Arthritis is a condition where one or more joints become swollen or inflamed. It can affect the hips, elbows, knees, and neck.
here are two types of arthritis:
Primary – Rheumatoid Arthritis: this is a progressive and uncommon disease where the immune system attacks healthy joints.
Secondary – Osteoarthritis: the cartilage around a joint gets damaged, so new bone forms around the joint. This has no cartilage protecting it, and causes stiffness and pain.
CAUSES:
While arthritis normally affects older dogs, and worsens with age, dogs of any age can have it.
Primary:
Old age
Injury
Auto-immune diseases (the immune system attacks its own body)
Secondary:
Old age
Injury
Disease: hip dysplasia, ligament rupture, joint infection
Obesity
SIGNS:
Painful joints
Swollen joints
Joint stiffness
Lameness, taking longer to get to its feet, unable to jump or climb
Loss of apdogite
Depression
DIAGNOSIS:
In order to properly diagnose your dog with arthritis, your veterinarian will begin with the following:
Review of medical history
Physical exam: flexing the joints and listening for abnormal joint sounds, as well as looking for swelling or heat in your dog’s limbs
You veterinarian may also perform the following tests:
CBC blood test (complete blood count): measures the total amount of red and white blood cells in the body
X-rays of the affected areas: to determine the type of arthritis
Joint Tap: draining and studying joint fluid
TREATMENT:
The course of treatment depends mainly on what is causing the disease.
Infection: antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications
Obesity: diet change
If treatments are not helping the pain:
Surgery: fragments of cartilage or bone in the joint can be removed to decrease swelling, and in extremely painful cases, the affected joint may be removed
Dietary supplements: stimulates new cartilage growth in the joints and can alleviate some discomfort
Veterinarian-developed exercise routine: too much exercise for an arthritic dog can cause severe pain; however, too little exercise will make your dog’s joints even stiffer
Medications: long-term steroids and anti-inflammatory usemay alleviate the symptoms
PREVENTION:
There is no known prevention.
PROGNOSIS:
There is no cure for arthritis, but your veterinarian can give you treatment options so you dog can live a comfortable life. You should pay attention to your dog’s movements, as catching arthritis early leaves more options for your dog to live comfortably.
Comments