All About Arthritis and Joint Support
Videos:
How to Diagnose Osteoarthritis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86yO68DuuC8&t=3s
What is Osteoarthritis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PiXNSKsdm8
Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfjFkdAx6qg&t=1s
As our pets age they may suffer from arthritis. It can be a painful condition and is usually noticeable as a stiff gait first thing in the morning (often worse in cold weather), which improves with a of exercise or movement.
Arthritis describes inflammation in a joint and may be attributable to many factors. Radiographs can be helpful to identify affected joints. Arthritis is generally a progressive condition, but we can do a great deal to slow the course of the disease and make your pet a lot more comfortable for the rest of his/her days.
It is very important to keep your pet’s weight under control. Carrying around extra baggage is a huge burden on the joints and lightening their load will help them to function better and cut down on their pain.
Ensuring that your pet eats good quality food is an important part of supporting their general health and well-being. Supplementing their diet with optimal amounts of high-quality omega 3 fatty acids, which are natural anti-inflammatories, helps them to maintain a good weight and support joint function. Just making this change can make a noticeable difference to many animals.
Next on the list and clinically proven to help are chondroprotective (joint protecting) agents called polysulphated glucosaminoglycans (P-Gags) like glucosamine. These are naturally occurring substances found in green lipped mussels (certain extracts also have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects) and other sources. There are many supplements available but as with all supplements it is important to remember that they aren’t all created equal, some work better than others and may be more appropriate for your animal than others. There is also an injectable form of P-gags that can be used alone or in conjunction with the above, it too can work wonders.
Proanthocyanidins (from grapeseed or pinebark extract) are another invaluable nutrient. They are powerful anti-oxidants which assist joint function and well-being. Herbs and plant extracts like ginger, celery, boswelia, garlic (1 medium sized clove per 25 kg), Epitalis, artemisia and turmeric can also be valuable therapeutic aids.
Massage of the tight muscles trying to compensate for the pain is very helpful as these are frequently tired and sore. Gentle massage is loved by most animals and helps to stimulate circulation.
Gentle, low impact exercise, such as swimming (hydrotherapy, ideally in warm water) or walks on the beach, is important to help keep supporting muscles strong and contribute to general well-being. Manage your pet’s environment to keep obstacles like slippery or uneven surfaces, dog/cat doors, stairs and heights to a minimum and provide warm and comfortable bedding.
In addition to all of these are alternative and complementary therapy options such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, NIS (the Neurological Integration System), magnetic therapies, hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Stem Cell Therapy as well as musculo-skeletal therapies such as chiropractics, osteopathy and Bowen therapy, which can also be very valuable aids. For optimal results these are best used by an experienced practitioner working in conjunction with your vet to tailor make a program to suit your animal’s needs.
When none of these changes are making enough of a difference, we make use of painkillers such as Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and others, which may occasionally have side effects, but can be invaluable to ease pain.
With a comprehensive treatment plan, a great deal of quality can be added to your pet’s life.