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How Bad is it?

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Arthritis in Dogs

[/trx_title][trx_title type=”4″ align=”center” color=”#434544″ weight=”700″ bottom=”mini”]by Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH[/trx_title][vc_column_text]

Arthritis is one of the top reasons for euthanasia. Once a pet can no longer walk around, go outside to go to the bath room, or manage to sleep where they normally do families start to become concerned with quality of life. If caught early arthritis can be a manageable disease for a very long time. However, it is a process where most of the work is done at home. I can advise on medication, weight loss, supplements, acupuncture, etc. but I cannot be at you home making sure that the weight loss program is being followed and being sure that medication is being given. I get to see you pet maybe 1-2 times a year for about 15 minutes. Then I don’t get to see them again until they cannot walk. At this time what I am able to do is pretty limited. If we can work together and monitor pets closer at home we may be able to keep pets comfortable longer.

1. Owners must identify the signs of discomfort that their dog expresses. These are unique to that dog- signs may be subtle
2. Owners must understand that arthritis is a progressive and not curable disease
3. The best way to keep a dog pain free for as long as possible is to utilize several different treatment options together.

The internet is fully of bad advice, it is also full of really helpful support if you know where to look. If you have a dog with arthritis and are looking for a community of people to understand what you are going through check out Holly’s Army on Facebook. The group is moderated by veterinary professionals to prevent misinformation and offer advice. You will also find an entire community of people who understand the day to day struggles you may be experiencing.

If you are looking to become more educated about arthritis you can go to canine arthritis management website for paid courses that were developed by a veterinarian and geared toward owners for dogs with arthritis.

The two biggest pit falls I see when managing long-term pain and arthritis cases is obesity and slippery floors! Too much weight causes many health problems but it can really be harmful on painful joints. If you are not sure if your pets body weight is good or not review Purina’s body conditions score sheet. If your pet already has known orthopedic disease you will want to be a little lower than an ideal body condition score. If your pet has no known disease and you are monitoring to prevent your pet from being overweight you will aim for the ideal body condition score. For slippery floors there are many solutions, yoga mats, area rugs, or paw friction. Preventing falls is really important to prevent additional injuries in the house.

[/vc_column_text][/trx_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1533135180690{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1533134942241{background-color: #d9ae4c !important;}”][trx_title type=”2″ align=”left” color=”#f6f2e4″ left=”20″ right=”20″]About Dr. Eileen Savier[/trx_title][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533135315368{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Barks & Recreation is proud to feature Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH as our Veterinary Blogger in our “From the Vet” Series. Currently part of the team of doctors at Keystone Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Savier is a 2012 Graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, She completed her clinical experience at The Ohio State University and after veterinary school she pursued further education and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Fear Free veterinary visits. Dr. Savier has a special interest in integrative medicine, animal behavior, and internal medicine and is committed to improving animal health care by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies. She enjoys working with fearful & aggressive dogs and cats and she has had additional training in low stress handling techniques and encourages positive reinforcement during exams and procedures. Her clinical interests include pain management, animal behavior, geriatric patient care, and internal medicine. Dr. Savier is a member of the following associations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)
• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)
• American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (AATCVM)
• Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)

Dr. Savier shares her home with two (soon to be three) dogs, two cats, and a toddler. She lovingly refers to her two dogs as Coconut Retrievers as they were rescue dogs she brought home from the island of St. Kitts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and planning her next Disney vacation.

Join us every month for Dr. Savier’s “From the Vet” series to get more information related to the health and welfare of your furry family members![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]