Holistic Approaches to Managing Arthritis in Senior Pets

Managing arthritis pain in pets is often accomplished using conventional prescription pain medications and/or topical ointments. Unfortunately, that approach merely targets the symptoms of discomfort without eliminating the root cause through remedies made from harsh chemicals and compounds, with some of the strongest and most potent options like prednisone and dexamethasone containing steroids that target the affected joints but can also do long-term damage to your pet's internal organs.

These medications relieve pain but only on a temporary basis because the reason for that pain has not been addressed and arthritic dogs and cats will continue experiencing flare-ups of discomfort as a result. This can be particularly apparent in senior cats or dogs with arthritis who have difficulty standing up or simply navigating a flight of stairs. Conventional veterinary medicine is all too quick to give our senior pets prescription pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs but what happens when those options fail to provide pain relief and address joint health in a thorough manner?

That’s why more pet owners are turning to holistic options to help ease their cat’s or dog’s arthritis pain. Alternative therapies such as veterinary acupuncture, biofield manipulation, and massage techniques all rooted in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine are often more effective options to decrease pain and reduce inflammation and provide a healthier long-term outlook for your pet than mainstream therapies practiced by western medicine.

Signs of Arthritis Pain in Your Pet

Pets who develop arthritis will start to show marked changes in their behavior. If you start to recognize some of these symptoms, it's important that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. The causes of joint pain are typically degenerative which makes the arthritis worse over time.

Difficulty Standing or Sitting

A pet will start to demonstrate signs of trouble attempting to sit or lie down and trying to get back to their feet afterwards. Your cat’s or dog’s pain is evident in their struggle to do simple things that used to be effortless.

Loss of Interest in Physical Activity

Remember when you used to play fetch with your dog or enjoyed watching your cat chase the red dot of a laser pointer around the room? If it’s been awhile since you and your pet have had a good long play session, a full physical examination might be in order to determine if your cat or dog is suffering from limited joint mobility.

Limping Gait

An arthritic dog or cat will favor a limb that causes them pain or discomfort and move gingerly with a pronounced limp as they try not to place too much weight on the affected leg. Stiff or rigid movements are also a sign your pet is walking with a limp and needs some form of pain management.

Lethargic Spirit and Exhaustion

As cats or dogs age, it’s natural for them to slow down and become tired more easily. But a senior pet dealing with joint pain will try to avoid going for walks or exhibit signs of being tired out after just a brief period of activity.

Tending to Affected Joints

When a pet is experiencing joint pain, they will favor the affected limbs and direct their attention towards the discomfort by licking or biting at the areas that are painful. Cats are known to lick at their bodies as a means of grooming, but spending excessive periods of time favoring one or two areas along the joints might be an indication of chronic joint pain.

Irritability and Touch Avoidance

A pet in pain can be cranky or irritable and may yelp, growl, or hiss at pet owners who try to brush or even touch sensitive areas that cause discomfort or agony due to arthritis pain.

Loss of Muscle Mass

Pets developing arthritis pain will demonstrate all of the above symptoms and shying away from physical exercise and activity can result in some degree of muscle atrophy as the limbs that are impacted with pain are used less.

Holistic Remedies for Arthritis Pain Relief

Embracing an all natural approach for your cat’s or dog’s treatment plan to support joint health can bring many health benefits and preserve your pet’s quality of life. Consider the following natural remedies to treat arthritis pain in your senior cat or dog's joints and improve mobility:

Massage Therapy

Massaging the joints, soft tissues, and muscles helps reduce inflammation and increases blood flow to the affected areas where arthritis and stiffness are causing pain and discomfort. Improved circulation brings oxygen and revitalizing nutrients to painful joints and tissues and works to restore flexibility to give your pet a greater range of mobility. Cats and dogs alike can benefit from massage therapy as a means for alleviating stiffness and joint pain.

Physical Therapy

Treating arthritic dogs and cats using therapeutic exercise is a non-invasive method for improving joint functionality and flexibility, increasing strength, and reducing pain and discomfort. These forms of therapy put your pet through a series of physical activities and exercises that are designed to strengthen the muscles near the affected joints for greater support to manage pain and build muscle. Physical therapy can also be useful for protecting the joint from further deterioration and avoid invasive treatment options like surgery.

Changing Your Cat or Dog's Diet

Healthy weight management is mandatory to improve joint mobility in aging pets. Placing increased weight on the joints can cause them to function less efficiently and decrease their condition. Elderly pets shouldn’t be carrying excess weight on their knee or elbow joints because that undue stress can cause them to deteriorate more quickly, resulting in pain and discomfort that can have an adverse effect on the overall health of a senior dog or cat. Adjusting their nutritional intake to help reduce the weight that is being placed on the joints will make a world of difference in your older pet’s well-being.

Joint Supplements

In addition to improved nutrition, pet owners can administer joint supplements to their aging pets for stronger joint health. There are many different types of supplements on the market that work to restore joint health, increase the fluid in the joints and preserve their flexibility. Some of these supplements also have anti-inflammatory properties, all of which play a significant role in reducing pain and restoring mobility for your aging pet.

Some of the most popular are Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Omega-3 fatty fish oils, CBD oil, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and Hyaluronic Acid. Consult your veterinarian for some suggestions on the types of supplements to help your dog or cat improve joint mobility and live a pain free life.

Veterinary Acupuncture

Another therapy option that has grown in popularity with holistic veterinarian providers is acupuncture for pets which can address arthritic pain from joint inflammation. Just like acupuncture for humans, small needles are used to improve blood circulation and relax muscles at various points around the body. This therapy also reduces pain and inflammation and there are no side effects, making it a trusted method for restoring joint health.

Bioresonance Therapy

Biofield therapy has been shown to have a significant positive impact on health and wellness in human beings and, much the same with veterinary acupuncture, the use of bioresonance technology has been introduced into veterinary applications. Trusted for over twenty years as an effective component for healthcare in and around Europe, bioresonance technology involves the use of bioenergetic frequencies introduced into the biofield to manipulate the life force energy that flows through every living being’s body for improved health outcomes. The BioPower Pet Mobility Magic Tag and Spray contain bioresonance energy that works to relieve inflammation of the joints and the discomfort that comes as a result by introducing positive energetic frequencies into your pet’s meridian system that influence the biofield to restore mobility and a vibrant quality of life.

Relieve Your Cat or Dog's Arthritis

There are many holistic options available to help your four-legged friend. How you choose to address the problem is up to you, but allowing the progressive disease to get worse will only make it more difficult to alleviate. Your pet relies on you for their well-being and the faster you act, the better off you and your pet will be to enjoy a life well-lived. The holistic approach allows for you to administer treatment options that won't negatively impact other areas of your pet's life. This is about improving your pet's life and taking all of the steps necessary to address joint pain, provide lasting relief, and protect your pet's health and well-being for the long-term will have your best friend enjoying a long, healthy, happy life.