(FORT WORTH, TX) ––With fall approaching, it is important to be aware of conditions that affect joints in pets, cooler weather being one of them. Reports indicate approximately twenty percent of dogs over one year of age suffer from osteoarthritis and up to 90 percent of cats 12 years and older may have radiographic evidence of disease.

Tomlyn veterinarian, Dr. Jim Lowe, offers insight to the signs, treatment and tips for a pet with osteoarthritis.

Predisposing factors for osteoarthritis include obesity, larger breed pets, and previous musculoskeletal trauma.  Warning signs of osteoarthritis include exercise intolerance and decreased appetite.  While there is no way to prevent osteoarthritis, proper diet with an emphasis on weight control, frequent, controlled exercise, and joint supplements may slow progression of the disease.

Using ramps instead of stairs and placing food and water bowls close to where the pet spends most of its time are ways to accommodate a pet with osteoarthritis. It’s also important to block off staircases to limit attempts of traveling up and down stairs.

Pet parents often struggle to get large non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into their pet’s mouth. With osteoarthritis, pets have to take medicine one to two times per day, making this struggle a stressful, but necessary, one.  Dr. Lowe points out that osteoarthritis can occur in any age or breed and requires life-long administration of medicine, along with additional therapeutic support. 

To ease this process, Tomlyn’shas developed their Pill-Masker for Dogs and Cats, which comes in two versions: one of which is wheat-free. This alternative to pill pockets is a bacon-flavored paste that fits all pill shapes and sizes, doesn’t dry out and won’t stick to floors or furniture.

“The wheat, corn, and BHA-free presentation meets the needs of the consumer with pets requiring special dietary attention,” said Dr. Lowe. “So often the pet owner fails to recognize that when administering medications to such animals that wrapping in cheese or a hot dog to mask the pill can affect the animal.”

For more information on Tomlyn, visit the company’swebsite, Facebook and Pinterest pages. Use the locator here to find Tomlyn products near you, and download the product catalog.

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About Tomlyn®

Tomlyn, a pet health and wellness company founded in 1976, carries a complete line of scientifically developed, veterinarian-approved pet health products. The company’s wide range of product categories range from: immune support, vitamins and supplements, hairball remedies, joint and hip support, calming aids to all-natural remedies and sanitizers. Known as the maker of Nutri-Cal® and Laxatone®, Tomlyn is owned by the ninth-largest veterinary pharmaceutical company in the world.