For owners of senior pets, Naperville Animal Hospital provides a targeted wellness program designed to identify and treat common conditions of aging. Twice-annual wellness exams allow the veterinarians at Naperville Animal Hospital to screen for arthritis and other disorders related to the joints. Many senior dogs experience arthritis, a condition that involves inflammation or degeneration of the joints. It may be difficult to identify in its earliest stages, as dogs have evolved to hide their pain and thus only show signs when they are in the end stages of degeneration. If a dog is limping, avoiding movement, or yelping in pain, its arthritis may be extremely advanced. Dogs with earlier-stage arthritis are more likely to show their struggle through behavioral changes, such as lower levels of alertness and an increase in time spent asleep. The dog may start to gain weight as its activity decreases, even though it may become less interested in eating. Discomfort may also cause the dog to become more irritable or to fall into a depression. Even if the dog is able to hide its pain, the owner may still notice that its stance has changed. This often occurs when the dog shifts its weight to take the load off of the painful joint. Owners may also see that joints have changed shape slightly or are warm to the touch, due to inflammation. Any of these signs should prompt a visit to the veterinarian, as there are a number of medications available to help treat canine arthritis. A veterinarian can also advise the owner on massage therapy and other alternative medication, while also providing support in altering the dog's environment so that moving around causes less discomfort
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AuthorAt Naperville Animal Hospital, located in Naperville, Illinois, a team of qualified, veterinary professionals work hard to ensure that pet owners have a trustworthy and reliable resource for all of their pet care needs. Archives
February 2019
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