Although many of us humans have arthritis and all the chronic pain and trauma that goes with it, it can equally affect our pets. Just like us, as pets age, they get slower, sleep more and they could be a victim to this insidious disease. Older cats are prone to it. The larger the dog breed, the more likely they are to get it, but it can affect smaller breeds too.
First of all, how do you know if your beloved pet is suffering from arthritis? If you know your pet well, and of course you do, you will notice that something is out of balance. Then you observe him or her well. The signs could be that getting up or settling down seems to be causing problems, excessive sleep (mind you cats, for example, sleep away most of the day as it is). Also favoring one limb over another could be a sign. Being less alert as though their attention is on something internal.The next step would be to visit your veterinarian. He or she will check out the animal and look for obvious signs. Just like us, pets can receive NSAIDs which are non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Just like us, they can have problems with certain drugs, so if your pet is on NSAIDs, check carefully that they are doing him more good than harm. Your veterinarian will let you know what to look for.
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