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Early detection of your pet’s arthritis can save both
a lot of misery for your animal and save a great deal of money in
treatment. OA and cartilage degeneration can develop quickly as a
result of stress or trauma. The sooner you recognize and treat, the
easier life is for your pet.
Replacement Cartilage
It is likely that we could divide affected pets
into two categories. Those that have existing arthritic conditions
and others who are at risk. At it is important to realize that pain
is not always going to be your first indication of trouble.
A Quick Look at Symptoms
You don’t have to be a veterinarian to identify
some of the symptoms that my indicate either arthritis or the onset
of it. If you see any of these signs of trouble, it would be prudent
to begin a regimen of high-quality glucosamine and see your vet as
soon as possible.
Pain
We said that pain is not always going to be the
first sign of trouble. Nonetheless, it is the leading indicator when
your beloved pet is getting into arthritis problems. Unfortunately,
pain can range to modest to extreme so that even in bad cases your
pet may not be showing you strong symptoms.
Appetite
Both cats and dogs are usually eager to eat. When
you start to see them make feeble stabs at eating or they have only
a passing interest, it may mean arthritis is at play. Of course,
there are many other conditions that can cause pain as well so this
guide does not really help much when you consider the host of
problems that can be going on.
Sleep Patterns
If Fido or Fluffy suddenly wants to sleep all day
instead of engaging in their usually playful behavior, this is a
strong indication that there may be some arthritic difficulties.
With cats, (who sleep a great deal anyway) watch for unusually long
periods of sleep and less playtime.
Unusual urination patterns
A cat or dog who is feeling arthritis pain may
begin to urinate inside the house rather than using a litter box or
going outside. Although there can be other (medical conditions) at
play, this is one more symptom that something arthritic may be going
on.
Behavior problems
If your pet is hurting from arthritis, they will
usually feel defenceless. For those that you may pick up and handle
may not be so willing since the affected joint's) may feel exposed
to injury. Usually, the pet will hide out or become temperamental.
Depression
There is nothing quite as sad as seeing a pet
looking dejected. You can see it in their eyes and usually in their
posture. Normally, a dog or cat that interacts a lot with their
owner will become totally unresponsive. They won’t greet you when
you come home or engage in even the slightest play. It’s a symptom
that is usually easy to spot and one that can’t be ignored.
Stiffness, lameness and limping
These are almost a certain sign that arthritis is
affecting your pet. When normal movements are no longer fluid and
instead become stiff or out-of-sync, you can almost bet that Fido or
Fluffy has arthritis. |
