pet care & health
Ask a vet
Your most pressing pet questions answered by expert vet Dr Ingrid de Wet of Cottage Vet Clinic.
If you’ d like your pet questions answered, send them to editor @ petpals. co. za
Q:
What are the best ways to support a dog living with arthritis – including safe exercises, diet choices, and possible medications?
– Tarryn Northgate
The mainstay of ensuring your pet has a happy, mobile, and pain‐free life is medication. We are fortunate to have a wide variety of medications available to treat the pain associated with arthritis. It is essential that your dog is seen by a vet to evaluate which medications will work best for your dog and their specific needs.
Diet is another essential component in arthritis management. Firstly, it is important to ensure that your dog is not overweight. Work with your vet to evaluate your pet’ s weight and whether they need to go onto a weight management programme. If your pet is at an ideal weight, consider using a diet formulated to support their joints. The diet should include high levels of omega-3 fatty acids as well as chondroitin and glucosamine.
Modifying your pet’ s environment can also make a big difference to their ease of movement. Try to minimise staircases and areas where they need to jump. Consider building ramps to make getting around the home easier. Ensure that swimming pools are safe and that your dog has an accessible way of getting out. It is worth investing in an orthopaedic dog bed to support their joints while they rest. Exercise is essential to maintain muscle strength and support their joints. Consider swimming or hydrotherapy as options to build muscle strength without joint strain. Short, easy walks are also a great way to enrich their lives and get them moving. Physiotherapy can also be a game-changer in terms of strength and mobility.
Q:
My 18-month-old male cat has never mated, and although I have a female cat, she does not allow him to mate with her. The most problematic behaviour is that he constantly walks around the house, vocalising loudly and marking his territory
For dogs with arthritis:” Consider swimming or hydrotherapy as options to build muscle strength without joint strain.”
everywhere. Should I have him neutered, and / or my other cat spayed? And where can I get these procedures done affordably?
– Elna Peters
Neutering your male cat will almost certainly reduce the unwanted male behaviours,
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