JUNE / JULY
Senior Pets  

With winter upon us, more owners are starting to notice that their pets may be exhibiting any or all of the following signs:

• Reluctance to walk or play
• Limping
• Stiffness of joints in the morning or after a sleep
• Licking or biting of joints
• Difficulty in rising from a resting position
• Difficulty in climbing stairs
• Change in personality – less happy or playful, sometimes aggressive and irritable

One in five dogs and one in three cats suffer from the pain and disability caused by arthritis, with the majority of pets going undiagnosed and untreated due to pet owners innocent lack of understanding.

"Arthritis is a painful condition that develops gradually over time and just as humans suffer the pain of arthritis so, too, do our companion animals," says D Mark Kropp, "The key is to ensure owners and their pets are prepared to cope with the arrival of winter and a drop in temperature – when the signs of arthritis are exacerbated and the pain intensifies."

Older pets often become less active and slow down in their movement, but owners should not just assume that this is simply due to their pet getting old. Arthritis may be a contributing factor, so a visit to the vet for an arthritis check is a good idea.

Your veterinarian can take a comprehensive approach to managing the arthritis. A combination of weight loss, diet and exercise, plus some form of pain relief through medication is a typical approach.

Pet owners who think their pet may be suffering from arthritis are encouraged to see their vet. It is dangerous to give dogs medications prescribed for human arthritis, because dogs and humans react differently to many medications, and side effects can occur.

For June and July, Vetcall veterinary Practices are focusing on senior pets and problems like arthritis. They are offering:

• Free Weight Loss Programmes
• Discounted blood testing
• ......and some dogs may find they are eligible to participate in a free arthritis medication promotion!