Ledbury Focus November 2019 Ledbury Focus November 2019 v3 | Page 56

Vet Talk with Martin Leith BVetMed MRCVS Arthritis in Cats & Dogs H e’s not like he used to be; she just sleeps all day … Does this sound familiar? 80% of dogs over 8 and cats over 14 are affected by arthritis, and without management this can lead to animals becoming increasingly immobile due to a combination of mechanical difficulties and pain. Recently a group of our vets and nurses went to a talk by Hannah Capon, a vet who has focused her career on improving comfort in older animals, through direct treatment, educating veterinary teams and providing resources to owners. The hub for this is www. caninearthritis.co.uk and on it can be found a range of resources. I think the guides to making your home more arthritis friendly are particularly helpful. t
Weight control: overweight pets tend to struggle far more with stiffness and arthritis than slender ones; this is because the extra weight puts more strain on the joints. t
Non-slip flooring: Dogs can really struggle on laminate or tiles and putting runners or rugs down can reduce strain from slipping. Keeping nails short can also help with this. Now, from dogs to ducks. This month Sergiu and Freya saw a duck with an unusual affliction, having eaten a rope! Syd the t
Exercise regimes: this can also make a difference. Most stiff dogs will benefit from two or three shorter walks every day rather than one long walk. Some dogs can also benefit from hydrotherapy and physiotherapy. t
Supportive medication: there are various medications that can help your pet feel more comfortable. These include oral medication that you can administer at home or injections that are given directly in to the joint (these are done under general anaesthetic). t
Comfortable bedding: many animals benefit from having thicker, non-slip bedding as this will provide much needed padding to achy, painful joints. If you are at all concerned about your pet's mobility, or would just like some advice, please contact the surgery. 24 hour Emergency Cover 01531 632276 56 To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected]