Owners are a very important part of the diagnosis and management of arthritis in their pet.  They know their pets and are often the first to see that something isn’t quite right.  They may notice that their pet is slowing down or “getting old”.

In our previous post we detailed some of the signs your pet might display if they have arthritis.  When you bring your pet to the vet, the vet will give your pet a full physical examination and ask you lots of questions.  If arthritis is suspected the vet will offer treatment recommendations based on their findings.

As part of the process, the vet may offer an owner a blood test.   Older pets are more prone to chronic conditions that can cause some of the same symptoms of arthritis.  A blood test will rule out these possibilities to ensure an accurate diagnosis.  The blood test will also highlight how your pet might respond to pain relief medication if they require it.  For example, a dog with liver disease may not process the medication as well as a dog without liver disease.

A urine test may also be offered for the same reasons.  A urine test will highlight any kidney disease that may affect how your pet might tolerate medication.  Regular monitoring of both your pet’s blood and urine will also help to show how your pet’s organs are coping with the long term use of pain medication. 

Find out more about how arthritis is managed.

Read about our Pain Clinics

Arthritis isn’t curable.  The goal is to manage the pain of the disease to support a healthy, active and good quality of life for your pet.

 If you recognise any of the symptoms of arthritis in your pet, call the team on 01772 639800 OR 01253 766352 or open a chat on PetsApp, to book your appointment with a vet.

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