Is Your Pet in Pain?
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Posted on September 10, 2024 in News
For pet owners, identifying signs of osteoarthritis can be challenging. While both dogs and cats can exhibit similar symptoms like limping, difficulty jumping, and stiffness, there are some key differences:
- Dogs: They might show reduced activity levels, lag behind on walks, and struggle with stairs.
- Cats: They often hide their pain and discomfort, making it harder to detect. Watch for subtle changes like difficulty climbing, less interest in chasing moving objects, litter box avoidance due to entry difficulties, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.
Osteoarthritis affects approximately 20% of dogs over 1 year of age and 60% of cats six years or older.
Here are some signs to pay attention to when trying to assess your pet’s pain level:
- Decreased activity -Take notice if your pet is playing as much as usual.
- Not going up or down stairs – This could be an early sign of osteoarthritis.
- Reluctance to jump up onto surfaces – This especially applies to cats.
- Decreased appetite – This can signal mouth pain.
- Over grooming or licking a particular area can be a sign of referred pain.
- Difficulty standing after lying down is a sign of osteoarthritis.
If you notice any of these signs, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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