Mobility Issues
Decreased mobility occurs in almost all of our pets by the age of 11. You may notice that your cat or dog hesitates to jump onto the couch or bed, or it takes a while to get from laying down. They may not want to play as long or as often as they used to. Your cat may start using the floor instead of his/her litter pan, and may not bury their waste. Your dog may have trouble getting into the car or using steps. Both of them may slip or trip more often.
Both orthopedic and neurologic conditions can cause these signs. It is important for us to determine which (or both) problems your pet has. We see osteoarthritis (OAlfairly commonly, and have multiple options for treatment, including joint supplements, fish oil products, anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics. We also partner with specialty practices that offer physical therapy, acupuncture, and cold laser treatments.
Other things you can do at home for pets with decreased mobility include:
Putting rubber-backed rugs and runners on all tiled and wooden floors for stability and traction.
Using ramps to climb short stairs cases and to get into and out of your vehicle.
Placing small steps or benches next to beds and couches (be sure to train pets to use them, especially on the way down).
Changing their sleeping place so that they can stay on one level. This may mean sleeping downstairs with them initially so that they don't try to climb the stairs in the dark.
Let us know if your pet is experiencing any signs that many indicate OA. After we determine that this is, in fact, the problem, we can recommend ways to male your pet more comfortable and functional, which makes all of us very happy!
Spinal or nerve problems can also be treated. Our goal is to slow down the progression of these conditions by strengthening your pet's existing muscles with exercise, decreasing the load on their compensated joints by normalizing their body weight, and use of appropriate medications.