Arthritis in Dogs and Cats: Recognising Signs and Symptoms

Arthritis (osteoarthritis / osteoarthritis) is a degenerate, progressive and irreversible condition of the joints, characterized by causing pain and inflammation in the joints (inflammation of one or more joints). The disease is very common in middle-aged/elderly dogs & cats and tends to greatly affect the joints in the limbs.

Causes of arthritis

Arthritis occurs when the cartilage that surrounds and protects the joint gradually deteriorates. It is characterized by the gradual loss of articular cartilage, bone spikes/growth, as well as thickening and scarring of connective tissue around the joint.

Classification of arthritis:

- Primary arthritis: due to the aging process in dogs/cats, the joints degenerate and become less flexible.

- Secondary arthritis: due to injury (fracture of bones/ligaments/tendons/muscles), dislocation or infection of the joints, or pre-existing conditions such as hip or elbow dysplasia.

- Common in dogs/cats aged middle-aged or older (> 7 years old).

- Dogs/cats with obesity

- Dogs/cats that have been injured in the joints are also at high risk of recurrence.

- Some congenital abnormalities are also more likely to be affected by arthritis. Hip dysplasia is a good example.

- In cats, cat breeds such as Himalayan, Persian, Maine Coons, and Siamese cats are more likely to get the disease.

- In dogs, the Tibetan Mastiff clam breed and the Great Danes breed belong to the high-risk group.

Symptom

- Walking stiffly/limp (walking with one/more legs limp depending on the severity of the disease).

- Dogs/cats find it difficult to sit or stand, run, jump, walk, go up and down stairs or get into a car due to stiff, swollen and painful joints.

- Dogs/cats become less active and spend more time sleeping/resting.

Reduced ability to groom yourself because the movement becomes more painful, leading to sloppiness.

- Pets feel uncomfortable and become irritable, they may snap and bite anyone who approaches/handles/touches and hurts their sore spot. In some cases, pets may become anxious and restless.

- There is muscle atrophy due to the pet's restriction of much activity, muscle mass begins to decline and muscle loss. Legs with atrophied leg muscles will look smaller than normal.

- Pets begin to lick, chew or bite on areas of the body that are painful due to arthritis. It can even cause dermatitis and hair loss on the affected area.

- Loss of appetite and weight loss in pets can occur due to pain due to arthritis.

Diagnosis of the disease

In order to diagnose arthritis accurately and effectively, the following steps are necessary:

1. Ask for medical history
2.Conduct a physical examination (check the range of motion and palpation of the joints)
3.X-rays (rule out other causes and determine the extent of the damage)

Treatment of the disease

The treatment of arthritis is not simple and it is very difficult to treat the disease completely, so early diagnosis and treatment of the disease is extremely important. The main purpose of treatment is to slow down the progression of the disease, restore joint function and minimize pain for your pet, keeping them maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

Medications to support treatment
 - Use appropriate medications as directed by your veterinarian. NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to fight inflammation and relieve pain in arthritis. It is important to pay attention to the selection of anti-inflammatory drugs that are suitable for dogs and cats. Side effects to be aware of when using NSAIDs for a long time include causing stomach ulcers, elevated liver enzymes, or worsening chronic kidney disease.

- Medications or foods containing glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate can also be used to help support cartilage and have some anti-inflammatory effects.

- In particular, do not give your pet any medications intended for humans without the prescription of a veterinarian (some medications can cause serious poisoning of pets).

Diet
           - Need to supplement reasonable and balanced nutrition to help maintain stable and healthy health. A diet with essential fatty acids (omega 3,6) can help keep joints healthy. In addition, the addition of CALCIUM DELIGHT products is necessary, with an optimized ratio of calcium and phosphorus, supplementing with vitamins necessary in preventing osteoporosis and cartilage degeneration in old animals.

Practice 
- Maintaining a healthy weight is essential in the treatment and prevention of arthritis from occurring. Limit vigorous exercises such as running or jumping, it is recommended to give pets with arthritis daily exercise at a gentle intensity such as walking, which will help reduce joint stress.

Rehabilitation
- Provide your pet with a number of methods to help rehabilitate after trauma or surgery such as ultrasound therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage, etc.

In addition, it is necessary to create a comfortable living environment/conditions for pets:

+ Avoid excessive temperature and humidity fluctuations. Cold temperatures can make your pet more uncomfortable with arthritis. Keep pets warm and dry.

+ The sleeping area needs to use soft and comfortable items for pets.

+ Regular exercise helps improve strength and avoid obesity.

+ Limit walking on hard surfaces as it may further affect the joints.

+ Food and water should be placed at the height between the pet's elbow and shoulder

Prevention of arthritis for dogs and cats

- It is necessary to maintain a nutrient-rich, reasonable and balanced diet

- Maintain an appropriate exercise program.

- Visit health/veterinary centers regularly, at least once a year for health check-ups for pets (regular checks for bone deterioration charts for pets).

- In case the animal is injured (bones/joints/tendons...) due to collision, it is necessary to take the animal to the treatment place as soon as possible to avoid prolonging the disease.

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