Chronic pain is the “gift” that keeps on giving, but with your veterinarian, you can keep your pet comfortable
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
Jojo was only 8 years old, but she was acting like an old dog. The Labrador mix didn’t play with her balls anymore, and she could no longer enjoy long walks. She was overweight and had a dry, dull coat.
Her family assumed that her condition was a normal part of canine aging, but fortunately for Jojo, they had just moved, and their dog’s new veterinarian happened to specialize in pain management. After an examination and lab work, Robin Downing, DVM, discovered that Jojo not only had hypothyroidism -- which likely contributed to her weight gain and poor coat quality -- but also had pain in multiple joints from osteoarthritis. That pain, exacerbated by excess weight putting pressure on her joints, as well as altered body movement from the osteoarthritis, had restricted the once-active dog’s world.
The behavior changes that Jojo’s family interpreted as “slowing down” were occurring because their dog was uncomfortable. And uncomfortable animals naturally limit their activity and movement to accommodate that changed state.
It’s a myth that pain and slowing down are unavoidable parts of aging for dogs. Much can be done to help them have a longer healthspan, which the Dog Aging Project defines as improved quality of life for more of the years of life available. In other words, dogs may not always live longer, but they’ll be healthier during their remaining years.
Downing, a board-certified specialist in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, as well as a diplomate of the American Association of Pain Management, makes a commitment to her patients to help them be as comfortable and functional as they can be for the rest of their lives.
For Jojo, Downing says, “We diagnosed and managed her hypothyroidism. We got her on a good nutrient profile. We managed her pain with a multimodal approach that included nutraceuticals as well as pharmaceuticals.” That all helped to break the chronic pain cycle and help Jojo get comfortable again, contributing to better mobility and helping her to regain and sustain her previous lifestyle.
Jojo’s family also made lifestyle adaptations to help their dog remain pain-free. One such change that can be beneficial for any dog approaching the senior years is retiring them from jumping in and out of a vehicle and providing entry via a ramp or, for smaller dogs, lifting them in and out. Pet steps up to furniture, nonskid throw rugs on slick floors and restricting access to stairs are additional elements of a multimodal pain strategy. Another is providing raised food and water dishes.
“There’s nothing worse for an animal with low back pain to have to reach down to the floor to eat and drink,” Downing says. “Having the top of the dishes at elbow height, whether they’re a Chihuahua or a Saint Bernard or a Maine coon cat, is a great way to help us manage and prevent back pain.”
From being a painful, sedentary dog at age 8, Jojo returned to playing with her toys, chasing her ball and going on miles-long walks with her family. As she grew older, her family, in partnership with Downing, changed some of her more vigorous activities to reduce the risk that she might fall and hurt herself. “There are certain things you shouldn’t do when you’re a 13-year-old dog that you could do when you were a 3-year-old dog,” Downing says.
Without a diagnosis and management of her health problems, Jojo might have lived to be only 9 or 10 years old, but instead she lived to be nearly 16, euthanized after a catastrophic stroke.
“She made it to 16 because we eliminated the barriers to her normal life and lifestyle,” Downing says.
Q&A
Cat training
from scratch
Q: My new kitten is scratching up my furniture! Help!
A: For cats, scratching is much more than a means of sharpening and conditioning their claws. It’s an important cat-to-cat communication technique, allowing them to display their size and prowess: “Look how high I can scratch.” Besides the visual, scratching leaves traces of scent, deposited from glands on the paws. The scent is undetectable by humans, but perceptible to other cats.
Scratching is also a way for cats to stretch and exercise the muscles in their legs and paws. It’s a natural behavior that you don’t want to discourage, but you can take steps to meet your cat’s scratching needs while still protecting your furniture.
Since your cat’s goal is to show off what a great and powerful feline he is, he wants to scratch something that’s in a prominent part of the home. Right now, that’s your sofa. Try placing a tall -- at least 3 feet -- sisal scratching post next to the part of the sofa your cat likes to scratch. He’ll love the ropy texture, and the height will give him a vantage point he enjoys. And a scratching post doesn’t have to be unattractive. There are designs that will fit beautifully in any decor, from contemporary to traditional.
Why sisal instead of carpet? Materials like rope, sisal, hemp and burlap offer more texture and shredability, making them feline favorites. Reward your cat with a treat every time you see him use it. Never punish or frighten your cat when he’s on or near the post, or he may never go near it again. The goal is for your cat to enjoy scratching his post so much that he won’t even consider any other area -- like that boring sofa.
Here’s more about scratching: fearfreehappyhomes.com/cats-scratch. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
March is busy
month for pets
-- Pet calendar days are fun ways to remember pet care pointers or just to celebrate your favorite animals. Here’s what’s going on in March: Poison Prevention Awareness Month; Professional Pet Sitters Week, March 3-9; Crufts, the world’s largest dog show, held in Birmingham, England, March 7-10; Dog Theft Awareness Week, March 14-21; National Animal Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23; International Akita Day, March 8; K-9 Veterans Day, March 13; and National Catio Day, March 15. On March 17, celebrate Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats. Westie lovers will want to put March 20 on their calendar; it’s National Westie Day. The podenco is a Spanish hound breed; learn more about them on March 22, National Podenco Day. March 23 is National Puppy Day and Cuddly Kitten Day; March 25 is National Newfoundland Dog Day, and March 28 is Respect Your Cat Day (but remember, every day should be Respect Your Cat Day).
-- Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton has turned her sights to pets, launching her Doggy Parton collection of pet apparel, accessories and toys, all with Dolly flair, flash and sass. Every purchase will help to fund and support Willa B Farms, a rescue organization that aids animals in need, from dogs and cats to goats, pigs and more. Two of our favorite accessories are a stylish pink cowboy hat adorned with a tiara and the Dolly Parton VIP All Access Pass plush toy with a rope handle for interactive play.
-- The Devon rex cat has huge ears, a pixielike face and a coat of loose waves and curls. The unusual cats are highly active, with a personality described as an amalgam of a cat, a monkey and comic strip character Dennis the Menace. Devons like to jump, climb and perch on their people. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Bluesky at kimthornton.bsky.social. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.