{"id":4831,"date":"2024-03-06T15:23:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T15:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vitaanimalhealth.com\/?p=4831"},"modified":"2024-04-15T13:23:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T12:23:28","slug":"arthritis-in-dogs-and-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitaanimalhealth.com\/arthritis-in-dogs-and-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Arthiritis in Dogs and Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you noticed your pet seeming more tired? Slowing down with old age? Or even becoming reluctant to do the things they\u2019ve always done, like going up stairs or jumping? They could very well be suffering from osteoarthritis, often simply referred to as arthritis.<\/p>

Arthritis has been estimated to affect up to 80% of dogs older than 8 years1<\/sup>, and up to 90% of cats over 12 years show changes associated with arthritis on x-rays2<\/sup>. It is the most common chronic pain condition in older pets, but it can also affect younger cats and dogs.<\/p>

Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of your pet developing arthritis, and help affected pets to live a long and happy life. Read on to find out more.<\/p>

What causes arthritis in dogs and cats?<\/h4>

To understand how to reduce the chance of your pet developing arthritis, it\u2019s important to understand some of the causes. Like humans, it\u2019s been suggested that arthritis in cats can be related to general \u2018wear and tear\u2019 rather than a specific underlying cause \u2013 although factors like obesity can still have a significant impact.<\/p>

In dogs, \u2018wear and tear\u2019 isn\u2019t a leading cause of arthritis. While it contributes, arthritis in dogs is usually due to either an abnormal joint (e.g. hip, elbow or shoulder dysplasia), or abnormal wear (e.g. obesity placing extra strain on joints, an injury or excessive very high level exercise)3<\/sup>.<\/p>

For both cats and dogs, obesity is one of the most important avoidable contributing factors. Not only does obesity worsen pets\u2019 pain levels when they have arthritis, but it contributes to the development of arthritis from a young age. The extra weight load on joints causes abnormal strain and creates an inflammatory environment4<\/sup>.<\/p>

Symptoms of arthritis<\/h4>

Most pets with arthritis won\u2019t show obvious signs of pain, like limping, unless they\u2019re suffering an acute flareup. Due to its chronic nature, signs can be a lot more subtle so it is important to pay close attention to any changes. They include:<\/p>