Help With Arthritis Pain: Help your animals with their arthritis.

Here are some basics concerning animals with arthritis:

• Arthritis is thought to affect one in every five dogs and about the same number in cats. In dogs and cats it is one of the most common health problems seen by vets and unfortunately is rarely noticed in the early stages because Fluffy and Fido tend to ignore soreness and discomfort until the changes in the joints have progressed significantly. They just want to please us.

• “Primary arthritis i.e., unrelated to another condition commonly accompanies old age in humans but is rare in dogs and cats, “ says Dr. Bradley R. Coolman, a surgery resident formerly with the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at Urbana.

• “In dogs and cats arthritis is most often caused by developmental or degenerative disease or by direct injury to a joint, such as a torn ligament. “

• More old dogs than young dogs have some form of joint disease, not just because they are old but because their increased years have offered more opportunities for insult to a joint.

• Joint pain occurs more often in large dogs than small dogs or cats. This is due to the fact that it is a function of the animal’s weight, which put stress on the joints. However, joint problems do occur in small dogs and cats.

• Our pets show evidence of this pain by limping or refusing to bear weight on the painful limb. Other indicators are: swollen joints, muscle atrophy and a dry crackling sound upon movement of the joint.

• Painful arthritis can result from degeneration of the cartilage or inflammation of the soft connective tissue.

• The goals of drug therapy for arthritis are to control pain, increase mobility, slow down the destructive process in the joint and encourage cartilage repair.

• There are many ways to treat animal arthritis. However, do not use human medicine to treat animals as this may cause unexpected side affects. Only anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by your veterinarian should be used for your pet.

• Surgery is a viable option for dogs with severe hip dysplasia. In these severe cases, veterinary surgeons can replace the hip with an artificial joint. However, most dogs require relief from pain and a moderate diet and exercise program to reduce the effects of the disease.

• Some findings concerning dogs with dysplasia are that most of these dogs aer overweight, so a reducing diet is in oreder if the dog's weight is causing undue pressure on the hips. Enforced rest is the simplest therapy for short-term relief, accdording to MedVet, and swimming is the best exercise because it can strentghtn the muscles around the hips swithout causing pain from weight-bearing. MedVet recommends 15-20 mindutes of swimmint two to five times per week for relief.

• Dogs, particularly small dogs, can experience significant tissue damage from as little as two regular strength acetaminophen tablets. Signs of distress appear quickly, especially if the dose is repeated, including salivation, vomiting, weakness, and abdominal pain.

• Some ibuprofen tablets are coated with sugar and appeal to dogs. Symptoms of ibuprofen toxicity include digestive upset, bloody stool, stagering, increased thirst, increased frequency of urination, liver disease, kidney disease and seizures.

According to one report on the internet, a chicken has also developed arthritis. This has yet to be confirmed. (This is not a joke).

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