If your pet is suffering from arthritis, you may be wondering what the best type of treatment is. Traditional treatments include corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (also known as NSAIDS). But how do you know which one is best?
The best possible therapy choice would be:
- Cost-effective
- Easy for you to administer to your pet
- Safe for your pet
- One with few side effects in the short or long-term
- One that helps relieve inflammation and pain
- One that helps the afflicted joint heal itself
If you and your veterinarian can find a treatment that meets as many of the above conditions as possible, that treatment will be most beneficial for you and your pet. Some treatments focus only on relieving the effects of the arthritis — the pain and inflammation — without doing anything to encourage healing. So even though your pet may feel better without the pain and swelling, the arthritis can actually get worse. Some corticosteroids can lead to weight gain over the long term; excess weight will put more stress on the afflicted joints.
Most arthritis treatments focus on relieving inflammation — the damage to tissues in the affected joint. Your pet may experience redness, swelling, pain and tenderness, and a loss of function. Corticosteroids and NSAIDS are commonly used for treating arthritis in pets, but do not help the joints heal. In the short term, these drugs can help control pain in pets with arthritis. Long-term steroid use can actually affect the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to heal wounds and increasing the chance of infection.
Treatments like acupuncture and magnet therapy can help manage arthritis pain without the side effects seen with medical therapies. A dietary supplement like glucosamine and chondroitin will help your pet’s body restore the cartilage that has been damaged or worn away due to arthritis. You can also adjust your home environment to help relieve your pet’s pain and discomfort. Keep your pet warm, and give them a soft surface to sleep on. Give them a healthy diet and gentle exercise to help manage weight.