Very frequently when talking to owners about how their elderly pet is getting on, I hear the phrases ‘They’re slowing down a bit’, or ‘They’re showing their age’. Often when people make these comments, they are assuming these changes are part of the normal ageing process that we should just accept, instead of thinking of these changes as problems that need to be treated. Whilst our pets will become less active as they get older, it does not mean they should be stiff or in pain. Often these older pets showing signs of stiffness and slowing down have underlying issues that can be treated, and by doing so we can make elderly pets more comfortable, often giving them a new lease of life!
What are the signs my pet is getting old?
Cats, dogs, and rabbits age very similarly, however the signs that they show us vary quite a lot depending on their normal routines and how we look after them.
Signs that dogs are ageing are often very evident, the grey hairs will start to appear around their faces, they might start to sleep more and be slow to get up and moving in the morning, they will be slower on their walks and may not want to go as far, and they may be prone to gaining weight or losing muscle condition.
Cats are often a little bit more subtle with their signs of ageing, acting quite normally but perhaps being less playful or sleeping more, not going outdoors as much, and in some cases they may change their habits around the house, including grooming themselves less and therefore having a poorly kept coat, changing where they sleep, or not jumping up onto furniture as frequently.
Rabbits are the most subtle when it comes to showing signs of ageing, and often people find these very easy to overlook. Rabbits that are starting to slow down will move around less, when they do move they will be slightly stiffer looking, their coat may become poorly groomed, and they may be more prone to getting matted and soiled around their back end.
All of these changes have very similar underlying causes, the main ones being reduced flexibility and comfort in the joints, and reduced muscle strength. The other features of them slowing down can be related to other organs and systems not functioning quite as well as they normally do, such as showing senile behaviour changes.
Why do animals get stiff with age?
Throughout the years of their life, your pet will be putting their joints through a lot of hard work, and with that comes wear and tear. Whilst the wear and tear might not be so evident in their younger years, as they get older these changes become more pronounced and the knock-on effects more obvious. The most common cause for joints to become stiff after a lifetime of hard work is due to arthritis, inflammation that occurs in the joints that leads to pain and reduced flexibility. Arthritis does not occur exclusively in older animals, and those that have major damage to their joints from injuries, or from congenital issues, such as hip or elbow dysplasia, will show signs of arthritis much sooner. Muscles becoming weaker and less flexible with age can also result in stiffness, however this is usually secondary to issues with the joints.
How can I keep my elderly pet comfortable?
It comes as a surprise to some people, however we do have a variety of options for our elderly pets in terms of treatments and supportive measures for stiffness and arthritis. Some of these are simple changes to their management that result in improved quality of life and comfort, whilst others involve using medications and supplements to help manage pain and allow for a more normal life for your pet.
Management changes to help with stiffness at home
- While most dogs do enjoy going out on long walks, for dogs with stiff joints this can cause pain immediately after the walk and the following days, and can result in further damage to the joints. Instead, exercise regimes should be consistent and involve shorter walks that are more frequent, as this allow for the same duration of exercise without resulting in greater damage to the joints. For example, two 30 minutes walks a day would be gentler on the joints than one 60 minute walk a day. Avoiding high intensity exercise that involves lots of turning, such as chasing a ball, is also recommended, as this puts more pressure on the joints and can cause further damage.
- Not all pets like sleeping on a comfortable bed, and will sleep on the floor regardless of how many times you try and encourage them to get comfy, however providing a thick and comfortable bed will reduce stiffness and pain related to sleeping on a hard floor.
- Providing non-slip flooring throughout the house is something that can make a huge difference to stiff pets, as they will struggle to navigate the normal areas of your house if the floor is slippery. Slipping on floors can cause sudden injury to already painful joints, and may lead to your pet having a flare up of pain with arthritis if not avoided.
- Making necessities easily accessible is a must for pets with arthritis, for example moving the cat’s water bowl to an area they don’t need to jump up to, or allowing them access to a litter tray both upstairs and downstairs. Dog’s may benefit from a raised food bowl so they don’t need to bend down as much to eat. Rabbits that are housed in a multi-tier hutch or have a litter tray with high sides may benefit from a single tier hutch and a shallower litter tray.
Treatments that can help with stiffness
- Pain relief medication is often the single biggest improvement you can make for an arthritic pet. Pain relief should only be given based on the instruction of your local veterinarian, as most human medications are toxic to pets, and your pet may have specific requirements to be taken into account when choosing an appropriate pain relief. Most forms of pain relief for pets also have an anti-inflammatory component, reducing the inflammation in joints and improving mobility by managing the pain. Sometimes a single medication won’t be enough to manage your pet’s pain by itself, and so if you are concerned that your pet is still uncomfortable despite medication then you should ask your local veterinarian for additional advice.
- Joint supplements can also play a role in managing arthritis and stiffness, and some owners report an improvement after trying these alone. Joint supplement ingredients, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, work by providing the body large amounts of the chemicals needed to produce joint fluid and cartilage, which are both key elements to maintaining joint health. Cartilage often becomes damaged in the process of arthritis progression, and so keeping it healthy for as long as possible can reduce the amount of pain arthritis causes, and having enough joint fluid helps the joint move as easily as possible, reducing stiffness and pain.
- Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are both valuable methods of treating orthopaedic problems, from sprains and strains to arthritis, and depending on the degree of stiffness and pain, they can be used to improve your pet’s comfort and mobility. Both of these types of treatment are aimed at maintaining muscle mass or encouraging new muscle mass to form, in addition to helping with joint movement and rehabilitation. These should only be used under instruction from a trained professional, as using the wrong exercises can be harmful depending on your pet’s condition.
If you suspect your pet to be suffering with stiff or arthritic joints, it is well worth speaking to your local veterinarian about the ways in which you can help them be more comfortable, in addition to putting some of the above measures into place at home.