Arthritis, often called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, can cause persistent joint pain and reduced mobility. It is common in older dogs and cats, although it can occur at other ages. It cannot be reversed, but an individual plan can improve comfort, movement and quality of life. This article focuses on dogs and cats; other species need individual veterinary advice.
Signs worth noticing
In dogs, arthritis may appear as stiffness after rest, reluctance to exercise, difficulty rising, lameness, reduced jumping or loss of muscle. In cats, changes are often subtler: reduced jumping or play, stiffness, less grooming, sleeping more, withdrawal, grumpiness or toileting changes. Cats rarely show an obvious limp.
These signs do not prove arthritis. A new, persistent or worsening change in mobility or behaviour deserves veterinary assessment, as injuries and other conditions can look similar.
How arthritis is assessed
Your veterinarian will ask what you have noticed at home and examine your pet for findings such as joint pain, reduced range of motion or muscle loss. X-rays can help confirm degenerative joint disease and rule out other causes; in cats, X-ray changes do not always match how uncomfortable the cat is. The tests needed depend on the individual pet. If imaging is appropriate, digital X-ray is available at Vets of Geelong’s Highton, Geelong West, Lara and East Geelong clinics.
Weight, activity and home comfort
Excess weight can worsen pain and accelerate joint damage, so aiming for a lean body condition is an important part of care. Your veterinarian can advise whether a weight-management or joint-support diet suits your pet.
For dogs, short, frequent on-lead walks are generally kinder on sore joints than high-impact ball chasing, jumping or rough play. If lameness worsens after activity, reduce the intensity or duration and seek advice. Hydrotherapy or other rehabilitation may help some dogs, but should be chosen with your veterinary team rather than started as a demanding home programme.
Small household changes can make a meaningful difference. For dogs, consider soft, warm padded bedding, non-slip mats, ramps for the car or furniture where suitable, and easy access to food and water. For cats, provide warm accessible resting places, steps or ramps to favourite perches, a low-sided litter tray, non-slip surfaces and easily reached food and water.
Treatment is tailored to the pet
Arthritis management is usually multimodal: weight support, sensible activity, environmental changes and clinician-led pain relief may be combined and adjusted over time. Some medicines require kidney and liver monitoring, so follow the plan agreed for your pet. Never give human pain medicine or medicine prescribed for another animal.
For appropriate dogs, Beransa is one clinician-led option for osteoarthritis pain. For appropriate cats, Solensia is one clinician-led option. These are not right for every patient; the veterinarian will consider the diagnosis, species, health, concurrent medicines and response to treatment. Antinol may also be discussed as a possible supplement within an individualised plan, without replacing assessment, pain management, weight support or monitoring. Supplements or joint diets should not replace an individual pain-management plan.
Reviews and when to contact us
For dogs with arthritis, re-examination every 3–6 months may be recommended to assess comfort, weight and mobility. For cats, rechecks every 6 months may be recommended for pain control and weight, with renal function considered if the cat is receiving an NSAID. Contact us sooner if comfort or mobility worsens, side effects are suspected or the current plan is not working.
Book an appointment for persistent stiffness, a new limp, reluctance to jump or a lasting change in activity or behaviour. Contact the clinic promptly if a pet suddenly will not bear weight, cannot get up, appears severely painful, or has a hot or swollen joint. These signs need assessment rather than an assumption that they are routine arthritis.
If your pet is moving differently, contact Vets of Geelong or call 03 5243 0077 to arrange an assessment.