Inflammation of the joints, also known as degenerative joint disease, or arthritis, is not a condition that only happens to humans. Our beloved pets can also develop pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. Simply put, when the cartilage that cushions the joints becomes damaged, it causes the bones to start rubbing together, which creates chronic pain and inflammation.

When this happens in animals, you want to take care of your loved pets and may need to bring them to urgent care or emergency pet care.

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Signs of Arthritis In Pets

There are a few signs and symptoms that you may notice if your pet is suffering from arthritis, but not all may be very obvious.

One of the more obvious signs would be a limping pet. Perhaps your dog or cat is favoring one leg over another, or walking slower, jumping less, and being overall less mobile or have limited mobility. A cat may be more prone to accidents since it may have difficulty climbing jumping into its litter box. Any of these signs may be an alert that they need urgent care for possible arthritis.

Some less obvious symptoms of arthritis in pets could be tiredness, irritability, abnormal grooming, or muscle atrophy. There is a reason behind changes in mood or traits that you know your pet does not usually have, so pay attention to these.

Is My Pet Prone to Arthritis?

Some animals and specific breeds of dogs or cats are more prone to arthritis than others.

Large dog breeds, such as German Shepards or Great Danes, are more prone to arthritis than a smaller breed because of the excess weight on their joints. One way to help them is to ensure that you feed them the correct large breed puppy food that’ll help their joints develop correctly at an appropriate age.

While it is hard to tell if certain breeds of cats are more prone to degenerative joint disease than others, it has been found that 90% of cats over 12 years of age have evidence of arthritis, which is mostly due to age.

How Veterinarians and Emergency Pet Care Can Help Arthritic Pets

Although arthritis is not a treatable condition, veterinarians can help ease the pain and suffering caused by arthritis.

Your local Largo FL urgent care vet can perform a physical examination, perhaps with X-rays, to determine if your pet has arthritis. If your pet is found to be suffering from this joint disease, the veterinarian will find a treatment that works best for your specific animal. This may include an exercise regimen, a specific diet, and pharmaceuticals.

Additional treatments like acupuncture and low-level laser therapy may also be administered.

Help Your Arthritic Pets With Largo, FL Veterinarians

If you believe that your pet is suffering from arthritis, the friendly veterinarians at Midway Animal Hospital in Largo FL are here to help end their pain. Call us at (727) 391-9928 to schedule an appointment.