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)
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 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.
Comprehensive Profiles on Select Joint Care Products
Comprehensive profiles and low prices on
three popular joint care products
Cosequin Supplements
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Glyco-Flex
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Deramaxx
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