Arthritis Services

Arthritis can affect pets both young and old. The most common type is osteoarthritis, which affects pets whose joints experience wear and tear from overuse, injury, aging or instability. Regardless of the cause of your furry family member’s arthritis, we will provide the best possible care to ease their pain and promote joint health. If you have concerns about your pet’s arthritis, please contact our team at 604-544-7387.

How likely is my pet to experience arthritis?

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is a chronic form of arthritis, impacting both dogs and cats. Canine friends older than one-year-old have some form of the disease, estimated at a rate of over 20%. X-rays from a study showed 90% of feline friends over 12 years-old had evidence of the joint disease. If your pet has an immune-mediated disease like Lupus or Lyme disease, they might also have inflammation in their joints.

What are the signs of osteoarthritis?

Pets who experience osteoarthritis might have certain risk factors that make them more susceptible, like their genetics, weight, age and improper nutrition. Our team can best diagnose your pet but signs you can look out for are:

• Excessive tiredness
• Stiffness
• Difficulty moving around
• Weight gain
• Flinching when being touched
• Unwillingness to play or engage in activities they love

How can you help treat my pet’s arthritis?

Our team works with you and your furry family member to create the best treatment plan for their individual needs. We try to direct arthritis treatment to addressing the underlying causes, if possible. Depending on the state of the impacted joints, we might recommend surgery to stabilize them. Pain medication like NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) specifically formulated for pets helps to ease pain, inflammation and stiffness.