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 Arthritis in Dogs
 Canine Arthritis
 Dog Arthritis Directory
 Dog Arthritis
 Dog Arthritis Resource
 Joint Pain

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                                            Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis

Arthritis doesn't discriminate. It affects not only people of all ages, but also strikes our furry friends, too. If you're a dog-owner and notice changes in mood and activity, he could be syffering from canine arthritis. In fact, canine arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.

Canine arthritis

Canine arthritis results from destruction of the cartilage that protects the bones that make up the joint. Cartilage destruction can be the result of normal stress on abnormal joints or abnormal stress on normal joints. Canine arthritis is likely to hit dog's body at the hip, shoulder, knees, elbows, wrists and ankles. Canine arthritis results from inflammation in the joints and is generally divided into two types - degenerative canine arthritis and inflammatory canine arthritis, according to the 
source of that irritation.

Degenerative Canine arthritis

Degenerative Canine arthritis may not manifest until the dog has had years of abnormal stress. Since cartilage has no nerves, the damage can progress with no outward signs until the joint is severely compromised and the lubricating fluid has thinned and lost its ability to protect the bone surfaces.

Inflammatory canine arthritis

Inflammatory canine arthritis can be caused by infection or by underlying immune-mediated diseases. Inflammatory canine arthritis usually affects multiple joints and is accompanied by signs of systemic illness including fever, anorexia, an all-over stiffness.

Again, this type of canine arthritis is subdivided into infectious and immune-mediated categories of canine arthritis. Infectious joint disease can be caused by bacteria, by tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and by fungal infection.

Immune-mediated canine arthritis is cause by underlying weakness in the immune system and can be hereditary.

Rheumatoid canine arthritis, a deforming type of immune-mediated canine arthritis, is rare in dogs. Systemic lupus and an idiopathic (unidentified) immune-related canine arthritis both can cause non-destructive joint infections. Because infectious canine arthritis and immune-mediated canine arthritis calls for different treatment protocols, diagnosis must be accurate. The immuno-suppressive drugs used to treat the immune-mediated disease may allow the infectious type of disease to thrive.

The most common cause of canine arthritis is damage to joints from accidents. Damage to ligaments in knees and shoulders are common joint injuries received from accidents. In time, this can lead to inflamed joints and arthritic symptoms.

Signs of canine arthritis

Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play Limping Lagging behind on walks Difficulty rising from a resting position Yelping in pain when touched A personality change resisting touch Treatment Canine arthritis can sometimes be halted or prevented by surgery when x-rays indicate joint malformations. If surgery is not indicated or advisable, relief can be achieved with painkillers, exercise, rest, and diet. However, even over-the-counter painkillers for canine arthritis should not be used without the advice of a veterinarian Canine arthritis patients should be under veterinary care, and the veterinarian can determine which canine arthritis treatment is the best. Whether drugs, surgery, or both are indicated in canine arthritis treatment, owners should make sure their pets get plenty of rest and moderate exercise during canine arthritis treatment and recuperation. Ultimately, the type and duration of exercise for a canine arthritis patient will have to be restricted to reduce the pain as much as possible.

Treating canine arthritis is similar to that of human arthritis. Therapies may include:
Healthy diet and exercise to help maintain proper weight to prevent and control canine arthritis.
Working with your veterinarian to find a drug treatment that helps relieve the pain from canine arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are the most common form of pharmaceutical treatment for canine arthritis You can also use over-the-counter canine arthritis treatments with your dog, such as pills or food containing either glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids. Both have shown to help relieve the symptoms of canine arthritis 

Non Pharmaceutical Treatments for canine arthritis
There are no miracle cures for canine arthritis. Most large dogs develop canine arthritis as they age, so care should be taken to make old dogs with arthritis more comfortable and improve their lives Most large dogs develop canine arthritis as they age. Although there are no miracle cures, much can be done to maintain them healthy. Regular and gentle exercise, Weight control and a healthy diet is highly recommended for canine arthritis patients Never give your dog human medication on canine arthritis without checking first with your veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs.