Welcome to Tail Blazers Pets Ailments A-Z. This is our first episode of Ailments A-Z and we will be covering A for Arthritis. We will dive into what it is, how it occurs, where it commonly occurs and how to treat it both conventionally and naturally. Let’s dive in.
What is Arthritis
Arthritis is a word we hear often, but let’s break down what it really is. Arthritis is a common term for general inflammation and pain in joints. Pets can be affected commonly by 3 types of Arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis – which is caused by normal wear and tear on the joints.
- Immune related – which is caused by the immune system attacking the joints (a form of this is called rheumatoid)
- Septic – which is caused by an infection in the joint.
Since osteo is the main type of arthritis in pets and the leading cause of pain in dogs, it will be our main focus.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. It occurs when the top layer of cartilage on the joint degrades from wear and tear.
What Causes Arthritis
Arthritis is caused by wear and tear of the joints. This wear and tear is most common in older animals because the joints have been used for longer, but it can affect younger animals who are obese or who have suffered trauma such as broken bones, or other joint related injuries. It is also very common in pets who suffer a genetic issue like hip dysplasia. Evidence shows that arthritis can even be caused by diets that lack proper nutrition and are high in sugars, refined carbohydrates and salt.
Commonly Affected Areas
Dog will most often experience arthritis in the hips, but other common areas are the knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows, wrists and back. Cats will typically experience arthritis in the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips. The sad reality is that if there is cartilage breakdown in one place, it tends to be in other joints too, especially if they are vulnerable.
Symptoms
If you are worried your pet may suffer from arthritis, these are symptoms to look for.
- Limping
- Difficulty getting up from a seated or laying position
- Sensitivity or aggression when touching certain areas (especially the hips)
- Whimpering when in certain positions
- Difficulty getting comfortable
- Change in walking structure – may seem more stiff, especially in the back legs. You may notice that when the pet in question is active (running) the back legs rarely move separately, they will move together as one to reduce discomfort.
- Reduced activity / reluctance to be active
- Extreme discomfort after strenuous activity
Cats specifically will show signs such as:
- Over grooming in certain areas
- Reluctance to groom certain areas
- Difficulty jumping
- Litter box accidents
How Does Conventional Treatment Work
Naturally, your veterinarian will look at your pet’s weight, diet, history and genes. These are all things we have discussed that can cause osteoarthritis. A conventional veterinarian may suggest a diet change to a Hills Prescription Diets formula such as this one for dogs:
and this one for cats:
Image sources: https://www.hillspet.ca/en-ca/prescription-diet
These foods claim they support osteoarthritis by:
- Providing therapeutic levels of omega-3 fatty acids
- Containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
- And that they are calorie controlled for weight management
Per kg, the dog formula contains 3.6% omega 3 fatty acids and the cat contains 1.45%. Kcals are 3670/kg for the dog and 4086/kg for the cat food.
However, the glucosamine and chondroitin levels are nowhere to be seen.
If the animal is still struggling with pain, medications such as Meloxicam, Carprofen, and Deracoxib are sometimes prescribed.
Here are some issues with conventional treatment options:
- The ingredient panels on the foods are full of fillers like corn gluten meal, and refined carbohydrates like brewer’s rice which should be avoided for pets suffering from arthritis. It’s not a species-appropriate diet.
- While they contain therapeutic levels of omega-3 fatty acids for a food, it is nothing compared to what a good supplement can provide a pet. 3.5% per kg of omega 3 fatty acids is nothing compared to what a good supplement containing 22% per teaspoon can do to make a noticeable difference in your pet.
- The prescribed medications can cause extreme side effects like diarrhea, loss of appetite, seizures, skin lesions, UTI’s, bloody vomit, and liver damage.
Treating Arthritis Naturally
Every pet is different, so we will analyze the best way to combat your pet’s specific needs…this isn’t a one size fits all fix. If weight is the issue we will start by getting them on an exercise regime, and lowering their calorie intake. If weight is not the issue and it’s age, over activity, genetics, or nutrition we will find the best path for your pet. Sometimes this may mean switching foods, as we can’t begin to fix a problem while a dog or cat is on an inappropriate diet that is causing cartilage decay.
Step 1: Manage the diet. Ensuring that your pet is on a diet that is supporting their healing is extremely important. Diets too high in carbohydrates, sugars or lacking in moisture can make the problem worse. We want your pet to be as healthy as they can be when we start the healing process. Introducing a new low-processed meal, high in protein and healthy fats, and bursting with nutrition, is our goal.
Step 2: Manage the inflammation. Finding the right supplement to manage inflammation is key. Inflammation from arthritis is bad news. This inflammation triggers the release of enzymes that attack the structure of cartilage, breaking it down bit by bit. So what supplements manage inflammation? Supplements like curcumin, omega-3’s, certain medicinal mushrooms and vitamins will work to inhibit the production of these enzymes and reduce inflammation drastically.
Step 3: Manage the joint. Once the inflammation is managed, it is time to manage the joint, and by doing so, manage the remaining cartilage that we have left to work with. Using supplements that will support the joint, cartilage, synovial fluid and bones will be a key factor in helping your pet. Supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin will be key in this stage.
Step 4: Manage the Pain. If after all of these steps, your pet is still showing signs of pain, you can add another supplement. One tool we rely on is natural supplements that are natural pain relievers without unwanted side effects.
I am so glad that you decided to join us, and if you’ve made it this far, you are well on the way to treating your pet’s arthritis, or managing it before it becomes a larger problem. With this information you can take control of your pet’s arthritis and treat them safely, naturally, and nutritiously, and if you ever need assistance, don’t hesitate to visit a Tail Blazers location near you, and experience the benefits of your pets being Tail Blazers Healthy!
