Every September, the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) promotes pain awareness to foster best practices in the prevention and treatment of pain in animals. One source of pain that affects millions of pets each year is Osteoarthritis (OA).
One in every 5 dogs will experience OA pain and mobility challenges in their lifetime, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. In cats, some estimates suggest that degenerative joint disease prevails in anywhere from 40 to 90% of cases.
The cascade of arthritic events starts with cartilage damage and loss, followed by the release of inflammatory mediators. OA then progresses to synovial membrane inflammation, then bone remodeling/osteocytes that lead to heightened pain and disability.
“Pain management is vital for quality of life,” said Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice. “Pet parents are on the front line, and differentiating between the earliest signs of OA and natural aging is challenging, but worth it. Pro-active intervention is a game-changer.”
Taking early action to slow down OA can effectively add years to your pet’s life, since restricted mobility and unremitting pain are lead indicators for compassionate euthanasia.
Subtle signs of OA to watch for:
• Restlessness and anxiety, including pacing or trouble settling
• Frequent body position changes while resting
• Abnormal body positions while resting
• Shifts in weight while standing (front to back, side to side, up and down)
• Little hitches in normal movement
OA Treatment Options
The field of veterinary pain management continues to bring promising innovations, including new monoclonal drugs such as Librela, intra-articular injections and devices such as the Assisi loop and cold laser therapy.
Traditional options such as NSAIDS, which can have side effects, and other pharmaceuticals such as gabapentin, pregabalin, Adequan and ketamine, remain popular forms of treatment.
One promising new treatment method that can be combined with traditional treatments in a “multi-modal” approach or used alone as a first-line treatment option is the injection of a Tin Colloid known as “Synovetin.” This veterinary device uses novel, conversion electron therapy to target macrophages and synoviocytes in the injected joint. Tin-117n microparticles emit low energy electrons that eliminates inflamed synovial cells.
Benefits include the convenience of once-a-year treatment and the advantage of avoiding the side effects of systemic drugs.
If you want to help your beloved companion animal enjoy their senior years to the fullest, watch for early signs of OA and talk to your routine care veterinarian about some of the exciting new first-line treatment options.