About Osteoarthritis
Veterinary Examination
What to Expect when Your Veterinarian Evaluates Your Dog for Arthritis
If you suspect that your dog may be suffering from dog arthritis—what veterinarians call "canine osteoarthritis"—the following checklist can help you assess whether to request an evaluation for this disease. Ask yourself the questions below. If you answer "yes" to any of them, have your veterinarian examine your dog for dog osteoarthritis.
Is your dog...
...limping?
...reluctant to exercise for as long as usual?
...lying down or resting more than usual?
...having trouble rising from a resting position?
...experiencing difficulty in climbing stairs?
...finding it difficult to walk, run or jump?
...showing a decrease in appetite or lack of interest in food?
...avoiding being held or touched?
...demonstrating an unexplained change in behavior?
Your veterinarian may use several diagnostic tools to determine whether your dog has dog arthritis, including an orthopedic examination (to ascertain the presence of joint pain, swelling and/or tenderness), and radiographs (x-rays) to assess bone changes caused by the disease.
If your veterinarian finds evidence of dog arthritis, ask for information about treatment options.
What to Expect if Your Veterinarian Finds that Your Dog has Arthritis
Treatment for dog arthritis focuses on these objectives:
- Reducing pain and inflammation
- Slowing the progression of the dog arthritis
- Facilitating the repair of damaged tissues
- Improving or maintaining joint function
To provide comfort, and help restore an acceptable level of function to your dog with arthritis, your veterinarian may recommend a combination of the following:
- Weight control
- Proper diet
- Controlled exercise and physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs
- Disease-modifying agents
Be sure to follow your veterinarian's recommendations regarding these and other factors that affect your dog's well-being.
Ask your veterinarian for more information about how PREVICOX® (firocoxib) can control the pain and inflammation associated with dog arthritis.
As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney or liver side effects. These are usually mild, but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including PREVICOX. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or nephrotoxic medication should be avoided. Refer to the prescribing information for complete details.