Arthritis talk: vet guide for owners

Veterinary teams should begin discussing arthritis before a pet shows obvious signs. The first step is to talk about risk factors such as breed, conformation, activity level, age, weight and muscle mass. Owners should be encouraged to schedule wellness visits at least every six months and to include an arthritis screen even for puppies. A short script can help:

• "Your dog is a high-risk breed and carries extra weight."

One to three yes/no questions can reveal early arthritis:

• Has your pet changed any habits or behaviors in the past 6-12 months? (Yes)
• Has your pet’s activity level or desire to exercise changed in the past 6-12 months? (Yes)
• Is it easy for your pet to get up from lying down? (No or hesitation)

A red-flag response should prompt more open-ended questions.

Who Should Talk

All members of the care team should be trained to spot early signs and discuss them with owners. Nurses and technicians can become primary contacts for families, providing consistent messaging that builds trust. For example:

• "I noticed your cat sits with her weight shifted to one hip. That may be an early sign of arthritis."

Veterinary teams can review the stats on osteoarthritis prevalence to reinforce the importance of early detection.

Key Management Concepts

A balanced approach that mixes medical information, empathy and reassurance works best. The main points to convey are:

• Arthritis is a chronic, progressive disease that cannot be cured but can be slowed.
• Early identification has a major impact on progression.
• Weight management and appropriate exercise are the most cost-effective options.
• Pain and inflammation must be managed at every stage.
• Successful care combines home care and in-office support.
• A pet’s needs will change; regular checkups and clear communication are essential.

Owners should be asked about specific goals, such as walking a half mile, and the vet should evaluate whether those expectations are realistic. For severe cases, short-term goals like walking one block can be set.

Presenting Options and Recommendations

Clients can feel overwhelmed, so limit the number of options. Offer no more than one or two interventions in each category and no more than three or four total. The categories include:

• Lifestyle management: diet, exercise, environmental modification.
• Nutraceuticals.
• Pharmaceuticals.
• Modalities: acupuncture, manual and manipulative therapy, laser photobiomodulation, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.
• Regenerative therapy: platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cell therapy.
• Intra-articular injections.
• Surgery: total hip replacement, patella stabilization, stifle stabilization following cranial cruciate ligament tear.
• Palliative radiation.

Prioritize recommendations based on scientific knowledge and clinical experience, and reassure owners that the plan will be adjusted as the pet responds.

Veterinary teams can consult the fixtures to see common risk factors and the squad to understand each team member’s role in arthritis care.

The pet’s needs WILL change. Regular checkups and clear communication are necessary for ongoing success.