What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. In a healthy joint, the bone surfaces are covered in smooth layers of cartilage which are lubricated by joint fluid. This allows the two surfaces to glide freely over one another with minimal friction. In a joint affected by arthritis, the cartilage is damaged, so the bone surfaces rub together resulting in increased friction. The friction causes new bone to start to form around the joint and this makes the joint stiffer, limits movement and results in pain.

Causes of Arthritis

Arthritis is most commonly seen in older animals due to general wear and tear but can also be caused by joint instability e.g. ligament damage, abnormal cartilage development or damage caused by trauma e.g. fractures. These issues can affect any animal of any age.

Signs of Arthritis

•   Pain (although some animals hide pain well)

•   Stiffness and reluctance to rise

•   Licking joints or areas close to the joint

•   Reluctance to groom (especially cats)

•   Overgrown claws on cats

•   Changes in behaviour – reduced interaction or tolerance, aggression and general grumpiness

•   Refusal to use a litter tray (when previously happy to do so)

How do we diagnose Arthritis?

If you think your pet may be displaying any of the signs listed above, a consultation with the Vet or Vet Nurse is the first step. A physical examination will be performed to determine which joints, if any, are causing a problem. If the Vet feels further investigation is required, they may recommend that x-rays of the suspect joints are taken under sedation. Occasionally if the Vet is concerned infection may be involved, a small amount of fluid can be extracted from the joint with a needle and sent to the laboratory for analysis. This is known as a joint tap.

How is Arthritis treated?

There are now a variety of options available for the treatment and management of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic painful condition and therefore the first line treatment is anti-inflammatory pain killers in the form of oral medication.

If your pet is prescribed pain killers, do not be alarmed if they do not have an immediate effect. Chronic pain causes the pain receptors to become hypersensitive which means the nerves send pain messages to the brain even when there is little or no stimulus. It takes a long time to desensitise the nerve endings and it can take many weeks before the benefits of pain relief can be seen.

Once the pain is under control, it is important to keep it that way. Giving regular doses of medication is much more effective than only giving it sporadically when pain is noticed. Quite often the maintenance dose can be reduced under the guidance of the Vet. It is important to understand that any current arthritis medications available do not act as a cure for the condition, but rather provide anti-inflammatory and pain relief benefits, in order to reduce discomfort and slow progression of the disease.

Medications can be provided in various forms, and these can be discussed with the Nursing team, in order to provide an understanding of the options available, before consultation with a Vet. Some of the options available are daily tablets or liquid/syrup medications to alleviate discomfort. Alternatives to daily medicating are monthly injections in the form of monoclonal antibody therapy, which work like the body’s natural immune system to target and neutralise a protein that stimulates pain in patients with arthritis.

What can you do at home?

Living a long and happy life is all about quality of life. It is important that your pet is still able to do the things they love, even if it is in a reduced capacity. Both dogs and cats with arthritis will have reduced mobility which will impact their lives, whether it is being unable to walk for long distances, struggling with steps and stairs or being unable to jump. They may have difficulty reaching low level feeding bowls, grooming themselves or getting in and out of a litter tray.

You can try some of the following simple adjustments to make your pets life easier and more fulfilling.

•   Shorter, more frequent walks. Try to avoid difficult terrain but vary the walks to maintain interest. Little and often is much better than one long walk.

•   Warm up before a walk. Consider using a hot beanie or water bottle on stiff joints before a walk and invest in a thermal coat for cold weather.

•   New toys and mind games. When it is too much to go for a walk introduce a new toy or play some mind games to stimulate them.

•   Comfy bedding. Make sure your pet has a well- padded, warm, draught free bed to sleep in. There are many orthopaedic mattresses available now which will help.

•   Provide steps/ramps. Cats often like to sit and sleep up high. Strategically positioned furniture or boxes will help them to get to their special place without jumping. For dogs, consider investing in a ramp for getting into the car.         

•   Provide a litter tray with low sides.

•   Groom your pet regularly. Cats struggle to groom as they become more arthritic and painful. Matted fur can be very uncomfortable so a regular brushing session will help to keep them comfy.

•   Provide raised food and water bowls. It hurts to bend all the way to the ground. Raised bowls will make your pets life easier and allow them to eat better.