Pets with arthiritis

Although he’s relatively young, Jack Spratt suffers from arthritis.  It’s because he puts so much pressure on his legs because of his disability – he lost one of his front legs when he was a puppy and suffered breaks to his pelvis and a hind leg.   He can have painkillers prescribed by the vet when it’s really bad but there is a lot we can do for pets with creaky joints to make them comfortable.    We need to keep Spratt’s weight down, if dogs and cats are too heavy it will put an extra burden on their joints.   Spratt loves to eat so this isn’t something he likes, his diet has less fat and more fibre so that he can still enjoy a decent sized meal.

Gentle exercise – Taking regular exercise is important, short walks and often are beneficial.   If your dog is limping afterwards, you’ve done too much, don’t go so far next time.    We let Spratt tell us how far he wants to go, it’s vital to improve muscle tone and mass as this reduces force on the sore joints.   Cats don’t usually go for a walk so a play session is the answer, nothing too energetic but keep it lively.   Sitting around all day will worsen their condition.

Soft beds – The weather affects joint pains so if it’s cold and damp don’t stay out for long, pets with arthritis need to keep warm and dry.   Make sure their bed is extra soft and comfy, when joints hurt some layers of fleece on top of a duvet will be appreciated.    Invest in a heat pad – gentle warmth makes all the difference to soothing aching joints.   You can buy them for dogs and cats, they use only a minimal amount of electricity and just provide a bit of heat when the pet lies down on them.   Cats love them, dogs like them if they ease the pain.

Swimming – it’s great exercise for dogs with reduced mobility.   Your vet will usually know where the nearest dog hydrotherapy centre is.   Cats don’t go for this at all – ‘get wet!  No way!’ Both dogs and cats can benefit from a bit of gentle massage , it helps with relaxation and can improve the blood supply.  If it hurts they will be sure to let you know.

Ramps – help when your pet can’t climb any more.  Going upstairs is not good for an arthritic dog or cat.  They may try to do it because they want to follow you but it may set up inflammation that will take days to ease off again.   You can easily make ramps for cats out of strips of light wood (tack on non slip or paw hold pieces).   Ramps for dogs have to bear weight and require more thought.  You can buy them ready made though and they are ideal for getting your dog in and out of the car.   Don’t let him jump in or out, it may cause a lot of problems and he won’t be able to tell you about them.

The towel trick – It’s easy enough to lift the cat if he can’t get up, but a big dog is difficult to help to his feet.   Put a towel under his tummy and make a sling, you’ll be able to help him to his feet without any problems.

Table manners – Your pet doesn’t want to be bending down to eat – raise the food to their level – a small amount for a cat and higher for the dog.  You can buy special racks to put the dog dishes in but it’s easy enough to improvise with a box or crate.

Vet help – There is a lot vets can do to help pets with joint problems so don’t think ‘oh, it’s only old age’ and decide your pet has to put up with it.    Being in pain every day is miserable, so get expert help, there are painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that will make all the difference to your pet’s quality of life.

Several of our resident seniors have joint problems and have special diets and medication to keep them going – we give them oily fish and cod liver oil supplements which help a lot.   These are dogs and cats who have come in because their owners have passed away or gone in hospital.   These lovely ‘old stagers’ have a home for life with us but do need extra care.    If you can help in any way with food or a small donation towards their upkeep, it would be very much appreciated. [donate]