ARTHRITIS IN AGING PETS How Treatments Improve Quality of Life We’ve already shared the joys and rewards of caring for older pets, but we know advancing age brings a unique set of challenges. One of the most common is arthritis, which can cause our pets pain and reduce their mobility. Fortunately, we can minimize these effects and give our animals a good quality of life with the proper care.
But there will be some telltale signs. Cats with arthritis typically don’t jump as high or as far as they used to and sometimes avoid visiting
their favorite spots. Commonly, they also miss more jumps than they previously did. Arthritic cats will usually take longer to use the stairs, groom themselves less frequently, or stop using the litter box due to pain.
Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding As many as 1 in 5 dogs have canine arthritis. Just as in humans, arthritis can cause pain in any joint on a dog’s body but is more common in their hips, shoulders, and knees. Most people notice their dog behaving differently. Often, they become reluctant to stand up from lying down or take more time than they previously had to stand. Some even yelp in pain. Arthritic dogs also commonly avoid stairs and stop jumping on furniture or into the car. And owners can see personality changes in their dogs, including anti- social behavior. Cats are masters at hiding their pain from humans, so the symptoms of arthritis can be more challenging to notice in our feline friends.
Arthritis is typically diagnosed in both species with a physical exam by checking for sensitivity or swelling around the joints. We also recommend X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and bloodwork to rule out other health concerns. If your pet does have arthritis, there is no magic treatment, but many options are available to make their lives more comfortable. Several prescription and nutraceutical medications can help pets with the pain, and we can help determine which one will work best for your furry friend. Environmental changes like ramps and lower litter boxes can make an arthritic pet’s life easier. Meanwhile, controlled exercise can help dogs, and heavier pets can see reduced symptoms after losing weight.
If your pet isn’t moving around as well as they used to, schedule a visit with us here at Surface Creek Vet to check whether they’re experiencing arthritis or another condition. Prompt care is the best route to health and happiness.
TrTiaansgtyleTs uf orrkeCyats Inspired by Be.Chewy.com
Eric Lopez Monty & Lori McDermith Jenny Brooks Meyghan Hill Dave & Carol Coleman Marsha Werth
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 cup whole wheat flour
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1/2 cup ground turkey (you can use your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving — just make sure to grind it up first)
1 egg
1/2 tbsp olive oil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, whole wheat flour, egg, and olive oil until you have a meaty dough. Knead dough into a ball. 3. Flour the work surface and roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Place dough on baking sheet. 4. With a knife, score 1/2-inch rows into the dough. Then, score diagonal lines across the rows to create a diamond pattern and score diagonally the other way to score the diamonds in half, creating triangles. 5. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool, break the triangles apart, then give one to your kitty!
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