We all know someone with arthritis, whether it’s a human friend or family member, or an animal companion. But if asked to describe what goes on inside an arthritic joint, many of us would be lost for words. We know it hurts, but we don’t really know why or how it happens.
Dogs and cats have an intricate skeletal system made of bones, muscles tendons and ligaments. The joints are the hinges that allow the skeleton to move and flex in amazing ways. They’re composed of cartilage over the bone ends and are stabilized by tendons and ligaments. The cartilage is a smooth but tough and protective coating for the bones underneath. It absorbs shock and reduces friction. The synovial tissue encloses the joint in a joint capsule and the synovial or joint fluid adds to the cushioning effects and provides lubrication for smooth joint action. When joints are damaged by disease or injury, inflammation results. Inflammation in the joints is known as arthritis. It may be either degenerative or inflammatory in nature. Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is more common in dogs than inflammatory joint disease.
How does osteoarthritis develop?
With osteoarthritis, changes that occur in the cartilage cause damage in the underlying bone. The cartilage provides a cushion for the bones of the joint during movement and prevents them from rubbing or hitting each other. But if it becomes dried or chipped, the underlying layer of cartilage-producing cells is exposed. These cells lose elasticity and begin to degenerate, and the cells that make up the cartilage matrix decrease.
Enzymes are released that damage the cartilage and thin the synovial fluid, greatly reducing its lubricating properties. The bones are exposed and the articular surfaces rub together, causing further damage and interfering with the joint’s normally smooth movement. This leads to joint instability. The joint fluid increases further and the joint space is filled with thin fluid and degenerating cartilage debris. The animal’s body responds by sending white blood cells to the affected joint. These cells release enzymes that cause inflammation and swelling or effusion in the joint. This causes stiffness and pain.
Unfortunately, since the joint cartilage does not contain any nerves, considerable damage and thinning of the synovial fluid has to take place before degenerative joint disease manifests itself. The remodeling and inflammatory changes create pain and decrease the mobility of the affected joint. Muscle atrophy results from the disuse of the painful limb. Pain and discomfort result in lameness that may be more noticeable first thing in the morning or upon rising.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that gets worse as more and more of the cartilage in the joint dies. When the cartilage has all degenerated, then the sensitive bone (which does have innervation) is exposed. This is an extremely painful situation and the animal will be lame by this stage.
Causes of degenerative joint disease
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in dogs and can be divided into primary or secondary arthritis.
Primary osteoarthritis is due to an inherited predisposition towards the problem. An example would be hip dysplasia in certain lines of German shepherd. These dogs are predisposed because their inherited anatomical conformation puts excessive stress on the hip joints.
Secondary osteoarthritis results from wear and tear on the joint. This can be abnormal stress on normal joints, or normal stress on abnormal joints. Vigorous exercise, excessive jumping, injuries, accidents or stretching and tearing ligaments can lead to arthritis due to abnormal stresses on previously normal joints. Large breed dogs are more susceptible to osteoarthritis due to increased weight and stress on the joints. Dogs who are overweight, senior, working or have medical conditions such as diabetes are also at an increased risk of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is also seen in cats. In a recent study, it was found that 90% of cats over the age of 12 had radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease. Clinical signs of arthritis in cats can be a reluctance to use the litter box, poor grooming habits, decreased appetite, weight loss, depression, neurological signs and lameness. Many cases of arthritis are idiopathic in nature.
Focus on inflammatory arthritis Inflammatory
joint disease can be caused by infections (septic arthritis) or immune mediated disease. Diagnosis is critical for both these types of arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is usually accompanied by systemic illness such as fever, loss of appetite and painful movement. Generally, multiple joints are involved.
Infectious joint disease can be caused by bacteria, tick borne diseases (such as Lyme disease) or fungal infections. These organisms and the body’s response to them damage the joint and the cartilage.
Immune mediated arthritis can be caused by an underlying immune deficiency or problem. It results from the body attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus are two types of inflammatory arthritis, neither of which is very common in animals.
How it arthritis diagnosed?
Radiography of the bones and joints can confirm degenerative joint disease that had been diagnosed based on clinical signs. In cases of suspected infectious or immune arthritis, a joint fluid analysis may be needed. Special blood tests may also be needed to diagnose conditions such as tick borne arthritis and lupus.
Learning something about the pathology of arthritis and its causes will help you determine when your companion animal might be starting to suffer from the disease and is in need of a veterinary diagnosis and treatment. A little education on your part can mean a long, healthy and painfree life for your best friend!
Treatment and prevention Treatments for arthritis are varied but focus on reducing pain and improving mobility.
• Pharmaceutical treatments can include steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, polyglycosaminoglycans (drugs that prevent cartilage breakdown) and painkillers.
• Surgical treatments may be necessary for some conditions.
• More natural treatments include glucosamine, Omega 3 fatty acids, dietary therapy, acupuncture, laser or magnetic therapy, herbal treatments, chiropractic, massage and physiotherapy including water therapy.
• Weight loss and exercise are extremely important for any arthritic animal.
A good healthy diet and proper exercise can help prevent arthritis or reduce its effects. Maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding obesity are critical. Omega 3 fatty acids can help prevent the inflammation seen with degenerative joint disease. Supplements like glucosamine can also help prevent arthritis.
Q) I would like to know the best way to keep my dog’s bed clean. I have a Springer Spaniel and he comes in from walks quite wet and often his bed smells. Any easy answer?!
A) Of course there is the very easy answer to pop your dog’s bed in the washing machine, providing it’s small enough to fit! But choosing the right dog bed in the first place can help make life easier.
Beds made from a collection of old towels and blankets are best washed at high temperatures and regularly treated for fleas. Fabric beds purchased from pet stores can also be cleaned in the same way. A longer laster alternative – and arguably easier to clean – is to invest in a waterproof bed. The initial cost may be higher, but its higher durability should last a lot longer.
Dog Picture to make you Smile. I Love Fridays!
Cute or What!
COMPETITION TIME, DOG LOVERS!
WIN A BOTTLE OF SOIL ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED ORGANIC DOG SHAMPOO, COURTESY OF Bonnie & Bailey!
For the chance to win, simply answer the following question by posting in the comments below…
A dog shampoo labelled “organic” is required by law to contain what percentage of organic ingredients: Is it…
A) 100%
B) 50%
C) 20%
D) 10%
Correct answers will be published on 30 April, 2016.*
*winners will be placed in a draw on 31 April, the three winners will receive a bottle of shampoo of their choice!
UK entries only.
Visit http://www.bonnieandbailey.com for more information.
Good Luck everyone!
National Pet Month promotes responsible pet ownership. A key part of being a dog owner is regularly worming your dog. Here we break down everything you need to know about worming. http://www.yourdog.co.uk/Indepth-Dog-…/worming-your-dog.html. Go to Links to find out more.
Four Paws Dog Archie presenting me with his soft toy on my arrival at his home!
Thank you Archie. You’re a darling!
No charges will be brought against TV “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan following an investigation of animal cruelty complaints involving an episode in which a dog nipped a pig’s ear, authorities said on Monday.
The investigation showed the dog accidentally escaped Millan’s control. The dog was captured moments later, while people present attended to the pig and called in a veterinarian, who found there was no need for treatment, Los Angeles County deputy district attorney David Jacobs wrote in a case evaluation statement.
“There is no evidence that the pig was used as bait, and all parties who witnessed the incident felt it was an accident,” the evaluation said. “Although in the video the pig is seen bleeding, the dog’s act was merely a nip and did not tear or bite the skin off.”
The complaint was started online and based on footage from Millan’s television show Cesar 911, in which a French bulldog-terrier mix named Simon was undergoing behavior modification because it had a history of attacking other animals, including its owner’s pigs.
Simon chased and nipped the pig after Millan placed the animals together in a yard. A Change.org petition called on Nat Geo Wild to take the show off the air, calling Millan’s methods inhumane.
The county department of animal care and control independently investigated and concluded the pig “is fine and has no discernable injury to its ear”, the evaluation said.
Millan said in a statement that he was pleased but not surprised by the decision.
“Our animal handling procedures are safe and humane … I am continuing my work rescuing and rehabilitating even the most difficult problem dogs, which has saved the lives of thousands of animals that otherwise would have been euthanized,” Millan said.
The dog trainer has said he has used the same technique to help aggressive canines hundreds of times. The training involves getting the dog together with the animal it doesn’t like so the two can learn to get along.
Millan’s attorney, Brian Klein, said his client cooperated throughout the investigation.
“We were always confident that Animal Control would conclude that Cesar and his team did nothing wrong and that there would be no charges,” he said.
Love this picture even thought ‘Happy National Pet Day’ was yesterday!
The Las Vegas Police Department honoured K9 Officer Nicky with a funeral service on Wednesday, April 6.
Nicky was killed in the line of duty on March 31 while pursuing a homicide suspect.
The eight-year-old Belgian Malinois had worked with the Las Vegas Police Department for six years.
Sgt. Eric Kerns, who spoke at the funeral and received Nicky’s coffin flag, had been his handler for the last three years.
Several other K9 officers paid tribute to the fallen dog at the service, which can be see in this video.
On March 31, James Craig Simpson, 31, was shot and wounded by police, and Nicky was killed in the exchange of bullets.
Police said earlier this week that Nicky was struck by a single bullet from one of the officers.
Local reports state Simpson had killed two people before police arrived after his mother alerted them to her son’s erratic behavior.
Brandon Hughes and his mother, Felecia Wimberly-Hughes, were found dead at the scene.
Nicky had been back to duty since the beginning of March.
He had been wounded when a suspect slashed the dog during a standoff with police in February.
Visit the Daily Telegraph website to watch video of the service.
Watch out, ducklings about …
It’s that time of year when mother ducks lead their ducklings to water, sometimes across busy roads. So over keep an eye out for mother duck and her young crossing the roads.
‘Abandoned’ baby birds.
Please leave ‘abandoned’ baby birds alone. If you find a young bird out of its nest it is probably a fledgling.
Young garden birds usually leave the nest about two weeks after hatching – just before they can fly. They will have grown all or most of their feathers, are very mobile and can walk, run and hop onto low branches.
Fledglings are fed by their parents – the parents are rarely far away and are probably collecting food. However, they will not return to the fledglings until you have gone.
