Have you seen your pet bear ‘morning stiffness’? Does your pet have difficulties in climbing or climbing down the stairs? Is your pet turning less active lately? If so, then your pet might be suffering from a sort of animal arthritis. Same with adult humans, your pets are also vulnerable to the attack of arthritis.
If ever you have suspicions that your cat or dog is suffering from a specific type of animal arthritis, consulting the veterinarian might just help you ease your worries or might as well prevent a painful problem from becoming a lot more painful! Here are several things that you might encounter on your initial visit to the veterinarian:
- Your pet might be taken in a full physical and visual examination – The veterinarian will probably check your pet’s physical features, particularly if your pet has swollen lymph nodes. Or the doctor will test out your pet’s lung and heart sounds and skin and ears. The doctor will also examine your pet’s eyes and gums. This procedure might sound like a standard physical exam to you; well, you are right! After this physical examination, the veterinarian will now check for specific indications of arthritis. The veterinarian will check out your pet’s limbs, neck and spine. Then a sequence of motion range tests intended to test out your pet’s flexibility. Such tests are usually used to find out prior injuries, ligament problems and indications of arthritis. You may be wondering of what is your veterinarian really looking for. The veterinarian is probably checking if your pet has fever, indications of inflammation, bacteraemia, and to see your pet’s posture.
- Your pet might possibly be diagnosed – If ever your pet encompasses some animal arthritis indications, your pet might probably be diagnosed! The veterinarian will discuss to you the advantages of your pet undergoing blood analysis work. Even if arthritis is not really your pet’s disease, undergoing blood analysis is still a good idea since it may reveal other diseases present in your dog. In other cases, the veterinarian recommends this procedure to make sure that your pet is, in any way, not allergic to anaesthesia that is essential for X-rays procedures.
- X-rays – After the initial diagnostics, X-rays will now then be discussed to you by the veterinarian. In most cases, pets are sedated so the doctor will get the correct positioning for the radiograph procedures. Radiography is essential in the diagnosis for arthritis. X-rays are very helpful in detecting arthritis and in the determining of the disease’s stages. X-rays could also determine arthritis by revealing cancers and fractures.
- Treatments – Now after your pet has been diagnosed of arthritis, your veterinarian will now then discuss the treatments needed for your pet. New treatments and medications are already available in the market and in clinics that are capable of giving your pet a healthy and arthritis-free life. However, animals have different reactions to certain medications. Your veterinarian may advise you of your pet undergoing several treatment trials. This is necessary in finding out which treatments are correct and effective to your pet’s kind of animal arthritis.