Osteoarthritis management: weight and exercise

It is vital that our pets are kept to a sensible weight. Sadly, many pets are overweight, and this can be exacerbated if they are less keen to exercise due to arthritic pain. Many pets will feel much more comfortable if their weight can be kept to a sensible target. Our nurses are happy to help with weight reduction programs and we offer free nutrition clinics at many of our surgeries. Try running your fingers along the ribs of your pet, you should be able to comfortably feel each rib without there being a significant fat barrier over them. Sensible exercise regimes are beneficial, not only to help your pet stay lean (or reduce unwanted weight) but will also increase muscles that can help support a damaged joint. For dogs, you may need to start with slow gentle lead walks several times a day before building up to longer ones. You may even find several short walks a day are more comfortable for your dog than a single long walk. If your pet shows signs of discomfort after walks or play, then reduce the amount of exercise before building gradually again in the future.