Winter chills and cold floors can aggravate the agony of arthritic cats and dogs

Like humans, animals with arthritis will suffer pain during winter months.

'A lot of cats and dogs have arthritis, which is a degenerative disease in the joints of the body, such as knees, hips, elbows and the spine,' says Jane Gray, deputy director of veterinary services and chief veterinary surgeon at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 'When the cold weather comes, the joints could become more painful, stiffer and generally feel uncomfortable.'

If you notice that your pet isn't walking normally, the first step, Gray says, is to go the veterinarian and get an assessment. Your vet will be able to look at the animal's level of pain and discomfort and, in very severe cases, the pain may cause the animal to stop eating.

To reduce inflammation and pain, animals should be given anti-inflammatory medication and other drugs, including weekly injections. 'Degenerative joint disease can't be cured, it's a chronic problem, but you can slow down the progression by taking drugs,' Gray says.

Owners can also give their pets supplements, such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and vitamin E, that will protect the joints and also slow down the progression, Gray suggests. 'You can give supplements in tablet, liquid, capsule or powder form that are specifically made for pets. You want to give them good quality veterinary ones though, as there are many on the market. The concentration of the product and the quality of the product can vary a lot.

'Be careful of supplements sold in pet shops as they often are not as high quality as ones at the vet.' Again, Gray recommends asking your veterinarian for advice on supplements to give your dog or cat. In addition to supplements, there are specific veterinary diets designed for animals with joint disease. These include Royal Canin's Mobility Support and Hill's Prescription J/D Diets.

According to Gray, acupuncture is another method known to treat arthritis. 'Acupuncture is an accepted way to treat arthritis, which is very commonly used for humans,' she says. 'How much treatment is needed totally depends on the response you get and how severe the disease is to start with.'

She adds some pets need treatment every week, while others every few weeks. 'It's most important to improve the welfare of the animal and make sure it's not in pain.'

Another tip to help your stiff-jointed dog or cat is a little exercise. 'But you shouldn't over exercise them, it's better to exercise little and often,' Gray explains.

When it comes to the dog or cat's environment, she advises owners to discourage animals to lie directly on cold tiles.