Lanier Animal Hospital - Sugar Hill, GA

Arthritis

Arthritis is chronic inflammation in joints which can lead to boney changes and loss of cartilage. Arthritis causes pain in joints, and can lead to inactivity, weight gain, and, in severe cases, inability to use one or more limbs.

Arthritis is most commonly seen in middle-aged and older medium and large-breed dogs. Dogs who are overweight are at higher risk than those who are lean. Cats can occasionally get arthritis as well.

The symptoms include weight gain and inactivity, reluctance to take long walks, climb stairs, get in the car, or jump on the couch, and lameness, especially after lying down for long periods of time. They DO NOT INCLUDE moaning, crying, wimpering or other vocalizations indicating pain.

If you suspect that your pet has arthritis, take him to the vet for a checkup. The vet should look for recent weight gain, swollen joints, crepitus (crunching sound) in the joints, joint pain, restricted range of motion in the joints, and lameness. Some dogs hide their lameness at the vet because they are nervous or excited. Diagnosis of arthritis is by x-ray.

The treatments for arthritis include weight loss (usually via calorie restriction), a gentle but regular exercise program, and joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitn, and MSM. Veterinary prescription NSAIDS (such as Rimadyl), and adequan injections are also often necessary. For many patients, all of the above treatments are indicated for maximum relief. Often, the use of joint supplements can reduce the need for prescription medication.

Patients who require long-term use of NSAIDS should be monitored for liver disease. WARNING: DO NOT USE OVER-THE-COUNTER HUMAN NSAIDS IN DOGS AND CATS! MANY OF THESE PRODUCTS CAN KILL YOUR DOG OR CAT, AND NONE OF THEM ARE AS SAFE AS THE PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS MEANT ESPECIALLY FOR PETS!

Your pet deserves to be pain-free in his old age. If you suspect arthritis, have him checked out by the vet and treated for this painful disease.

Caring for Your Senior Pet

As our pets age, their needs change and so do their risks for certain diseases. Older dogs and cats are at higher risk than their younger counterparts for diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, obesity, arthritis, dental disease, liver disease, and certain endocrine problems.

The average cat lives to be about 13 years old (ranging from 10 years to 20 years). The average dog lives to be about 12 years old (ranging from 7 years for very large breeds, such as Great Danes, to 15 years for very small breeds, such as Chihuahuas). Use the chart below to determine if your pet is considered to be a senior or geriatric.

Key:

white=middle-aged

grey=senior

dark grey=geriatric

Once you have determined your pet’s classification, it is important to determine what you should do to keep him as healthy as possible. The best medicine, as always, is prevention. Keeping your pet lean, feeding a high-quality pet food, regular visits to the veterinarian, periodic teeth cleanings at the veterinarian (performed under anesthesia), and regular exercise, all work together to keep your pet in the best possible health. Vaccination, heartworm prevention, and regular de-wormings, when indicated, are also very important.

SENIOR PETS should visit the veterinarian a minimum of once a year, and should have a blood screening profile (checking kidney, liver, electrolytes, and checking for anemia) at least once a year. Your vet may recommend a dental, and should perform this blood work at the same time to assess anesthetic risk. Any lumps or bumps on or under the skin should be removed and analyzed. Your vet may also recommend an ECG, or even x-rays of the chest and abdomen depending on exam findings.

Any abnormalities noted in the blood work should be pursued, even if your pet does not show any symptoms of disease. This is your chance to catch these problems early!

GERIATRIC PETS should visit the vet more frequently, usually about twice a year. They should be examined thoroughly, and should also have blood work run on them, although the blood work should be more comprehensive, including a CBC and thyroid testing. Their weight should be noted, and any change in weight (up or down) should be addressed. Arthritis medications are often prescribed in dogs (and occasionally in cats), and can make a tremendous difference in a geriatric pet’s comfort and activity level.

In addition to frequent vet checkups, blood work, teeth cleanings, and proper exercise and nutrition, you should pay closer attention to changes in your pet’s behavior and activity. Drinking more water than in the past, urinating more frequently, or suddenly having urination accidents in the house should be addressed by your veterinarian immediately. Weight loss is another important indicator of disease, and should be evaluated by your vet, whether your pet seems to be eating enough or not. Decreased activity and reluctance to go up stairs or jump up on the couch can indicate the pain of arthritis. Coughing, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhea can also be indicative of health problems in the aging pet.

The most common problem I see as a veterinarian is dental disease. People simply do not open their dog’s mouth, pull back the lips and look at the teeth (especially the ones in the very back of the mouth). Examine your pet for tartar, reddened gums (gingivitis), and bad breath. Dental disease can lead to tooth pain, tooth loss, heart disease, kidney disease and liver disease. Frequent teeth cleanings (under anesthesia, performed by the veterinarian) are a must for good geriatric health.

Lastly, owners tend to explain away changes they notice in their senior pets: “I just thought he was losing weight/laying around more/vomiting/not eating as much/etc. because he was getting old/it was hot/we just moved/we got a new puppy/he was mad at me/etc.” Usually, when owners notice a change with their pet’s behavior or habits, there is a medical reason, often one that needs to be addressed immediately. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to diagnose any changes you may have noticed with your aging pet: Call your vet!

Obesity

Americans are facing an epidemic of gigantic proportions, and so are their pets. Obesity is on the rise for dogs and cats, and may affect as many as 40% of our pets.

Just as in humans, obesity is dangerous for dogs and cats. It can lead to and aggravate conditions such as heart disease and arthritis. It can contribute to breathing problems, and can lead to diabetes. Being obese puts cats at risk for hepatic lipidosis, a deadly condition that can occur almost overnight, and is often not treatable.

How can you tell if your pet is overweight? First, look down on your pet as it stands on the floor: you should see a waistline just past the ribs, where the abdomen tucks in slightly. Secondly, push lightly on the ribs: you should be able to feel the ribs easily, by placing very little pressure on the skin. If you can’t feel the ribs without digging your fingers into your pet’s side, your pet is overweight!

If you believe that your pet needs to lose weight, here are some helpful tips to reach that goal:

CAT OWNERS: DO NOT PLACE YOUR CAT ON A DIET WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING WITH A VETERINARIAN! RAPID WEIGHT LOSS CAN LEAD TO LIVER FAILURE IN CATS!

DOG OWNERS: Start by measuring the amount of dog food your dog typically eats in 24 hours. Cut out all canned food in overweight pets: it is tastier and encourages some dogs to overeat! Next, reduce the total volume of dog food available to your pet by 30%. For instance, if your dog typically eats one cup of dog food a day, reduce it by 1/3rd cup, so the new total available to your dog is now 2/3rd cup/day. You may feed this daily total once a day, or divide it into two feedings.

Try to minimize table scraps and dog treats. If using these items, give very small pieces. Your dog will enjoy the treat, even if it is very small. It’s quality that counts with our pets, not quantity!

Try taking your dog for daily walks if you have time. Remember, overweight pets need to be worked up to longer periods of exercise. Don’t work your pet too hard at first!

After 2 weeks, weigh your dog. If he is losing weight, continue with the same amount of dog food, and continue to recheck his weight every 2 weeks. If his weight loss plateaus, reduce the total volume by an additional 25%. Continue to do this until your dog passes the rib test above. If you can feel his spine or hip bones, he has lost too much weight! If you are not sure if your pet has reached an ideal weight, check with your veterinarian.

If weight loss does not occur in a timely manner (1–2 months), have your veterinarian work up your pet for such diseases as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and osteoarthritis. These diseases are fairly simple to diagnose and treat, which can help tremendously with weight loss.

Dental Care

Did you know what the most commonly diagnosed disease is at annual veterinary checkups? It is dental disease, including gingivitis and in more severely affected pets, periodontitis.

Most people are alarmed when I tell them their pet has tartar on its teeth. They don’t understand why their pet has tartar when it eats hard, dry food every day. Many people think that dog bones and treats prevent tartar, or that pets simply don’t get tartar on their teeth. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Pets are just as susceptible to dental disease as we are, especially since most of them don’t brush their teeth twice a day!

Here’s how to tell if your pet has a problem:

Figure 1

Carefully lift up the gum and look at the outer surface of the teeth. Be sure to look all the way back by carefully retracting the gum backwards (towards the tail). Examine all the teeth, including the long canines up front (fangs), the incisors and the molars. Normal, healthy teeth are white, surrounded by pink gums (Figure 1). Tartar will appear as a creamy yellow to brown material on the surface of the tooth enamel, and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is apparent as a reddish coloration along the gum line (darker than the rest of the gums) (Figure 2). Periodontal disease is the next step, when the gums become swollen and start to pull away from the gum line (Figure 2).

Teeth may become loose and abscessed. A foul odor indicates excessive bacteria and infected gums.

Gingivitis and the periodontal disease that follow are very dangerous for your pet. They cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and can lead to liver disease, heart disease, and kidney disease. They cause bad breath, and eventually lead to pain in the mouth, caused by swollen gums, and loose, abscessed teeth. Your pet will continue to eat even though it has pain in its mouth because it has no choice, so eating well does not mean your pet does not have a problem! Your pet can’t talk to tell you what hurts, so you have to be his advocate and help him to feel his best!

Figure 2

If your pet has tartar, gingivitis, or periodontal disease, it’s time to get moving! Call your vet to make an appointment to have your pet’s teeth cleaned as soon as possible. The cleaning will be done under anesthesia since your pet will not sit still for the procedure. Don’t worry, your vet will run bloodwork and perform an exam first to evaluate your pet for anesthetic risk. In most cases, the risks associated with dental disease outweigh the risks associated with anesthesia. Anesthesia, when performed properly, is usually very safe for most pets, even old ones!. In the meantime, start brushing your pet’s teeth, and applying an oral rinse to the gum line. Ask your veterinarian to evaluate your pet for the need for antibiotics prior to the cleaning. Remember that your vet may need to extract teeth that are severely affected. Don’t worry, your pet will still be able to eat with fewer teeth. As a matter of fact, eating may be easier without loose, painful teeth and sore gums!

After the teeth are cleaned professionally, you need to start taking proactive measures immediately! Plaque will start to attach to the teeth within 24 hours, and will turn into tartar within days! Your vet should send you home with products to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Here are some products we recommend:

1. Tooth brush and pet toothpaste. Any product will do. It should be used at least twice a week, but twice a day is even better!

3. Eukanuba Adult Plus should be fed to your pet. Any pet food product that claims to help with tartar control will work.

4. Pro V Seal: a bi-weekly sealant, applied to the teeth after brushing them. This product acts like wax on a car: it makes the enamel smooth and less likely for plaque to attach. This dramatically slows the reformation of tartar and lengthens the amount of time until the next professional cleaning is needed. I can not say enough good things about this product!!! It is easy to use and makes a HUGE difference in how quickly tartar returns to the surface of the tooth!

5. Regular checkups with your veterinarian will help you to know when the next professional cleaning is required. Most pets need their teeth cleaned yearly, starting around 3 years old. There is a large variation here, so get your vet’s help in determining when to schedule the next dental.

Good luck, and happy brushing!