Many owners are unaware their dog (or cat) even has arthritis, often changes in their behaviour are put down to being 'just old age'. Old age is NOT a disease but diseases seen in old age are often the cause of the changes we see as owners.
2/
Have you thought about WHY your older dog may not be able to walk as far nowadays?
Or WHY he no longer cocks his leg to urinate?
Or WHY she has started to poo in her bed when you're not around?
3/
ALL these behavioural changes could be due to the chronic pain that arthritis causes.
An arthritic dog not walking as far is because over exercising makes arthritic joints hurt. We would never expect our granny to walk as far as we expect our old dogs to!
4/
Older male dogs often stop cocking their legs when urinating because of painful joints. Painful hips hurt when stretching to cock a leg. Shifting the weight & therefore causing more pain to the joints of the 3 arthrtic limbs that remain grounded.
5/
Older dogs often defecate in their beds or where their sleeping/resting as it can be too painful to hoist themselves up, walk through the house to you then to the door, over a threshold and down the steps (optional) into the garden just to pee or poo.
6/
I STRONGLY advocate a senior wellness check for any older dog but ESPECIALLY if you have noticed ANY change in behaviour, no matter how small. Vets are trained to fully assess your elderly pets for any health concerns
7/
We understand many owners are worried when bringing their elderly pet in to see us, it's not always bad news guys! 🙂. Many times we can make elderly pets daily lives better.
8/
We would never deny our elderly relatives access to healthcare, pain relief or support from the wonderful NHS, so why see our OADs (Old Age Dogs) any differently?
True, there is no free NHS for pets but that should NEVER prevent them getting the healthcare they need & deserve
9/
We have EXCELLENT & SAFE pain relief medicines, lifestyle advice and other supporting treatments to help your elderly pet continue to enjoy their twilight years just as comfortably as they have the rest of their lives with your family
10/
Often after a trial period of easy to dose pain medication, I have excited owners come back to me saying how their dog seems like a puppy again, so much happier & more energetic, & they had no idea they were struggling.
Get them a senior health check, they deserve it ❀
11/11
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