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A PAINFUL CONDITION YOUR PET MAY SECRETLY SUFFER FROM

🐶🐱 Arthritis isn't just for your grandparents! Your furry friends may suffer from it too. Veterinarian Dr. Terry Fossum tells you what signs to look for and what your treatment options are.

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STORY FORMAT: PKG & Teases Below TRT: 1:42 {**ON CAM**} ARTHRITIS DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOUR GRANDPARENTS. YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS MAY ALSO FEEL THE PAIN. SEPTEMBER IS 'ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH'... WHEN PET OWNERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THEIR PETS' HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WHEN IT COMES TO PAIN MANAGEMENT. KRISTINA GUERRERO (Gr-RARE-Oh) HAS A VET'S ADVICE ON HOW YOU CAN DETECT ARTHRITIS IN YOUR OWN PETS. {**TAKE PKG**} {**SOT**} "Osteoarthritis is a common, painful condition in both dogs and cats." [TRT=06 ] OUTCUE: BOTH DOGS AND CATS] {**VO**} VETERINARIAN TERRY FOSSUM SAYS IF YOU HAVE A PET WHO IS OVER EIGHT YEARS OLD... THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY HAVE OSTEO-ARTHRITIS. [CG: Dr. Terry Fossum, CEO of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care] {**SOT**} "If you look at dogs, 80% of them will develop osteoarthritis in their lifetime. And in cats, it's even more, it's 90%. In cats, osteoarthritis is very painful but they are very good at hiding the signs." [TRT: 14 ] [OUTCUE: HIDING THE SIGNS.] {**VO**} ARTHRITIS REFERS TO ALL TYPES OF JOINT PAIN... BUT OSTEOARTHRITIS IS SPECIFICALLY WHEN JOINT TISSUES BREAK DOWN... INCLUDING CARTILAGE CAUSING PAIN AND STIFFNESS. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY INJURIES AND OLD AGE. {**SOT**} "Dogs commonly get hip dysplasia and that may not manifest with clinical signs until they're middle aged or older." [TRT: 07 ] OUTCUE: MIDDLE AGED OR OLDER.] {**VO**} HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PET'S IN PAIN? SHE SAYS FOR DOGS... YOU MAY NOTICE THEM SHIFTING THEIR WEIGHT... STRUGGLING WITH STAIRS... OR SEEMING STIFF. CATS MAY BE LESS OBVIOUS. {**SOT**} "The signs of osteoarthritis in cats can be very subtle for example, they may stop jumping on the counter, they may stop grooming themselves, so you need to be very observant." [TRT: 10 ] OUTCUE: BE VERY OBSERVANT.] {**VO**} TREATMENT MAY INVOLVE A LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR YOUR PET. {**SOT**} "If your pet is obese, we may put them on a calorie-restricted diet to make sure that they lose weight, as they lose weight, they'll start to exercise more, and then weight loss will become easier and easier. There are so many options now to treat osteoarthritis in pets. Some of them are new, so please talk to your veterinarian and let us find something that really does help." [TRT: 25 ] OUTCUE: REALLY DOES HELP.] {**END PKG**} {**ON CAM TAG**} DOCTOR FOSSUM SAYS SUPPLEMENTS LIKE C-B-D MAY HELP BUT MAKE SURE YOU CHECK WITH YOUR VET ON THE RIGHT DOSE. _________________________ TEASES: THERE ARE SOME SMALL SIGNS YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR THAT MAY INDICATE YOUR PET IS STRUGGLING WITH ARTHRITIS AS THEY AGE. WE'LL GO OVER THE WARNING SIGNS. ### ARTHRITIS IS COMMON IN MIDDLE-AGED PETS. LEARN HOW TO SIGN SPOTS OF IT IN YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS. ### IS YOUR PET MOVING SLOWER THAN USUAL? IT COULD BE ARTHRTIS. DISCOVER THE SIGNS AND THE TREATMENTS TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND ACTIVE.

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STORY FORMAT: PKG & Teases Below TRT: 1:42 {**ON CAM**} ARTHRITIS DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOUR GRANDPARENTS. YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS MAY ALSO FEEL THE PAIN. SEPTEMBER IS 'ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH'... A TIME WHEN VETS EDUCATE US ABOUT DIFFERENT HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE OUR PETS SOME PAIN. HERE'S A VET'S ADVICE ON HOW YOU CAN DETECT ARTHRITIS IN YOUR OWN PETS. {**TAKE PKG**} {**SOT**} "Osteoarthritis is a common, painful condition in both dogs and cats." [TRT=06 ] OUTCUE: BOTH DOGS AND CATS] {**VO**} VETERINARIAN TERRY FOSSUM SAYS IF YOU HAVE A PET WHO IS OVER EIGHT YEARS OLD... THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY HAVE OSTEO-ARTHRITIS. [CG: Dr. Terry Fossum, CEO of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care] {**SOT**} "If you look at dogs, 80% of them will develop osteoarthritis in their lifetime. And in cats, it's even more, it's 90%. In cats, osteoarthritis is very painful but they are very good at hiding the signs." [TRT: 14 ] [OUTCUE: HIDING THE SIGNS.] {**VO**} ARTHRITIS REFERS TO ALL TYPES OF JOINT PAIN... BUT OSTEOARTHRITIS IS SPECIFICALLY WHEN JOINT TISSUES BREAK DOWN... INCLUDING CARTILAGE CAUSING PAIN AND STIFFNESS. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY INJURIES AND OLD AGE. {**SOT**} "Dogs commonly get hip dysplasia and that may not manifest with clinical signs until they're middle aged or older." [TRT: 07 ] OUTCUE: MIDDLE AGED OR OLDER.] {**VO**} HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PET'S IN PAIN? SHE SAYS FOR DOGS... YOU MAY NOTICE THEM SHIFTING THEIR WEIGHT... STRUGGLING WITH STAIRS... OR SEEMING STIFF. CATS MAY BE LESS OBVIOUS. {**SOT**} "The signs of osteoarthritis in cats can be very subtle for example, they may stop jumping on the counter, they may stop grooming themselves, so you need to be very observant." [TRT: 10 ] OUTCUE: BE VERY OBSERVANT.] {**VO**} TREATMENT MAY INVOLVE A LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR YOUR PET. {**SOT**} "If your pet is obese, we may put them on a calorie-restricted diet to make sure that they lose weight, as they lose weight, they'll start to exercise more, and then weight loss will become easier and easier. There are so many options now to treat osteoarthritis in pets. Some of them are new, so please talk to your veterinarian and let us find something that really does help." [TRT: 25 ] OUTCUE: REALLY DOES HELP.] {**END PKG**} {**ON CAM TAG**} DOCTOR FOSSUM SAYS SUPPLEMENTS LIKE C-B-D MAY HELP BUT MAKE SURE YOU CHECK WITH YOUR VET ON THE RIGHT DOSE. _________________________ TEASES: THERE ARE SOME SMALL SIGNS YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR THAT MAY INDICATE YOUR PET IS STRUGGLING WITH ARTHRITIS AS THEY AGE. WE'LL GO OVER THE WARNING SIGNS. ### ARTHRITIS IS COMMON IN MIDDLE-AGED PETS. LEARN HOW TO SIGN SPOTS OF IT IN YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS. ### IS YOUR PET MOVING SLOWER THAN USUAL? IT COULD BE ARTHRTIS. DISCOVER THE SIGNS AND THE TREATMENTS TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND ACTIVE.

VO/SOTS:

STORY FORMAT: VO/SOTVOs & Teases below Editors: Time codes for each clip are included in the scripts below. Extra B-Roll is also provided. VO/SOTVO #1: {**ON CAM**} SEPTEMBER IS 'ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH'. A TIME WHEN VETS EDUCATE US ABOUT DIFFERENT HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE PAIN FOR OUR PETS. {**VO**} [VO Time Code - :04-:33] ONE HEALTH ISSUE IS OSTEO-ARTHRITIS. THAT'S WHEN INJURIES OR OLD AGE MAKE JOINT TISSUES BREAK DOWN... CAUSING PAIN AND STIFFNESS. VETERINARIAN TERRY FOSSUM SAYS IF YOUR PET IS MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OLD... THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM IT. [CG: Dr. Terry Fossum, CEO of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care] {**SOT**} [SOT/VO Time Code - :38-1:17] "If you look at dogs, 80% of them will develop osteoarthritis in their lifetime. And in cats, it's even more, it's 90%. In cats, osteoarthritis is very painful but they are very good at hiding the signs." [TRT: 14 ] [OUTCUE: HIDING THE SIGNS.] {**VO**} DOCTOR FOSSUM SAYS DOGS MAY HAVE OSTEO-ARTHRITIS IF YOU SEE THEM SHIFTING THEIR WEIGHT... STRUGGLING WITH STAIRS... OR SEEMING STIFF. CATS MAY STOP GROOMING THEMSELVES AS MUCH... AND BE LESS ACTIVE. VETS CAN TREAT OSTEO-ARTHRITIS BY CHANGING YOUR PET'S DIET SO THEY LOSE WEIGHT. THEY CAN ALSO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTS. VO/SOTVO #2: {**ON CAM**} SEPTEMBER IS 'ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH'. A TIME WHEN VETS EDUCATE US ABOUT DIFFERENT HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE PAIN FOR OUR PETS. {**VO**} [VO Time Code - 1:21-2:04] ONE HEALTH ISSUE IS OSTEO-ARTHRITIS. THAT'S WHEN INJURIES OR OLD AGE MAKE JOINT TISSUES BREAK DOWN... CAUSING PAIN AND STIFFNESS. VETERINARIAN TERRY FOSSUM SAYS IF YOUR PET IS MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OLD... THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM IT. SHE SAYS DOGS MAY HAVE OSTEO-ARTHRITIS IF YOU SEE THEM SHIFTING THEIR WEIGHT... STRUGGLING WITH STAIRS... OR SEEMING STIFF. CATS MAY STOP GROOMING THEMSELVES AS MUCH... AND BE LESS ACTIVE. SHE SAYS BEING OVERWEIGHT CAN ALSO CAUSE STRESS ON THE JOINTS... LEADING TO OSTEO-ARTHRITIS. [CG: Dr. Terry Fossum, CEO of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care] {**SOT**} [SOT/VO Time Code - 2:08-2:29] "If your pet is obese, we may put them on a calorie-restricted diet to make sure that they lose weight, as they lose weight, they'll start to exercise more, and then weight loss will become easier and easier." [TRT: 14] [OUTCUE: EASIER AND EASIER] {**VO**} DOCTOR FOSSUM SAYS VETS MAY ALSO TREAT OSTEO-ARTHRITIS BY PRESCRIBING MEDICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTS. _________________________ TEASES: THERE ARE SOME SIGNS YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR THAT MAY INDICATE YOUR PET IS STRUGGLING WITH ARTHRITIS AS THEY AGE. WE'LL GO OVER THE SYMPTOMS. ### ARTHRITIS IS COMMON IN MIDDLE-AGED PETS. LEARN HOW TO SIGN SPOTS OF IT IN YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS. ### IS YOUR PET MOVING SLOWER THAN USUAL? IT COULD BE ARTHRTIS. DISCOVER THE SIGNS AND THE TREATMENTS TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND ACTIVE.

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STORY FORMAT: Digital/Print Article WORD COUNT: 669 WRITTEN BY: Rebecca Guldberg OSTEOARTHRITIS IN PETS: WHAT EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW September is "Animal Pain Awareness Month," when veterinarians bring our attention to some conditions that may be causing pain for your four-legged family members. It turns out, arthritis doesn’t just affect your grandparents. Your pets, too, could be quietly suffering from this painful condition. According to Dr. Terry Fossum, a veterinarian and founder of Dr. Fossum's Pet Care, osteoarthritis is incredibly common in both dogs and cats. "Estimates suggest that 80% of all dogs will develop osteoarthritis at some point in their lives," says Dr. Fossum. "And for cats, the numbers are even more staggering. Around 90% of older cats have osteoarthritis." So, what causes this widespread issue in our furry friends, and what can we do to help them? For many, it’s simply a matter of age and wear and tear on the joints. "As pets get older, their joint cartilage can degrade over time, leading to painful bone-on-bone contact," explains Dr. Fossum. But age isn’t the only factor. Some pets can develop osteoarthritis due to genetic or congenital conditions. Other causes of arthritis can include joint injuries, such as ruptured ligaments, or infections that cause damage to the joint tissue. "The causes are varied, and so are the treatments," she adds. So, how do you know if your pet is suffering from osteoarthritis? “Look for the same signs you’d see in yourself as you age,” advises Dr. Fossum. Dogs, for instance, may be slow to get up after lying down, struggle with stairs, or show signs of stiffness and reduced activity. “Cats, on the other hand, are a bit trickier,” she notes. “They tend to hide their pain well, so the signs may be more subtle. You might notice your cat is grooming less, not jumping up to their favorite spots, or just moving less overall. Sometimes, it’s only when we give them pain relief that owners realize how much pain their cat was in.” Managing osteoarthritis in pets requires a comprehensive approach, which Dr. Fossum refers to as the “pillars of treatment.” These include pain management, weight control, exercise, and nutritional supplements. Here’s a closer look: - Pain Management:"Pain medication can be a lifesaver," says Dr. Fossum. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, but they’re not ideal for long-term use. We might also consider other options like CBD, though it’s essential to use products specifically made for pets to ensure safety and efficacy.” - Weight Control: Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for managing arthritis. "If a pet is overweight, we often recommend a calorie-restricted diet," Dr. Fossum explains. "This might include substituting a third of their regular diet with low-calorie options like carrots or green beans." - Exercise: Regular, moderate exercise helps keep joints mobile and muscles strong. “But the trick is to find the right balance,” Dr. Fossum adds. “Too much exercise can worsen the pain, especially at the beginning of treatment, so it’s essential to start slow.” - Supplements: Adding omega fatty acids and other supplements to a pet’s diet can also help. "Supplements like omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties that can support joint health," she notes. Cost can be a concern for many pet owners. “Unfortunately, the price of treating arthritis can vary significantly depending on the underlying cause,” Dr. Fossum admits. “It might be as simple as managing with medications and diet changes at home, or it could require surgery, which is obviously more expensive.” Certain breeds are more prone to arthritis than others. “Large-breed dogs, in particular, are at a higher risk,” Dr. Fossum explains. “For cats, it can be a mixed bag, with some breeds like Siamese potentially being more susceptible. But really, arthritis can affect any breed.” If you suspect your pet may be suffering from arthritis, don’t delay in seeking help. "The sooner you can get a proper diagnosis and start treatment, the better the chances are of managing the condition effectively," advises Dr. Fossum. “Osteoarthritis may not be curable, but with the right approach, we can make a huge difference in our pets' quality of life.”

A PAINFUL CONDITION YOUR PET MAY SECRETLY SUFFER FROM

PETS

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SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTIONS: 1. Arthritis isn't just for the grandparents! 🐾 Your furry friends may be suffering too. Learn how to detect and treat it! 🐶🐱 #PetHealth #ArthritisAwareness #VetCare #TheStoryPros 2. Did you know? By old age, up to 90% of cats and 80% of dogs suffer from osteoarthritis. 🐕🐈 Don’t ignore the signs! #PetCare #HealthyPets #VeterinaryMedicine #TheStoryPros 3. Is your pet moving slower than usual? It could be arthritis. 🐾 Discover the signs and treatments to keep them happy and active! #PetWellness #ArthritisInPets #FurryFamily #TheStoryPros 4. Pets feel pain too! 🐶🐱 Learn how to spot and treat arthritis in your four-legged friends. #PetHealthMatters #JointPain #Osteoarthritis #TheStoryPros 5. Your pet’s pain might be silent, but it’s real. 🐾 Stay observant and proactive about arthritis care! #VetTips #PetLovers #PetHealth #TheStoryPros 6. Arthritis is common in pets over 8 years old. 🐕🧡 Be aware of the subtle signs and help them live pain-free! #ArthritisAwareness #HealthyPets #SeniorPets #TheStoryPros 7. Small signs can mean big pain. 🐱🐕 Is your pet struggling with arthritis? Here’s what to look for and how to help. #PetParenting #PetWellness #VetAdvice #TheStoryPros 8. Osteoarthritis affects nearly every senior pet. 🐾 Learn from a vet on how to spot it early and give them the care they deserve. #PetHealth #SeniorDogs #SeniorCats #TheStoryPros 9. From hip dysplasia to subtle changes in behavior, arthritis affects pets of all ages. 🐶💔 Spot the signs and help them heal. #PetCare #FurryCompanions #ArthritisInPets #TheStoryPros 10. Weight loss, exercise, and new treatments can help your pet combat arthritis pain. 🐾 Talk to your vet today! #HealthyPets #PetParenting #VeterinaryCare #TheStoryPros
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