November is Senior Wellness Month and just like in humans, our animals face more challenges as they age. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common ailments elderly humans complain about…our dogs and to a lesser degree, cats, also experience this problem. Blaze is no exception. She is a Chow Chow Golden Retriever mix and is approximately 12-13 years old. Blaze was found as a stray and has been very healthy her whole life. She has had annual physical exams, yearly blood work and has been kept up-to-date on vaccines. Over the past few years, she has had progressive problems with arthritis.

Blaze
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Osteoarthritis can affect any and all joints in the body. Hip dysplasia is a form of arthritis that affects only the hips. The effects of these can be mild to severe. Larger breed dogs tend to be more affected by hip dysplasia than the smaller breeds. Unfortunately Blaze suffers from both osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. Her dysplasia is severe as both hips are majorly affected. In addition, she has osteoarthritis in most of her joints. Still, her pain is very well controlled and she enjoys a good quality of life.

There are multiple modalities available for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Often times a combination of these are the most effective way to treat the pain that is associated with this potentially debilitating disease. Joint Supplements such as Dasuquin help to cushion the joints and can help to slow down the progression of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Deramaxx help to decrease the pain and inflammation that are present in this disease. Adequan, which is an injectible polysulfated glucosaminoglycan works on the cartilage and can markedly improve the quality of life in our pets. In addition, there are also prescription diets such as Hills J/D which contain high levels of glucosamine and essential fatty acids.

Blaze's Hips
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Normal dog's hips
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In the early stages of osteoarthritis signs can include difficulty in getting up, lying down, trouble with stairs or limping after exercise. As the disease progresses, the difficulties in getting around worsen. In the early stages, starting on a prescription food such as J/D and using Dasuquin may be all that is necessary to maintain good quality. As the disease progresses, Deramaxx and Adequan can be added into the treatment plan. And, even when these are no longer enough, narcotics can be used for pain control.

Because Blaze’s disease is severe, her treatment plan includes all of these. She is fed the Hills J/D, receives dasuquin daily, adequan monthly and deramaxx as necessary. She continues to enjoy an active life.

If your pet is suffering from osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia, talk to one of the veterinarians at Southpointe about the medications that can help your pet to live a longer and healthier life.