Warning Signs of Arthritis in Pets

Mar. 5, 2012— -- Millions of Americans are living with the pain of osteoarthritis, and so are millions of pets.

According to veterinarians, it's one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in their field, and unlike their human counterparts, animals must suffer in silence.

Since pets can't express that they're in pain, vets say there are certain warning signs owners should watch out for, ranging from physical signals to behavioral changes.

And while the joint damage caused by osteoarthritis can't be reversed, the pain can be treated. But early diagnosis is critical.

Warning Signs of Arthritis

"Arthritis is easier to diagnose in dogs," said Duncan Lascelles, professor of surgery and pain management at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "We ask them to perform certain activities, like going for walks or jumping in the car to go for a ride. We go and do activities together, so if we're observant, we can see alterations in the animals' ability to perform them."

Dogs may not want to walk as far, or may appear to tire easily, he said. They may also hesitate before jumping or walking.

"Dogs may also be slow to rise on their back legs, or may limp, or they may bunny-hop instead of using their normal stride," said Marty Becker, a veterinarian in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and a columnist for Vetstreet.com.

Cats don't move around as much and are lower to the ground, but there are certain cues that they may be in pain.

"They may be less likely to jump on window ledges or onto furniture, or people may start moving furniture to help the cat and not realize the cat is actually in pain," said Lascelles.

Cats may also not use the litter box if it's too high and may stop grooming themselves, Becker said.

Arthritis isn't common only in dogs and cats. Rabbits and horses often suffer from the condition, and Lascelles explained that food-producing animals are known to suffer from it as well, but don't survive long enough to experience the disease's negative effects.

Pets in pain may also act differently than they normally do.

"People become irritable and short-tempered when they're in pain, and the same thing happens to pets," said Lascelles.

The pain may cause pets to snap, growl or exhibit other aggressive behavior, even toward their owners.

"Whole Range of Treatments"

"There's a whole range of treatments available now, from the mundane to the miraculous," Becker said.

The mundane treatments, he explained, include massage and joint supplements, such as glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids. There are no clinical studies that prove their effectiveness, however.

"There are also special joint diets that are clinically proven to work that shut off a gene and allows joint cartilage to repair itself," he added.

There are also pain medications for dogs, such as specially formulated non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which are treatment mainstays.

Aspirin, however, has been linked to gastric ulcers in dogs and is no longer recommended, Becker explained. Aspirin should also never be used for cats.

There are also complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and laser treatment -- although these are not scientifically proven to work -- as well as physical therapy.

A recent addition to the treatment repertoire is stem cell therapy.

"Stem cell therapy involves taking a pet's own adipose tissue from a ligament above the rib cage and rebuilding the joint, and so far, it's very promising," Becker said.

Lascelles added that it's also possible to perform total joint replacements, mostly of the hip, knee and elbow, in larger animals. In cats and small dogs, only the hip can be replaced.

"We can also create custom-built new joints for almost any size animal," he said.

There are also certain comfort measures people can take at home to ease their pet's pain.

"Heated orthopedic beds, stair or bed ramps and carpet runners can help alleviate the stress on the joints," Becker said.

And since one of the biggest problems contributing to arthritis pain is obesity, he added that people should make sure their pets maintain a healthy weight and stay active.

"Keeping a pet near its ideal body weight is the most important thing you can do to improve quality of life overall," Becker said.