National treasure Peter Purves joins our mission to keep all dogs active for life

As a veterinary professional you will already be aware of the large number of patients affected by joint problems, with an overwhelming majority of UK vets placing it as the number one cause of chronic pain*.  Whilst we are aware that a dog of any age can be affected by joint problems, we know that age is a major predetermining factor**.

 

That’s why, as part of our mission to help all dogs live an active life, Lintbells has teamed up with veteran broadcaster, and national treasure Peter Purves to highlight to owners the importance of looking after their pets’ joints and mobility, particularly in their senior years.

 

As part of the ‘Life in the old dog yet’ campaign, Lintbells conducted a poll of 2,000 dog owners to see if they thought about their dogs’ age in human years and how this affected their daily routine, Interestingly, here is what we found.

 

90% of dog owners consider them to be much-loved members of the family, and almost 60% (58%) celebrate their dog’s birthday. But when it comes to their daily routine, only 23% of owners considered their dog’s age and only 26% of dog owners were confident knowing the signs of old age.

 

When asked about specific daily activities, the research revealed that just 52% of owners considered their dog’s age when walking, while activities such as playing fetch (27%) and jumping out of the boot of a car (29%) were significantly lower.

 

When asked more specifically about the effects on their dog’s joint health, just 62% of dog owners were aware of the detrimental effects of jumping out the boot of a car. Only 54% knew walking on slippery, tiled or laminated floor could have a negative effect and 46% understood the implications of repetitive fetching of a ball.

 

But dog owners agreed overwhelmingly that if they knew the above activities affected a dog’s joints, they would change their behaviour and implement the following preventative measures:

 

  • 81% said they would carry their dog from the boot of their car rather than have it jump out
  • 81% would avoid repetitive fetching
  • 77% would use non-slip mats in the home
  • 85% would adjust the number or length of walks
  • 61% would give them a joint supplement

 

The results of the survey highlight the importance of this campaign and the need to continue to support owners to identify and manage joint issues.

 

Interested in finding out more about Mobility Matters?

Mobility Matters support materials are available to facilitate the setup and development of nurse mobility clinics and enable practices to provide a more tailored service across the whole practice to help owners who have dogs with stiff joints.  If you are interested in finding out more Mobility Matters contact your local VBDE.

 

*Bell, A., Helm, J., Reid, J.(2014) Veterinarians’ attitudes to chronic pain in dogs Veterinary Record 175, 428

**Anderson, K. L., O’Neill, D. G., Brodbelt, D. C., Church, D. B., Meeson, R. L., Sargan, D., Summers, J. F., et al. (2018). Prevalence, duration and risk factors for appendicular osteoarthritis in a UK dog population under primary veterinary care.. Scientific reports, 8 (1), 5641. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23940-z