Osteoarthritis is inflammation of the bones and joints. There are very few older dogs that do not suffer from degenerative joint disease, which becomes inflamed. Dogs are now living longer, healthier lives, and are often very active even in their later years. This means wear and tear on all joints and progressive pain and discomfort. As they get older they find it more difficult to stand up, become slower on walks, and they may limp. Some animals will ‘warm out of it’ in warmer weather, but others remain lame. Often owners mistake osteoarthritis for general old age changes and do not realise the pain their animal is in. In a small number of cases younger dogs can acquire osteoarthritis. This may be due to injury or a congenital problem. What can you do? Unfortunately there is no cure for osteoarthritis. However there is plenty you can do to reduce pain and inflammatory load on the joints. Early Arthritis For pets with early arthritis or those that may be pre-disposed to arthritis we recommend biannual vet checks to keep on top of their arthritis needs and the following management: Weight managementObesity is a common problem associated with arthritic dogs and only leads to further stresses on the joints. Keeping your dog slim and monitoring its diet will ease the pressure on joints and thus the associated pain. If you need help with weight management for your dog please let our staff know. Our vets will also give you an indication of your pet’s body condition. NutriceuticalsThese are components of food that have a pharmaceutical effect. That is, they are additives to the animal’s diet that may aid in reducing inflammation in the joints. It’s important to note these products take weeks to build up in the body and results are generally mild. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are products that are available for human and animal use. As of yet there is no solid evidence that they benefit arthritic patients and the industry is very poorly regulated with supplements on