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Understanding Arthritis in Dogs

Information on dog arthritis including a look at the dog joint, arthritis disease terminology and treatment options.
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information on arthritis in dogs
 
Pet Meds   >   Special Pet Health Topics   >   Joint Care   >   Arthritis In Dogs
 
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The Dog Joint And Arthritis

A dog's joints can most simply be described as the hinges that hold the skeletal system together. Joints are what give the skeleton movement and flexibility. A dog has 3 kinds of joints - ball and socket (e.g., hip), hinge (e.g., knee)
understanding arthritis in dogs
and gliding (e.g., ankle). The tendons and ligaments help stabilize and hold the joint together and synovial fluid surrounds and lubricates the joint for smooth action. Canine cartilage helps protect the bones that make up the joint and is important to overall joint health.
 
The term arthritis is actually a broad term used to describe a large number of medical conditions resulting in joint pain. Some terms commonly used to describe arthritis in dogs include osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, and inflammatory joint disease. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in dogs, is a condition of wear and tear usually associated with aging or injury. Related symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and enlarged joints. The term degenerative joint disease is commonly used to describe arthritis in dogs and is sometimes used to describe a kind of osteoarthritis. Degenerative joint disease is usually characterized by degeneration of the cartilage that protects the joint bones. Cartilage destruction often occurs in dogs with "normal" joints who have endured continuous levels of high activity or strenuous exercise. However, cartilage degeneration can also occur with light to moderate activity if the joint is abnormal to start with. The condition hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip sockets, is a good example of arthritis in dogs where normal activity on abnormal joints results in destruction of cartilage. Canine cartilage has few to no nerves, so degeneration can occur "unfelt" for quite a while, even years, before outward signs of developing joint disease are visible. Watch arthritis prone dog breeds like St. Bernards, German Shepards, Rottweilers and Goldens carefully.
 
The term inflammatory joint disease usually covers canine joint issues related to infections or immune system abnormalities. Inflammatory joint disease may or may not manifest itself in actual joint "damage" buy rather, may sometimes be the result of an infection in the joint area. Rheumatoid arthritis, a form of inflammatory joint disease, rare in dogs, is a condition where the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that damages the joints. Systemic lupus can also cause joint infections as well. Certain fungal infections and tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever can also cause inflammatory joint disease too. Some common symptoms of canine inflammatory joint disease include, but are not limited to fever, loss of appetite and stiffness. You should consult your veterinarian if you see signs of joint pain in your pet.
 
Proper diagnosis is crucial in treating arthritis in dogs, for example, some medications for infectious joint disease can actually exacerbate and worsen a condition caused by an immune related joint disease. Visit thoroughly with your veterinarian regarding which tests to run, your pets's overall health plan, all meds, supplements, vitamins, other health products your pet is taking, observed symptoms, arthritis diagnosis and potential treatment options.

treating arthritis in dogs
Treating Joint Problems and Health Concerns
On occasion, degenerative joint disease and/or hip dysplasia can be treated with surgery. The surgery option, often successful, can be quite expensive and involved. Relief can sometimes be achieved with exercise and rest. Excess weight can create added stress on the joints and exacerbate existing arthritis pain, consequently, for overweight pets, a reduction in weight resulting from a beneficial diet change can sometimes help as well. Prescription medications such as rimadyl, adequan, etogesic, deramaxx and others are often helpful. There are also some non-prescription supplements like cosequin and glycoflex that many doctors like as well. All dogs with arthritis should be under a veterinarian's care and observation, you'll want to visit thoroughly with your veterinarian so they can determine which treatment is best for your pet.

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