Signs of arthritis

Apr 30, 2017

Arthritis is one of the most common ailments seen in middle-aged to older pets. Even younger pets particularly dogs who have joint problems such as hip dysplasia can suffer from arthritic changes. Arthritis causes changes within the affected joints, commonly inflammation and damage to cartilage, which leads to pain. This pain is responsible for many of the signs associated with arthritis. Here are some of those common signs.

Difficulty Moving

Your pet may also become reluctant to do things that were previously easy for him to accomplish. For instance, your dog may

DOGS:

  • find it difficult to get into and out of the car
  • may have difficulty going up and down stairs that were previously easily manageable
  • less interested in playing with toys
  • be reluctant to sit when asked to. Many owners think they are being disobedient, or can’t hear properly

CATS: are very good at hiding the signs of arthritis and joint pain, and their symptoms can be a lot very subtle. Arthritic cats may

  • stop jumping onto countertops, scratching posts,
  • use a stool to jump onto the bench
  • Land in a heap when jumping down, or crawl down the side of a bed
  • Hesitate to jump onto your lap or the couch.
  • May look matted as they are no longer able to bend around to groom themselves properly

Limping

  • You may see your pet limping or perhaps shifting their weight off one leg. In some cases, the limp may seem worse when your pet first rises and become less noticeable as your pet “warms up” by moving around. Many pets however with arthritis often don’t show a noticeable limp.

Reduced activity

Your pet may tire more easily. For dogs, this may mean that walks become shorter and more painful for your pet. Your pet may spend more time sleeping and/or resting. Cats may hang around the house more, and not go exploring as they once used to.

Behaviour changes

Arthritic animals may become irritable. They may snap and/or bite when approached or handled, particularly if the petting or handling takes place in a manner that increases their pain.

Muscle Atrophy

Muscle atrophy occurs due to reduced use of certain muscle groups. For example, with hip arthritis sitting becomes difficult so the muscles of the rump and back legs are not used as much and reduced in size, become thinner than normal.

Weakness / posture changes

Arthritic changes can occur not only in the legs but also in the various parts of the spine. These changes may result in a sore neck, an abnormal posture with a “hunch” in the back, or weakness in one or both back legs

Licking, Chewing & Biting

Sometimes pets may be seen licking or chewing themselves. They don’t have to lick the painful area, and quite often they will repeatedly lick the lower part of the leg which they can easily reach. You may notice a stained area of fur on their foot or wrist, even though their elbow may be painful

 

Arthritis Treatment for Dogs and Cats

Though arthritis cannot be cured, there are various remedies and procedures that can help ease the pain for your pet. These will be covered in our next article.