There are two ways in which a pet might become affected by arthritis; developmental or acquired.

However your pet becomes arthritic, it is NOT an owners fault.  The purpose of sharing information is to support owners so as to minimise the progression of disease in their pet. It’s also to help manage the pain of arthritis so that the pet lives a full and active life.

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Developmental means that your pet is genetically predisposed to have abnormally formed joints.  This only becomes apparent as your pet grows.  Certain breeds are more likely to suffer, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers.  Because the joints don’t move smoothly or freely, they become damaged.  This causes inflammation which eventually results in arthritis.

This type of disease will happen no matter what anyone does to try and avoid it.  However, how severely your pet is affected can be influenced in early life.  Owners can ensure that their pet maintains a healthy weight or gets the right amount of exercise (not too much but not too little).  The type of floors your home has can also help; laminate or slippy flooring or homes with lots of stairs can all contribute to more severe clinical signs.

Acquired means that your pet wasn’t born with an increased likelihood of developing the disease.  It could have been caused by experiencing a traumatic injury to the joint or getting an infection in the joint.  Find out more about the causes of arthritis 

The causes of arthritis are often outside of the control of an owner.  What is in their control is the action they take when they suspect their pet might be affected.

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If you feel your pet might be showing the signs of arthritis, call the team on 01772 639800 OR 01253 766352 or open a chat on PetsApp to book an appointment with a vet.

 

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