Arthritis in dogs and cats

Arthritis is a common condition affecting both dogs and cats. Dogs aged 7-11 years of age have a 65% chance of developing arthritis.

Arthritis was also traditionally thought to be a condition affecting dogs but research has shown that cats are also affected by the disease and in practice we are now treating more and more cats.

Arthritis is caused by abnormalities of the joints in the body and where significant structural changes have occurred. Some of the more common causes of arthritis, which is basically inflammation of a joint, are misalignment of joint structures, poor diet and nutrition, accident or infection to the joints, torn ligaments and tendons, genetic malformation of the bone structure, plus overweight puppies during the growth stages and also auto-immune problems.

Arthritis can ultimately result in joints that simply don't work properly. Since there are no blood vessels or sensory nerves in joint cartilage, damage to cartilage can be quite advanced before the surrounding supportive tissues become inflamed and sore.

Symptoms of arthritis can include:

•                         Difficulty sitting or standing
•                         Seems to have stiff or sore joints
•                         Favoring a limb
•                         Will hesitate when trying to jump, run or climb stairs
•                         Sleeping more
•                         Weight gain
•                         Showing less interest in play or being less alert

What are the factors affecting my dog's/ cat's chances of getting arthritis?

Arthritis may affect dogs and cats to some degree but there are factors which can make your animal more likely to develop arthritis:

1) AGE Arthritis is thought of as a geriatric disease which affects senior dogs and cats as part of the ageing process. Generally this is true but arthritis can also affect younger animals- see below for causes of arthritis in the younger animal. Owners of senior pets can prevent the onset of arthritis by maintaining weight and exercise levels.

2) HIP DISEASE AND JOINT DISEASE This is a chronic disease which causes lameness and pain in the joint. There are thought to be both genetic and environmental factors which can cause the disease and owners of these animals should work closely with their vet to control the disease. Dogs with diseases like hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia; a genetic disease, have a greatly increased risk of developing arthritis if the disease isn't managed correctly.

3) INJURIES Injuries to the bones, joints or ligaments can make arthritis more likely in later life. Common injuries involving joints include a ruptured cruciate ligament in the stifle (knee) of dogs which can make arthritis more likely if they aren't treated and managed effectively at the time of injury as well as after the injury has occured.

4) OBESITY Obesity in  both senior and younger animals can greatly increase their risk of developing arthritis. It is important to tackle obesity and get your animal to a healthy bodyweight to ensure their risk of arthritis is reduced. Hetting your animal to play, exercise and controlling it's diet are all key factors to keeping your animal at it's optimum bodyweight. For obese animals your vet may also recommend a special prescription calorie controlled diet to help your animal loose weight.

5) NUTRITION It is throught that diets imbalance in minerals or lacking a certain type or amount of protein fed to your animal in it's younger years can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. It is therefore important that your pet is fed a well balance complete diet to ensure it is getting all it needs; ask in practice for an individual diet recommendation.

6) POOR BREEDING Certain animals; especially breeds of dog are prone to osteoarthritis genetically. Breed lines shown to have dogs prone to osteoarthritis should not be bred from.

My pet has arthritis; what can I do?

Once your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis there are things that can be done to manage the disease:

NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti Inflammatories)

These are a drug which can be prescribed to your animal to help with osteoarthritis. They don't stop the process but aid as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory for joint pain and joint stiffness associated with arthritis.

Common NSAIDs used in the treatment of arthritis include Metacam (Meloxicam) and Rimadyl (Carprofen.)

Controlling Weight

If your animal is overweight this can increase the strain and pressure their joints are under. By reducing food intake and keeping up exercise levels to help your pet loose excess weight the pressure on the joints is alleviated. But exercise in arthritis has to be managed carefully- as too much exercise can cause further damage to the joints- speak to your vet about the right exercise levels for your pet.

HILLS J/D PRESCRIPTION DIET FOR DOGS AND CATS

EXERCISE IN A PET WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS

Regular gentle exercise is best for animals with arthritis as it helps to prevent the joints from stiffening up and ensures your pet stays active. Arthritic dogs should not undergo strenuous exercise such as chasing or playing fetch as this can cause the joints to stiffen up and be painful. Ask your vet for the most suitable exercise plan for your dog.

HYDROTHERAPY

Hydrotherapy can be very beneficial to dogs with arthritis. By allowing your dog to swim in a specialised hydrotherapy pool it's weight is supported; allowing your dog to exercise without causing joint pain. This helps to build muscle mass which can help support the joints. Most of all; dogs seem to love it! Ask in practice about how hydro can benefit your dog. The practice is home to Theravet; a seperate company which offers hydrotherapy to practice clients.

JOINT SUPPLEMENTS

Joint supplements to help maintain healthy joints may also be recommended in helping manage arthritis. The practice uses Cosequin which comes in a capsule or tablet form for both dogs and cats. It contains three ingredients Chondroitin Sulfate (TRH122), Glucosamine Hydrochloride (FCHG49) and Manganese Ascorbate. These three ingredients have been scientifically formulated in order to support and maintain the health of a dog or cat's joints.

They can be used both in animals which are already affected by arthritis but also given to younger animals or animals at high risk of arthritis to help maintain healthy joints as a preventative measure.