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Arthritis Info
Managing Your Dog's Degenerative Joint Disease
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Arthritis Blog Topics
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Dr. Michael Dym
Holistic & Conventional Veterinarian
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"Over 19 years of caring for
the well-being of pets"
Visit his Ask the Vet blog.
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Arthritis Pain in Dogs and Cats
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What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis means inflammation of the joint. The most common arthritis in dogs and cats is osteoarthritis (OA), named because the problem is caused by the bones (osteo). Pet arthritis (also known as feline arthritis or canine arthritis) can also be caused by infection (septic arthritis or bacterial arthritis in dogs) or by the body attacking itself in an immune system malfunction (rheumatoid arthritis).
With pet osteoarthritis, bones are damaged because cartilage has given way. Cartilage is there to act as a cushion preventing bone from hitting bone as the joint moves. If the cartilage dries, roughens, or chips, bare bones are exposed. The exposed bone flattens and loses resilience so the joint no longer moves smoothly; it jerks and creaks. In response, the body sends white blood cells to the joint, but instead of repairing damage, the white blood cells release enzymes and free radicals that make things worse. The synovial fluid bathing the joint loses viscosity because it is damaged by the white blood cells' enzymes. As the synovial fluid thins, it's no longer able to resist joint compression or provide lubrication. Eventually, even the capsule that surrounds the joint inflames. The pet then has painful arthritis.
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Over 90% of geriatric cats have arthritis
Over 12 million cats in the US have arthritis
1 out of every 5 dogs over the age of 7 has arthritis
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Recommended Joint Supplements for Arthritic Dogs and Cats
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Recommended Pet Medications for Arthritic Dogs and Cats
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Which Pets Are Most at Risk for Developing Arthritis?
Most dogs in their senior years have arthritis. In fact, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common skeletal disease of dogs. Working, athletic, obese dogs-and those with diabetes or Cushing's disease-are especially prone. Trauma and injury, hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia also predispose pets to arthritis. Cats get arthritis too, and estimates are that 12 million cats in the US (20% of cats) have feline arthritis.
Dog Breeds Predisposed to Arthritis |
American Bulldog
American Staffordshire Terrier
Beagle
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound
Bouvier des Flandres
Boykin Spaniel
Briard
Brittany
Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel
Coonhound (Black and Tan)
Coton de Tuléar
Curly Coated Retriever
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
Giant Schnauzer
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Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Kuvasz
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Norwegian Elkhound
Old English Sheepdog
Otterhund
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Portuguese Water Dog
Pudel Pointer
Pug
Rottweiler
Shih Tzu
Spanish Water Dog
St. Bernard
Staffordshire Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Welsh Corgi
Welsh Springer Spaniel
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Max's Tip: Swimming is often recommended as an alternative exercise for arthritic dogs because of the low impact it places on your dog's joints. |
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