Arthritic joint pain can affect dogs and cats, and while it is more common in older pets, arthritis can also affect younger pets. Arthritis is a degenerative condition which causes inflammation and pain in the joints. This can lead to mobility issues for your pets.
What are some of the signs of joint pain in your pet? Here are 5 signs that your pet could be suffering from an arthritic condition. If you notice some of these changes or are concerned that your pet may have arthritic joint pain, then it is advisable to visit your local vet for a full diagnosis.
5 Signs of Arthritic Joint Pain in Pets
1. Limping
Limping is one of the first signs that can alert you that your pet is suffering from arthritic pain in the joints. This happens because one of the leg joints becomes inflamed and causes pain. You could also notice that the limp is worse just when your pet stands up and then becomes less noticeable as he/she walks more.
2. Limited Movement
You could also notice changes in how your pet generally moves around. For example, did you dog used to run up and down the stairs but not just takes his time? Or, was your cat always jumping onto surfaces, but no longer seems interested in what is on the table? It could be that your cat or dog is suffering from arthritis pain.
Arthritic pain can also affect how much your pets want to play. It may be too painful to jump up or roll over. Arthritis pain in pets can also cause constipation because it is more difficult to squat.
3. Change in Behavior
Has your pet started to act seemingly more aggressively towards you and the family members? This may not be aggression but a symptom of arthritis pain affecting the joints.
You could also notice that your pet has become more lethargic and looks grumpy. Cats can also stop grooming themselves.
4. Tiredness
Having to cope with inflammation and pain on a daily basis can be tiresome for humans as well as our pets. So, have you noticed that you dog tires more easily during his/her walks? Is your cat sleeping more? If you have noticed some of those changes along with other signs, then it could indicate the presence of joint pain caused by arthritis.
5. Weakened Muscles
Because joint pain can affect your pet’s mobility, this can lead to weakened muscles and even the muscle tissue dying off. You will notice this if your pets legs are getting thinner.
The Outlook for Pets with Arthritic Joint Pain
Your local vet will be able to carry out a full examination of your pet to discover if your pet has arthritis or another condition. For example, some of the symptoms mentioned here could be canine hip dysplasia. If the vet confirms arthritis as the cause of joint pain, there are a number of medications that can be prescribed to reduce inflammation and help manage the pain.
There are also natural supplements that can help to prevent the onset of arthritis in younger pets.