What is good for arthritis in older dogs?

Answer 1

Good treatments will vary depending upon the type of arthritis, the severity and the joints it is in.

Mild to moderate Arthritis can be treated with access to heat (such as laying out a small heating pad on low heat), and cats may self-treat this way by laying in patches of sunlight. You can also try cat-approved supplements (check with your veterinarian for brand and dose) such as glucosamine, chondrotin, Vitamin E, etc. Please be aware that these supplements have no scientific evidence for being anything but probably non-toxic to your cat - there is no study supporting them as a treatment for arthritis or anything else. Finally, if your cat is overweight (talk to your veterinarian about how to tell), getting your cat's weight down to normal can do a lot to relieve arthritis pain. DO NOT START YOUR CAT ON A DIET WITHOUT VETERINARY SUPERVISION. Cats are very sensitive to sudden changes in food and calorie availability and trying to cut back too fast may throw your cat into acute liver failure and possibly kill it.

Moderate to severe arthritis may need supplemental medication for chronic pain; there are several medications available from your veterinarian for this. DO NOT USE HUMAN PAIN MEDICATIONS - THESE CAN KILL YOUR CAT.

Severe arthritis of important joints (hip, shoulder, elbow, knee) may require surgical intervention.

Answer 2

Nothing at home - human medications for pain are extremely toxic to cats and even a partial pill can be enough to cause fatal stomach ulcers.

If your cat has arthritis, the best option is to take your cat to a veterinarian for an examination and a prescription for a safe pain medication. There are several available now, including one that is a liquid, but it takes a veterinary prescription to get it. Also, talking with your veterinarian about weight loss if your cat is overweight (ask your veterinarian - cats are not supposed to be round but many owners don't know how to tell if their cat is the proper weight).

Answer 3

There is no single best food for an arthritic cat - any food with the AAFCO seal on the label is fine. However, if the cat is overweight (no upward tuck at the flank from the side, abdomen wider than the rib cage, no "waist" or tuck inward past the rib cage), reducing the cat's weight will help manage the pain and progression of arthritis. Reducing a cat's weight is not easy and needs to be done under the careful observation of a veterinarian.

Answer 4

First, the dog should be brought back to a healthy weight if he/she is overweight - the more pounds the dog is carrying, the worse the joint pain from arthritis. Your veterinarian can help you determine what your dog's ideal body weight is and help you figure out a plan to get him/her down to that amount.

Second, moderate exercise is helpful because it keeps the joints moving and encourages the body to make synovial fluid, the lubrication between the cartilage-capped bone ends. If your dog has a hard time walking, he/she may enjoy swimming as a way to keep active without the impact of his/her body weight on the joints.

Third, providing a soft, warm place to sleep can help a great deal - just like in humans, a dog's arthritic joints tend to stiffen up overnight and this is made worse by sleeping on hard cold surfaces. In the winter or after exposure to penetrating cold like a hard rain or bitterly frosty morning, providing your dog with a warmed blanket (such as from tossing one into the dryer for 5-10 minutes) can be a great source of relief.

Fourth, talk with your veterinarian about daily pain medication. There are several good ones available on the market, and the price has come down considerably since the first one came off patent in the last year or so. However, you need a veterinary prescription to get these. Do NOT, under any circumstances, give your dog human pain medication (Tylenol, Paracetamol, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, aspirin, ibuprofen, acetominophen, etc.) - these medications are dangerous to dogs and can cause fatal stomach ulcers pretty quickly.