Image: Reifous via Pixabay.com, 2022
Arthritis is a common condition affecting our middle aged to senior pets. Excessive weight in our pets can greatly contribute to an abnormal load on their joints. This increases the instability of their joints. In arthritis, there is increased friction on the cartilage of two bones and eventually this cartilage wears away, resulting in bone rubbing on bone. This is a painful condition.
Sometimes the signs of arthritis are obvious, such as limping, and other times it is more subtle. The signs could simply be your pet is ‘slowing down’, or in cats they can start to toilet outside the litter box as it is difficult for them to climb in.
Tackling obesity is vital in the management of osteoarthritis. It involves finding a balance of input and output. We need to assess what we are feeding our pets on a daily basis, and this includes how many treats they get as well as assessing their exercise regime.
Here at Coquet Vets, we run free weight clinics with our nurses where they will discuss your pet’s energy requirements with you and help to generate a personal plan for your pet. The sooner we tackle obesity in our pets the sooner your pet will start to reap the rewards.
If this article has raised any concerns about your pet, or you want to find out more about our free weight clinics, please contact us on 01665 252 250.
