be managed with certain treatments, there is no cure for osteoarthritis.

In dogs and cats, osteoarthritis usually impacts the joints of the legs, back, hips, and other parts of the body. It is extremely prevalent in cats and dogs, affecting more than one in five dogs and likely as many cats. Though it often affects older dogs, the disease is still considered a "young dog's disease," and diagnosis doesn't discriminate by age. In addition, though cats likely suffer at similar rates, it is less commonly diagnosed in felines

Symptoms of Arthritis in Animals

Dogs and cats typically show symptoms due to the pain of the disease, including difficulty moving to a sitting, lying, or standing position or challenges with moving up and down stairs. You might also notice behavioral changes resulting from 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. If you notice symptoms of arthritis, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible, as a vet is the only person who can diagnose your pet. The diagnosis process may include a discussion about your pet’s symptoms, a physical exam, or an x-ray to view the progression of the disease.

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 management plans include several different strategies working in combination. The goal of a management plan is to combat symptoms to improve mobility and quality of life, as well as support full-body health overall.

Pain Medication

In many cases, a veterinarian will prescribe pain medication to improve a pet’s 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.

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.

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 keeping your pet at a healthy weight for their size, 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 suggest pet food fortified with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and omega fatty acids, three elements known to aid in reducing osteoarthritis symptoms.

Alternative Strategies

More and more often, pet owners and veterinarians are turning to a combination of alternative strategies and lifestyle changes for symptoms and improve quality of life. From acupuncture to HEMP topical products, all-natural options are becoming a popular choice.

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.
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.
HEMP Oil & Natural Products: Hemp 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 hemp 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.

*HEMP products are not approved by the FDA and are not designed to treat, cure, or prevent diseases in humans or animals, including arthritis. Please use HEMP products only with a veterinarian's guidance.

Learn More About HEMP Pet Products

Your pet deserves an exciting life full of active adventures, from family hikes to games of catch. If you notice your cat or dog showing signs of physical discomfort or the symptoms of arthritis, seek advice from a veterinarian as soon as possible to develop a management plan that will work for them.

You can also talk to your vet about adding HEMP pet products along with their suggested management strategies. Pet HEMP oil may soothe regular discomfort for some pets when used appropriately and with a veterinarian's guidance.

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

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