I was looking around “Yahoo Answers” for some ideas about relevant and useful pet information I might share with you, faithful readers, and I found one that started me thinking about pet arthritis, specifically, how would you answer this question: “How do I know if my dog has arthritis?”

The simple and very unsatisfactory answer would be: Only your vet can tell for sure, and even then he/she could be wrong. Obviously, though, if you suspect your dog or cat may have arthritis, you should take that pet to a vet as soon as possible.

Besides that, the symptoms, or “hints” you need to watch for are pretty similar to the symptoms humans exhibit when they have arthritis, especially the most obvious symptom: Your dog or cat tends to “favor” a limb or paw, hesitating to put much or even any weight on it and perhaps showing a limp when walking. Although infected or abscessed bites from cat or dog fights can cause this, if an older pet shows such symptoms, arthritis is a likely cause.

Other signs that could mean your pet has arthritis may include:

  • Difficulty sitting or standing
  • Sleeping more
  • Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
  • Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
  • Weight gain
  • Decreased activity or less interest in play
  • Attitude or behavior changes
  • Being less alert

    • Admittedly, some of these symptoms are pretty vague and even general. But you owe it to your aging pet, if these symptoms are showing and you are at all concerned, to get a solid diagnosis from your vet and a course of treatment. Old pets, like old people, don’t have to suffer from arthritis when there is often help available.

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