If you suffer from arthritis or no anyone that does, you know just how uncomfortable the condition can be. In fact, depending upon the severity of the condition, it can be truly debilitating and can rob you of your freedom and independence. Unfortunately, your pets are just as susceptible to developing this condition as you are. This is particularly true of certain types of dogs who are genetically predisposed to certain types of arthritis, such as degenerative joint disease. In order to help your pet live in comfort and to avoid the development of this painful condition, it is important for you to know more about the condition and how it can be prevented.

What is Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease is a form of arthritis that affects the smooth articular cartilage of your pet’s joints. The articular cartilage is responsible for covering the bone and the joints so the joints can move smoothly and without pain. With this condition, the covering becomes worn out and the raw surfaces of the bone become exposed. When these surfaces rub together, it results in a great deal of pain as well as a lack of mobility.

How Does Degenerative Joint Disease Occur

There are a number of potential causes to this condition. In many cases, the disorder develops after the pet has suffered from an injury to the area, but it can also develop from simple wear and tear. Unfortunately, once the primary cartilage becomes damaged, it becomes easier for additional cartilage to become damaged and for the condition to worsen quickly.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Joint Disease

There are several different signs and symptoms to watch for that indicate degenerative joint disease. These include:

• Crepitation (crackling sound that occurs when moving)
• Lameness
• Muscle Atrophy
• Swollen joints

If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs and symptoms, you should take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The sooner you begin treating the problem, the more quickly you can alleviate your pet’s pain and the more successfully you can slow down the degenerative process.

How Does a Vet Diagnose Degenerative Joint Disease

When you take your pet to the veterinarian, he or she will take a number of steps to determine whether or not your pet has degenerative joint disease. These steps include:

• Performing a complete medical history and examination
• X-rays of the joints
• Force plate analysis
• Joint fluid analysis

One your veterinarian determines that your pet is suffering from arthritis, there are several different treatment methods that may be used to help alleviate your pet’s pain and slow down the process of degeneration.

How is Degenerative Joint Disease Treated

In most cases, treatment involves implementing a variety of treatment techniques. Some of these include:

• Putting your pet on a diet to reduce its weight, which will place less stress on its joints
• Surgery to repair damage, which can help slow down the degenerative process
• Joint replacement, which can help your pet achieve a greater range of motion

Monitoring your pet’s weight and making certain it follows a well-balanced diet will also help in prevention and treatment of degenerative joint disease. So, choose your pet food carefully and keep a close eye on your pet’s health so you can help it live a long, healthy and pain free life.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s resource for dogs for sale.

Have a particular dog breed you are interested in, contact dog breeders at Find a Pet Online.

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How to Choose a Veterinarian
 by: Sherry Kirchenbauer

1. Get some opinions. Ask around to see where people take their pets, why they take them there, and if they are happy with the veterinarian.

a. Ask friends, family, and co-workers, but be sure to ask them why they see this particular veterinarian. Pet owners often take their pets to a certain clinic just because they always have and always will, or because the veterinarian is a long-time family friend. This doesn’t make it the best choice for you.

b. Ask groomers, petsitters, kennels, and other pet service facilities.

c. Ask breeders

d. Ask people at a breed club

e. Ask your local humane society or other animal-welfare groups

f. Ask private pet rescue organizations

2. Educate yourself on the veterinarian’s background

a. Education

b. Board certification

c. Record with the state’s medical board (Have any complaints have been filed?)

d. Record with the local humane society

e. Membership with any professional veterinary associations

f. If the veterinarian is a specialist (behavioral, surgical, ophthalmology, etc.), check to see how he or she qualifies to be a specialist. Be sure that he or she has experience, education, and certification in their specialty.

3. Office Hours, Appointments, and Emergencies

a. What are the regular office hours? Are they compatible with your schedule?

b. Are appointments required?

c. Can you request an appointment with a specific veterinarian? Seeing the same veterinarian will allow him or her to become more familiar with your pet and better able to evaluate whether your pet is ill because he or she has seen your pet before.

d. How many veterinarians are in the practice?

e. Are there technicians and other professional staff members?

f. Who covers the practice when the doctor is unavailable?

g. Is the doctor available to occasionally answer questions over the phone?

h. Will the veterinarian take calls or answer phone messages if a crisis befalls your pet during the evening or weekend?

i. How are emergency calls handled during regular office hours?

j. How are emergency calls handled after office hours?

- Does this clinic provide emergency after-hours assistance, or is there a nearby emergency clinic you will be referred to?

- If your veterinarian refers patients for emergency care, get the address and phone number of the facility and be sure to drive by the emergency facility so you’ll know where it is.

- Is the emergency clinic staffed while your pet is there?

- Will there be any time period when your pet will be unattended to?

4. Fees, insurance, and payment methods

a. Do ask about fees, but don’t base your decision solely on the cheapest clinic. When evaluating fees, be sure to find out what is included, some clinics will include anesthesia, monitoring equipment, and aftercare in the cost of a surgery, while other clinics will have them as separate charges; so you aren’t always comparing the same fees and services.

b. Is the veterinarian a specialist in an area that you do not require for your pet? Fees may be higher for specialists and it might not make sense to pay more for a specialist that does not apply to the needs of your pet.

c. Are discounts offered for senior citizens or multi-pet households?

d. Is payment expected on the day of the visit?

e. Does the clinic accept your insurance plan?

f. What methods of payment are accepted? Are credit cards accepted?

5. Condition and location of the facility

a. Is the facility clean, comfortable, and well-organized? Examine the lobby, waiting room, parking lot, and lawn for cleanliness and odors.

b. Are the magazines and literature in the waiting room current or out-dated?

c. Are the posters and bulletin boards well-kept? Or are they ripped, stained or out-dated?

d. What types of products do they sell? Are they focused more on providing medical care or pushing products?

e. Some veterinary clinics are members of the American Animal Hospital Association, which means that the clinic has voluntarily pursued and met the association’s standards in the areas of facility, equipment, and quality care.

f. How busy is the clinic? Is the lobby full or are the phones ringing off the hook? A certain level of busyness is a good sign, but too many clients can lead to long waiting times and a low availability of appointments.

6. Friendliness and quality of staff

a. Are they helpful and informative?

b. Are they too pushy?

c. Do they take the time to listen and answer your questions?

d. Do they seem to want to get off the phone quickly or do they seem too busy for you? If yes, they will probably always be too busy to give your pet the care needed.

e. Are they dressed professionally and cleanly?

f. Is the receptionist friendly? Does he or she answer the phone professionally and state his or her name? Can he or she answer basic questions about pet care?

g. Is the staff friendly, caring, calm, competent, and courteous?

h. Does the veterinarian interact well with the technicians?

i. Are you comfortable with the veterinarian? Veterinarians are a individual as the rest of us. Some have an easy “bedside manner” and others are more abrupt and in a hurry. Some will explain every detail about your pet’s condition and others are too busy to do so. Some will calm your fears and grieve with you and others will brush off your concerns or seem insensitive to the loss of a pet.

j. Be aware that technicians handle basic procedures, such as drawing blood, taking temperatures, and preparing your pet for surgery, so it is important that you are comfortable with the technician’s ability to handle your pet and work with you.

7. Range of services that the clinic provides

a. Are x-rays, ultrasounds, bloodwork, and other diagnostics done in-house or referred to a specialist?

b. How quickly are the test results received?

c. Does the veterinarian offer a wide range of medications?

d. Does your pet require a veterinarian with special interests, such as geriatrics?

e. What experience does the veterinarian have with any specific medical need your pet might have, such as diabetes, allergies, or chronic pain?

f. What is the veterinarian’s policy on vaccinations for kittens, puppies and adult cats and dogs? Many veterinarians are getting away from automatic annual vaccinations for adults because of evidence that immunization lasts longer than 12 months for some vaccines, and research has linked too-frequent vaccinations with immune system disorders.

8. Other things to consider

a. The veterinarian should perform an exam on your pet during the first visit. This should include feeling the pet over for suspicious lumps or bumps, checking the eyes and ears, listening to the heart, and checking the teeth.

b. The veterinarian should ask you questions about the pet’s general health and ask for the pet’s medical history.

c. Your pet should be comfortable with the veterinarian. An experienced veterinarian will handle the most difficult pet without causing any undue stress on the pet.

d. Does the clinic offer any other services such as boarding or grooming?

e. Is the veterinarian willing to prescribe medication and allow you to fill the prescription elsewhere?

f. Do you trust the veterinarian? Most importantly, what do your instincts tell you?

g. If you are transferring your pet from another clinic, be sure to transfer your pet’s medical records.

About The Author

Written by Sherry Kirchenbauer, Animal advocate and owner of Noah’s Animal Figurines.

www.noahsanimalfigurines.com

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