Arthritis detection - All Pets Animal Clinic

      Arthritis is one of the most common sources of chronic pain treated by veterinarians. Often resulting from elbow or hip dysplasia, this painful, degenerative joint disease can also be the result of the normal aging process, or due to accident or injury.
      Arthritis increases in severity as the disease advances from early stages into more advanced levels. So as a concerned owner, it's important that you know what to look for. An arthritic dog may exhibit one or more of these signs.

      Keep in mind, the sooner your dog is properly diagnosed and treated for arthitis, the better.

MILD	MODERATE	SEVERE
Slight stiffness and lameness when walking. Mild pain if the affected joint is touched. Licking of affected joint may occur. 10-20% loss in normal range of motion.	Increased stiffness and lameness. Shorter strides when walking. Obvious pain if the affected joint is touched. Occasional whining and/or whimpering. 20-50% loss in range of motion. Sitting preferred over standing. Reluctance to climb steps or jump up. Slow to rise from a resting position.	Reluctance to rise or walk more than five steps. Dog will not allow affected joint to be touched. Frequent whining and/or whimpering. Frequent licking of affected joint. More than 50% loss in range of motion. Noticeable behavioral changes. Increased difficulty in rising from a resting position.

All Pets is very excited about our new Companion Therapy Laser System. We can now offer our patients the latest technology in health care, providing relief from painful conditions and stimulating your pet's own healing process. It allows your pet to heal faster after an injury or surgery. Currently, all of our surgical procedures receive a postoperative laser treatment on their surgical site. This therapy also provides your arthritic pet with drug-free relief from aches and pains, allowing for more freedom and quality of life.
These are just a few of the disorders that respond to laser therapy:
-Arthritis
-Hip Dysplasia
-Numerous Skin Conditions
-Post Surgical Pain
-Ear infections
-Wound Healing
-Gingivitis
-Bladder Infections
-Degenerative Joint Disease

For more information, go to the Companion website: http://www.companiontherapy.com

You can reach us by E-Mail at:
Gary L. McCutcheon, D.V.M.
or Jennifer T. Canfield, D.V.M.