Arthritis – Copper Hill Animal Clinic

Almost every senior pet has some amount of arthritis and they tend to slow down with age as well. There are now many great products and medications that can help keep your pet dog or cat active and moving, some of which are brand new to veterinary medicine.
Dasuquin Advanced is a joint health supplement that both helps with preventing arthritis and also helps dogs that already have arthritis. It works by supporting cartilage matrix productions and inhibits certain enzymes that breakdown cartilage over time. Dasuquin Advanced also helps provide antioxidant support.
Librela is a once a month injection for dogs used to treat arthritis. It works by specifically shutting down Nerve Growth Factor which is a key mediator of arthritic pain. The injection contains only antibodies which are safe and naturally metabolized by the body, with minimal involvement of the patient’s liver and kidneys
In a similar fashion, Solensia is a monthly injection for cats with arthritis. It too contains antibodies that shut down arthritic pain. Again, this medication is very safe and has shown tremendous relief to cats that suffer with arthritis while also helping to improve their mobility.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have also been a long used staple of helping reduce arthritic pain in dogs. In addition to our classic NSAIDs such as Carprofen/Rimadyl and Meloxicam, there is a newer, safer type of NSAID called Galliprant that bypasses the liver entirely and works extremely well for senior canines.
In addition to medications, many therapeutic diets exist that help improve mobility and protect the cartilage in the joints. Many of these doggie diets also can help with weight control too, as having an obese dog can often make joint help and mobility worse. Some examples would be Hills science diet J/D Mobility or Royal Canin Advanced Mobility Support; both are available through a veterinary prescription.
If you feel that your pet could benefit from any of these, feel free to call us at Copper Hill Animal Clinic (661-296-8848) if you’d like to set up an appointment.