Joint Health, Arthritis and Mobility

One of the most widely asked about conditions involve joint care and various forms of arthiritis that affect all animals to some degree. Your pet's activity level will dictate when to start daily joint care prophylactically vs. the addition of supplements for active forms of arthritis to help with mobility issues.

Nutrition

Making sure that your pet is not carrying too much weight can be critical when dealing with any type of joint issues. Your first line of defence is making sure they have a good Body Condition Score so that their joints are not taking a beating when it comes to supporting their own weight. 

Pain medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally used as the first line of defense against the pain of OA. Common drugs in this category are meloxicam (Metacam® and other trade names), carprofen, deracoxib (Deramaxx®), grapiprant, robenacoxib (Onsior®), and firocoxib. Your veterinarian will determine if your dog is a good candidate for this class of medication.

Rarely, a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drug will be prescribed instead of an NSAID. The two classes of medication CAN NOT be used together. Never reach into your own medicine cabinet when your dog limps or has been diagnosed with OA.

Nutraceuticals
A nutritional supplement with medicinal effects is called a “nutraceutical.”  There are many of these products on the market, many labeled for use with joint disease. Some commonly used products include glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans.

At The Big Bad Woof we have a large selection of joint supplements and are always ready to help choose the right supplement for your dog or cat, no matter their age. One of our favorites is Annamaet's Endure, which we have successfully used in place of NSAID's over the years.

Physical medicine
Medical acupuncture can provide excellent pain relief for many dogs with OA. Likewise, other physical medicine disciplines like chiropractic and medical massage may be helpful.

Physical rehabilitation is a discipline that translates physical therapy techniques from human medicine for application to animal patients. These techniques include (but are not limited to) therapeutic laser, therapeutic exercise, joint mobilization, and hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill. Your veterinarian can refer you to a rehabilitation specialist.

Surgery
For the most extreme of cases, some surgical procedures can alleviate the pain associated with OA. Total hip replacements and femoral head/neck ostectomy (FHO) can be done with good results, as well as some joint arthrodesis (fusion) procedures. In very few select patients, elbow or knee replacements may be considered.

LIBRELA – A unique new treatment for arthritis in dogs!

There is a new very specialised monoclonal antibody given as a monthly injection called LIBRELA – this targets the pain receptors in the nerve itself-nerve growth factor NGF. This product is giving amazing results, is ultra-safe and can be given on its own or in combination with other modalities. Please talk to your veterinarian about this new treatment which is only available through your vet practice.