Arthritis in a German Shepherd. Treatment of arthritis in dogs. Video - Inflammatory joint diseases

Arthritis in dogs does not only develop in old age. Young animals, although much less common, still suffer from this disease. Why does joint inflammation occur? How to recognize it in time and how to help your beloved pet recover?

Causes of arthritis in dogs

At the place where the bones “connect” with each other, there is an articular capsule, and the “layer” between them is cartilage. This is a kind of cushion that prevents the articular surfaces of the bones from being abraded during movement, deformed and destroyed. Inside the capsule there is a liquid that allows the joint to perform its function unhindered, without pain. But why can an inflammatory process develop in the joint?

Weakened immunity. Any infection that enters the animal’s body provokes the development of an inflammatory process.
Injuries: dislocations, bruises, sprains and torn ligaments, fractures. A dog can trip or twist a paw while running or jumping (kids, old people and overweight dogs are especially susceptible to such falls).
Rest on a hard and cold floor. If the dog long time lies on a hard surface, often the joints swell and harden, arthritis and arthrosis may develop.
Constant stress.
Poor nutrition. This is not the main reason, but rather a contributing one.

Classification of arthritis

Traumatic. This type of joint inflammation occurs due to injury received by the animal (sprain or rupture of ligaments, dislocation, bruise, fracture or other violation of intra-articular cartilage and bone).
Genetic. It is registered in those breeds that were bred artificially. Such animals have a tendency to damage cartilage tissue.
Rheumatoid arthritis in dogs is most often reported in miniature breeds. A type of autoimmune disease where the pet's immune system tries to destroy its own cartilage and bone cells, destroying them.
Metabolic. Inflammation develops due to metabolic disorders. The cartilage tissue is not renewed properly, it becomes thinner. This inflammation is especially often recorded in large breeds with excess body weight (cartilage wears off).
Idiopathic.
Purulent. Pus accumulates in the joint capsule. Most often, it begins to form there due to a deep penetrating wound (a pyogenic infection, for example, cocci).
Drug. It occurs as a reaction to an administered veterinary drug (vaccines, medicines). Kind allergic reaction for medicines.
Osteoarthritis. Develops due to dislocation or other joint disease, hip dysplasia. The most common type of inflammatory process of the musculoskeletal system in dogs.

Symptoms of Arthritis in a Dog

What are the symptoms of arthritis in dogs?

The most obvious is an increase in volume (but such a sign can only be seen on “visible” joints - on the limbs).
Stiffness of the inflamed joint. Due to swelling, motor ability is impaired.
Pain. Any movement that involves an inflamed joint causes extreme pain to the animal.
The dog rests more and tries to lie on the healthy “side”. However, if the inflammation is bilateral, then the dog tries to take an unnatural position so as not to disturb the sore joints.
Reluctance to walk, run, or jump a lot. It is difficult for the dog to go up and down (including stairs, he cannot jump on or go down the sofa).
The dog begins to gain weight, despite the fact that his appetite decreases. This is due to the fact that the animal began to walk and move less. The less physical activity, the more mass the pet will gain.

Treatment for a dog with inflamed joints

If you suspect arthritis in dogs and notice the symptoms, treatment should begin as early as possible. However, only a veterinarian should select the method of therapy, based on the results of the examination and establishing the causes of the inflammatory process. Some animals are helped by alternative methods, others only by conservative ones.

If the disease is just beginning, there is no acute pain or serious complications, then with the permission of a veterinarian you can resort to alternative treatment: herbs (for example, nettle, which has a good anti-inflammatory property), non-steroidal drugs (however, you should be extremely careful with them, as they can lead to serious complications), compresses with oil (lavender and juniper in equal proportions with warm water) .
The diet is being revised: tomatoes, grains, and potatoes are necessarily excluded. But egg yolks, seeds, ginger, and exotic fruits are great (but be careful with them so that the animal does not develop an allergy). Remember that there must be a diet so that the animal does not gain excess weight, which will only provoke the destruction of cartilage tissue.
Drug treatment for arthritis in dogs includes the use of veterinary medications that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Chondroprotectors are also good. In some cases, surgical intervention is necessary (most often when the inflammation is of a traumatic nature).
Improve living conditions. The pet's bed should be warm and soft, away from drafts. Cover all slippery surfaces on the floor with carpets and secure them, in general, so that the animal does not slip.
Reduce the time spent on walks and put less stress on your beloved dog. Don't force him to run or jump, just calm movement. But remember that fresh air and Sun rays have a beneficial effect on the health of the animal.
Physiotherapy also has an excellent effect on recovery. Massage, phoresis, and swimming perfectly relieve pain and swelling of the joints. But all this should be done only after a face-to-face consultation with a veterinarian. Just remember that with purulent arthritis, heating (even with ointments) and massage, rubbing and other procedures that can lead to the outpouring of pus into the surrounding tissues are prohibited.

Preventing arthritis in dogs

Monitor your pet's weight. if it exceeds the recommended standards, then your pet is in danger. And the point is not only the high risk of developing arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but also the fact that metabolic disorders (metabolism) may develop. For example, obese dogs often develop pancreatitis, diabetes, digestive problems and others.
Be careful with loads. If they are too intense, then the musculoskeletal system wears out. But you shouldn’t completely deprive your dog of jogging, otherwise the muscles will weaken, the muscle corset will become worse, and the weight will gain very quickly.
Monitor the animal's diet. No prohibited foods, less carbohydrates (again, so that you don’t gain weight quickly). Products that help cartilage tissue remain elastic are also good.
Make sure that floors are not slippery (use carpets). And the pet’s bedding should be soft, warm and comfortable. The animal must lie completely on it, no parts of the body should protrude beyond its limits or rub against the hard floor.
Animals over 6 years old should be shown to a veterinarian at least once every six months.

Infectious arthritis is an inflammation of the joint, most often occurring as a consequence of a general or local infection against the background of a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors that provoke and support the process. Among IA, bacterial-metastatic, specific arthritis and arthritis due to penetrating wounds are distinguished. In the first case, the pathogen penetrates directly into the joint through the blood and lymph flow or from a neighboring area of inflamed tissue and, as a rule, causes severe damage.

According to its course, IA is divided into acute and chronic. Acute infectious arthritis is a purulent-inflammatory disease of the joint. The frequency of acute infectious arthritis among all purulent-inflammatory diseases is relatively low.

The etiology of IA is mainly associated with representatives of nonspecific, less often - specific infection. The table shows the bacteria most often isolated from infected joints.

Table. Bacteria associated with infections of the musculoskeletal system (according to J. Ramsey, B. Tennant, 2005).

Genus of bacteria	Comments
Common
Staphylococcus	The most common causative agents of infectious arthritis and osteomyelitis, especially S. intermedius.
Streptococcus
Escherichia	Usually hemolytic
Pasterella
Proteus	Normally present only in the gastrointestinal tract
Actinomyces	Anaerobes
Bacteroides	Anaerobes
Fusobacterium	Anaerobes
Clostridium	Anaerobes: especially often associated with myositis
Peptostreptococcus	Anaerobes
Less common
Pseudomonas	Gram-negative rods
Erysipelothrix	Found in several cases of IA
Klebsiella	Gram-negative rods
Corynebacterium	Gram-negative rods
Salmonella	Very rarely
Brucella	Found exclusively in IA and discospondylitis

Clinical signs can range from mild non-erosive arthritis to severe, rapidly progressive destructive pathology. The nature of joint damage depends on the type of pathogen and the duration of the disease.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Caused by various, mainly coccal, flora, mainly staphylococcus. Purulent arthritis is a common manifestation of general sepsis (septic arthritis). Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of bacterial nonspecific arthritis in 37 - 56% of cases, streptococcus - in 10 - 28%, gram-negative bacteria - in 10-16%, anaerobes - in 1 - 3%. The pathogen is not released in 10–20%!

Symptoms of purulent arthritis

They occur in dogs of all breeds and ages. Predisposing factors in the development of hematogenous bacterial infection of the joint may be existing joint diseases (aseptic osteoarthritis, trauma).

The severity of purulent arthritis largely depends on the following factors:

virulence of the pathogen
general condition body
timeliness of primary surgical treatment of the wound, targeted antibacterial therapy, as well as the presence of concomitant injuries and diseases.

Usually there is an acute attack of lameness in one limb. Sometimes lameness is chronic and develops gradually. There is a deterioration in the general condition of the animal, an increase in general and/or local body temperature, and local lymphadenopathy. The affected joint is swollen and very painful, and the joint may be stretched due to increased production of synovial fluid. Characterized by severe pain, leading to the impossibility of movement on the injured limb. The shape of the joint can change due to inflammatory infiltration of tissue, effusion into its cavity, and sometimes due to destructive changes in the epiphyses.

X-ray examination

Results vary depending on the type and duration of IA. On early stages X-rays show no abnormalities or only swelling of the soft tissue around the joint caused by inflammation and edema. In the future, there may be a thickening of the contours of the joint capsule, expansion of the joint space of the joint on the affected side, and in later phases - a narrowing of the joint space as a result of the destruction of articular cartilage, usuration of cartilage and bone tissue, and sometimes calcification of soft tissues. Subchondral bone erosions and irregularly shaped sclerotic areas are observed.

In chronic cases, secondary changes associated with osteoarthritis occur. At the final stage, fibrous or bone ankylosis is possible.

Rice. 1. Poodle puppy (5 months): complete destruction of the acetabulum due to purulent arthritis
Rice. 2a-b. Pug aged 1 year 2 months; ankylosis and atrophy of the limb as a result of purulent arthritis

Cytological examination of synovial fluid

allows you to determine the nature of the effusion (serous, serous-fibrinous, purulent, hemorrhagic), which has great importance to choose further treatment tactics.

Possible macroscopic changes in the synovium:

Volume increase
Cloudiness or impurities in the blood
Viscosity
If the fibrinogen content is high, coagulation is possible when the tube is exposed to air

Microscopic changes are important in differentiating bacterial arthritis from other arthropathies (eg, immune-mediated joint diseases, traumatic arthritis). Purulent arthritis is characterized by:

Marked increase in the number of leukocytes, mainly neutrophils (more than 5-10 per field of view at high magnification)
Toxic neutrophils with pyknosis of the nucleus (it is torn or degranulated)

Rice. 3. Purulent arthritis
Rice. 4. Serous-purulent arthritis
Rice. 5. Serous effusion, leukocytes

The main method of etiological diagnosis is bacteriological analysis of joint effusion and blood, repeated if necessary several times.

Bacteriological culture of synovial membrane biopsies

A biopsy of the synovium is taken in all cases where an open approach to the joint is used, or in cases where synovial fluid culture is negative and other signs suggest infection.

Arthroscopy

Currently, arthroscopy is considered the method of choice in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious arthritis.

Advantages of the arthroscopic method of treating purulent arthritis:

Minor trauma to the tissues forming the joint.
Possibility of complete removal of intra-articular effusion with pathological impurities (pus, fibrin, blood clots).
Rinsing the joint cavity after removing effusion with aseptic solutions.
Visualization of the severity of the pathological process after joint dialysis with video documentation.
The ability to compare the endoscopic picture over time in the presence of indications for repeated dialysis.

The undeniable advantages of arthroscopy over the generally accepted puncture method are the possibility of conducting a thorough inspection of intra-articular tissues at all stages of the disease, taking tissue samples for diagnostic purposes, and adequate sanitation of the joint cavity.

With the arthroscopic method of treatment, timely diagnosis of the form of arthritis followed by an adequate amount of intervention and early activation of patients in the postoperative period contribute to the preservation of joint function. When using the arthroscopic technique, the treatment time is reduced by 2-3 times compared to puncture treatment, which is explained by a more radical removal of pathological effusion with impurities of pus and fibrin through the arthroscope tube.

One of the main principles of therapy is long courses of antibiotics. Until the results of the antibiogram, broad-spectrum antibiotics are recommended, effective primarily against staphylococcus and resistant to β-lactamase (cephalosporins in combination with metronidazole, amoxicillin clavulonate, vancomycin + amikacin or vancomycin + cephalosporins). On average, the course is 6-8 weeks, but antibiotic treatment is stopped no earlier than 2 weeks after the clinical symptoms have resolved.

The outcome of treatment for purulent arthritis depends on the time of diagnosis. Only early adequate therapy leads to stabilization and reverse development of the process. If left untreated or improperly treated, purulent arthritis can lead to irreversible changes in the joint. In this regard, active surgery extremely important. Unfavorable outcomes of infectious arthritis are associated with dysfunction of the joint of varying degrees of severity, up to the formation of ankylosis.

In some cases, inflammation remains even after the pathogen is removed; this occurs as a result of an immune response to remaining microbial antigens. Such lameness is treated with glucocorticoids (after negative results bacteriological research!!!). As a long-acting corticosteroid, it is convenient and effective to use the veterinary drug Dexafort (Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health).

Thus, a delay in endoscopic treatment is fraught with the development of destructive changes in the cartilage and other components of the joint, which significantly worsens the prognosis of the disease.

The ineffectiveness of isolated antibiotic therapy and limb immobilization in such situations has been proven in many studies
A wait-and-see approach in the treatment of acute infectious arthritis is unjustified due to the fairly rapid development of destructive changes in the elements of the joint, which significantly complicates treatment and worsens the prognosis of the disease.
Waiting tactics and conservative therapy are also unjustified in relation to purulent arthritis, which is a complication of intra-articular administration of corticosteroid hormones.

Rice. 6. CT knee joint, Labrador 1.5 years old. The result of treatment of osteochondritis dissecans with glucocorticoids. Arthrosis 3 degrees.

Rice. 7. CT scan of the knee joint, Labrador, 1.5 years old. The result of treatment of osteochondritis dissecans with glucocorticoids. Subperiosteal sclerosis of the medial femoral condyle and tibial plateau.

Lyme disease

Pathogen

The causative agents of BL belong to the genus Borrelia of the family Spirochaetaceae. Borrelia species pathogenic to humans and animals are united in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. Three types of Borrelia circulate in Russia.

Transmission routes

The carriers of Borrelia are ticks of the genus Ixodes, the reservoir is rodents and deer. Reliable cases of borreliosis infecting people from dogs have not been described.

Clinical signs

The first clinical manifestation of Lyme disease after being bitten by an infected tick is usually lameness. As a rule, the joint closest to the bite site is affected first, but sometimes the disease affects two or three joints. Clinical signs most often appear between 2 and 5 months after the tick bite.

At first there is a slight lameness. On the second or third day, the animal stops leaning on the affected limb. On palpation of the affected joints, swelling and an increase in local temperature are observed. Most animals experience an increase in body temperature during this period. On the fourth day, the lameness usually becomes less severe and then disappears. After the first period of lameness, the second and third periods occur with an interval of 2-4 weeks. Typically, changes are observed in the same joints as in the first episode of lameness, but others may be affected. Later periods of lameness become longer and lead to erosive changes in the articular surface.

Joint lesions in BL are varied - from moderate arthralgia to chronic destructive arthritis. Arthralgia and myalgia, stiffness in the joints and spine that occur in the first days of the disease are part of the general inflammatory syndrome characteristic of this disease.

The duration of the disease is from 3 months to 3-4 or more years.

Diagnostic features

Histological and cytological examination

Pathological changes in the joints have been histologically identified even in dogs with minimal or no signs of lameness. Purulent-fibrinous arthritis and synovitis are characteristic. Fibrin and neutrophils in the joint cavity can form dense deposits. Inflammation in the deep layers of the synovial membrane is insignificant.

The composition of synovial fluid in Lyme arthritis is not specific and usually reflects mild inflammation. In most cases, leukocytosis ranges from 7,000 to 50,000 cells/μl. The total protein content is slightly increased, within 4-9 g/deciliter. Analysis of synovial fluid in Lyme arthritis is important because it has implications for correct diagnosis and the need to rule out other joint diseases.

X-ray diagnostics

In the early stages, radiographic changes are not detected.

Serological methods

Antibody production begins 3-4 weeks after infection, approximately coinciding with the development of clinical signs of arthritis.

Antibodies are observed both in dogs with clinical manifestations and in asymptomatic ones, but in the latter somewhat less frequently, and their antibody titers are usually lower. During the course of the disease, there is an increase in antibody titers in the acute period. In chronic dogs, titers are usually constant. After treatment, antibody levels fall, but after some time they stabilize at a relatively high level (but lower than before treatment).

Treatment

Tetracycline antibiotics or cephalosporins. From the spectrum of veterinary injectable drugs It is recommended to use an injectable form of oxytetracycline hydrochloride - engemycin 10% and a 4th generation cephalosporin - cobactan (Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health).

A specific feature of the causative agents of borreliosis is the long-term (up to several months and even years) persistence of small amounts of them in tissues, especially those rich in collagen, not only during chronic infection, but also after spontaneous recovery of the animal, despite the presence of the host’s immune response, and sometimes even after treatment with antibiotics. In this case, pathology is usually absent. But relapse is possible even after treatment with antibiotics.

Brucellosis arthritis

Infectious specific arthritis, one of the common manifestations of brucellosis.

Pathogen

The most common infection in dogs is caused by B. canis, to which farm animals are immune. Other etiological agents include B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis.

Epizootology

Brucellosis, caused by the species Brucella canis, is recorded even in those countries where brucellosis of other animal species does not occur (Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Japan). In the Russian Federation Vg. canis was first registered in 1994 in the Volgograd region.

Transmission routes

The pathogen Brucella canis is excreted in urine, semen, uterine discharge, feces, milk, and saliva. Brucella canis can persist in the semen of male dogs for up to several months. Not only dogs infected with brucellosis pose a danger, but also their puppies.

Bitches during pregnancy are more susceptible to brucellosis.

Recovered animals remain carriers for from several months to several years and acquire lifelong immunity.

Clinical picture

The incubation period is 2-3 weeks.

often asymptomatic (prolonged, up to two years or more, bacteremia without fever is possible).
polylymphadenopathy
arthritis. Large joints are usually affected; in acute and subacute cases, swelling, pain, increased temperature of the skin of the joint, sometimes redness of the skin and effusion, and dysfunction of the limb are observed. In a chronic course, damage to periarticular tissues, muscles and subcutaneous tissue is possible, resulting in bursitis, tendovaginitis, fibrositis, and myositis.
orchitis, prostatitis and epididymitis
abortions (partially decomposed fetuses on the 45-55th day of pregnancy), stillborn offspring, and subsequently chronic endometritis. Early embryonic death may occur, which appears as infertility of the bitch.
infected puppies are born dead or weak, and those that survive have severely enlarged lymph nodes.
sometimes infection is associated with osteomyelitis, discospondylitis and recurrent uveitis

Diagnostic features

In acute and subacute cases, radiographic changes in the joints are usually not detected. On a radiograph in chronic arthritis, osteochondral destruction up to ankylosis can be noted.
Cytological examination of the synovium: serous, sterile effusion.
Serological tests: RA (1:200 and above), RSC (1:20 and above). Agglutinins appear in the blood, depending on the method of infection, within a period of 3-14 to 20 days. The increase in agglutination titer occurs on average until the 20-30th day after the appearance of the pathological titer. Puppies born from sick mothers have low titres of RA in the first 2-3 months. With the help of RSK it is determined large quantity dogs react positively, and the reaction lasts longer. In the natural course of the disease, animals with different durations of the disease are more common, so the combined use of RA and RSC will allow us to identify more patients.
PCR of synovium, pathological material
Blood cultures

Treatment

The drugs of choice are used for at least 1.5 months: Doxycyline (12.5 mg/kg, 2 times a day orally) and streptomycin 20 mg/kg/day IM 2 times a day for 15 days. Then - doxycycline and rifampicin 10-20 mg/kg/day orally in 2 divided doses for the remaining 30 days of treatment.
Alternative drugs are also used for at least 1.5 months: Co-trimoxazole 10-20 mg/kg/day orally 2 times a day and rifampicin orally 10-20 mg/kg/day

It is possible to repeat the course of treatment.

Common Treatment Errors

Conducting short (less than 1.5 months) or intermittent courses of antibiotic therapy.
Carrying out monotherapy.
Conducting antibacterial therapy for latent forms.

Yersiniosis

Transmission routes

The natural reservoir of Yersinia are wild and domestic animals, mainly rodents (mice, rats), as well as pigs, less often dogs, cats, cows, etc. Infection mainly occurs through food products contaminated with animal excrement. Infection is possible when drinking water from open reservoirs. Due to the persistence of the pathogen in the external environment, contamination of products (milk, butter, vegetables, fruits, etc.) stored in refrigerators and vegetable stores is common.

Clinical signs

In the development of yersinia infection, several phases are distinguished: enteral, regional, generalized and the phase of secondary focal manifestations. The last two phases are associated with bacteremia, hematogenous foci of inflammation and septicemia.

There are intestinal, abdominal, septic, articular and icteric forms. In the septic form, multiple manifestations of septicemia are described: abscess pneumonia, purulent arthritis, osteomyelitis, etc. Arthritis develops during the period of advanced clinical picture disease - from several days to 2 weeks or more from its onset. Most often, a few joints are affected (oligoarthritis).

Characterized by swelling of the joints, pain of varying intensity, skin hyperemia, limited function and other signs of inflammation. The lesions are often asymmetrical. The duration of arthritis symptoms ranges from several days to several weeks, and even months if the course is prolonged. Recovery, as a rule, occurs without residual effects, but relapses are possible.

Diagnostic features

Cytological examination. The synovial fluid is inflammatory in nature with high cytosis and a predominance of neutrophils.

Bacteriological culture of synovium and synovial membrane: The pathogen, as a rule, is not detected.

X-ray changes in joints initial stage not defined

The results of bacteriological analysis of feces, urine, and mucus from the throat for the presence of Yersinia during the first 2-3 weeks of the disease are decisive. The diagnosis is subsequently confirmed by the detection of yersinia antibodies in the blood serum in titers of 1:200 or higher and their decrease over time with repeated testing. The diagnosis of yersinia arthritis is based on the identification of yersiniosis in a patient.

Treatment

Tetracycline antibiotics or cephalosporins. From the range of veterinary injectable drugs, it is recommended to use the injectable form of oxytetracycline hydrochloride - engemicin 10% and 4th generation cephalosporin - cobactan (Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health).

A dog is an active and curious animal, and long walks and joint pain are incompatible things. Arthritis in dogs is an age-related disease, less commonly acquired at a young age, that actually disrupts the normal pace of life of a four-legged pet. Amazingly, every 4th domestic dog, and especially purebred dog, suffers from arthritis in old age. Large breeds and dogs with congenital genetic characteristics - Chow Chows, Samoyeds - suffer from arthritis even at a young age.

There is no point in comparing the levels of examination of animals and humans, and given that until recently, arthritis in dogs and cats was “written off” as age characteristics, there is little specific data available on the “issue of interest”. Arthritis is a broad concept that refers to all diseases of the joints or cartilage tissue. Conventionally, the disease is divided into the following types:

Genetic arthritis– observed in artificially bred breeds with initial cartilage mutations.

Suppurative arthritis– occurs due to infection of the tissues surrounding the joint. Most often, purulent arthritis in dogs is a consequence of penetrating trauma; in older animals, a focus of inflammation can arise due to damage to the immune system by bacteria.

Traumatic arthritis– occurs due to a blow or muscles and ligaments that “envelop” the joint. A cavity forms between the bone and muscles in which fluid or blood accumulates - swelling, hematoma or bruise occurs. The phenomenon may be temporary and reversible with proper treatment, in which case the disease is called functional.

Rheumatoid arthritis– it is believed that the disease occurs due to infection of the body by bacteria that “resemble” bone and cartilage cells. The immune system, trying to eliminate the “enemy,” attacks the dog’s body. Rheumatoid arthritis in dogs is classified as a subtype of autoimmune disease; the process of diagnosing and treating it is quite complex.

Metabolic or dystrophic arthritis– impaired metabolism has a detrimental effect on the process of renewal of cartilage tissue, as a result of which they become thinner. This subtype includes arthritis of especially large breeds - the joints of a fast-growing puppy or adult dog cannot support the weight of their own body.

Read also: The dog has a dry nose: we understand the causes and additional symptoms

Many veterinarians and breeders call the disease osteoarthritis; the definition refers to joint diseases acquired as a result of any disorders - dysplasia, bruises, sprains. Regardless of the type of disease, arthritis brings discomfort and pain to the animal, limits the dog’s movement, which has a detrimental effect on life activity in a broad sense.

One of the most common causes of arthritis in healthy dog– slippery floors in the home. Every slip is an injury or sprain. You cannot cover the floor with linoleum, tiles, or parquet. Do you have a “fresh” renovation? – Choose either repair or puppy!

How to identify arthritis in a dog

If your pet falls into a risk group due to breed characteristics or has “celebrated” its 6th or 7th birthday, you will have to get used to constant monitoring and observation of changes in the dog’s behavior. The following symptoms indicate the development of arthritis:

Decreased activity– the dog prefers privacy and refuses long and active walks. Depression and drowsiness are visually observed.

Painful sensations– it is difficult for the animal to get up from a lying position, after sleep or rest the dog limps or tries not to bend its paws, when probing the joints the pet squints, whines, growls or shows other signs of discomfort.

Weight gain with unchanged diet- a clear sign of insufficient activity.

Clumsiness– the dog refuses to play with “relatives” and to perform a number of commands that require dexterity (barrier, fetch, crawling).

Refusal to walk on steps(especially downhill) or climbing rapids.

Deterioration of condition due to “jumps” in atmospheric pressure.

Read also: Degenerative myelopathy in dogs: causes, diagnosis and care

None of the joint diseases develops instantly; signs appear and worsen gradually. Do not attribute low activity to age or a sudden change in character; a 6-7 year old dog is active and cheerful if it is healthy.

How to help a dog with arthritis

Arthritis is one of the few ailments in which care is more important than medicine. The dog owner must create comfortable living conditions for the pet in order to eliminate unnecessary factors that provoke pain.

Create a soft and warm place– If possible, use mattresses with foam filling (that take the shape of the body), heating pads or heated blankets.

Adapt housing to the dog's needs, cover all slippery surfaces (tiles, parquet, linoleum), install ramps.

Reduce walking time, but do not forget that sunlight has a beneficial effect on health.

If the dog is being trained– refuse group activities and “non-essential” teams. Yes, training is a burden, but the pet must be socially adapted and obey the owner, even if he has chronic diseases.

Strictly monitor your weight, if necessary, transfer the animal to a light diet.

Introduce into feeding nutritional supplements with calcium and courses of vitamins. There are supplements designed specifically for dogs with arthritis.

If possible, go swimming with your dog.– water procedures, the most gentle and at the same time effective method strengthen muscles.

Do massage– stroking circular movements from the limbs to the body relieve pain, improve blood flow, “warm up” and strengthen muscles.

Use warming gels for lubricating joints. The most popular drug is a gel for horses; it is equally effective for both animals and people, and has a calming, analgesic, warming and cooling effect.

Be sure to visit a veterinarian at least once every six months. It is much easier to track negative trends in advance than to treat developed diseases.

Important! Warming up the affected areas during purulent inflammation is most often contraindicated. If you are unsure of the extent of joint damage, consult a doctor before treating your animal with “aggressive” methods.

If the above conditions are not met, drug treatment is ineffective. Most often, care and complex anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve pain and return the animal to a full life.

After a serious fight in the yard or an unfortunate fall, a dog can experience very dangerous health problems. In particular, we are talking about arthritis, which manifests itself in the launch of a powerful inflammatory process in the cartilage or bone tissue of the joint. Arthritis in dogs causes local redness and warmth, as well as unbearable pain. A sick animal often limp(48), but much more often, owners of dogs suffering from arthritis notice fussiness, tension in the limbs and other negative manifestations of the disease.

Arthritis occurs in dogs much more often than in other pets. The problem lies in the large weight of such pets, so representatives of large breeds are almost always brought to veterinarians. The load experienced by the ligamentous apparatus German Shepherd, much higher than what the average cat encounters every day. Young dogs suffer from arthritis very rarely, but dogs at an advanced age can no longer boast of a healthy metabolism and strong joints.

Treatment for arthritis in dogs depends largely on what type of disease the veterinarian is dealing with. That is why it is necessary to understand this issue in more detail.

Of key importance for this classification is the factor that led to damage to the joint tissue:

Traumatic form. This type of arthritis occurs as a result of serious injuries, dislocations, sprains, fractures, bruises or contusions. If you provide the animal with proper care and proper nutrition, the body will be able to cope with the problem on its own, but in most cases, the injured limb is subjected to severe stress due to physical activity. As a result, healthy metabolism in the tissues and cells of the joint is disrupted, so it goes into a degenerative state when there are no conditions for normal depreciation of the limbs. Arthritis simply becomes the result of an inflammatory reaction in the body and its main manifestation.
Functional form. This type of arthritis is a traumatic form, since the symptoms of the disease are almost identical. The main difference lies in the reason for its development. It hides the fact that the animal is constantly or systematically exposed to excessive stress, which falls specifically on the cartilage tissue. Gradually, the joint becomes overloaded, which ends in its degeneration.
The metabolic or dystrophic form occurs when the animal has serious problems with metabolism. The basis of cartilage tissue fibers is pyrophosphate. If certain problems arise with its synthesis, the articular surfaces become covered with crystalline deposits of calcium phosphate dihydrate, which mix with the synovial fluid. In other words, salts accumulate in the joints of a sick animal, injuring the cartilage tissue. In this case, veterinarians usually diagnose chondrocalcinosis or pseudogout. Osteoartitis also occurs as a result of problems with excess iron or phosphorus-calcium metabolism. It is necessary to understand that treatment of arthritis in dogs with this form of the disease is only the elimination of symptoms, and the main problem is unhealthy metabolism.
The purulent form acts as a kind of complication after negative impact a bacterial infection or virus affecting the joint. Most often it occurs after an open fracture or in the presence of a laceration in the joint area. Additional symptoms of this type of arthritis are represented by the appearance of purulent fistulas. Almost any antiseptic drugs in combination with antibiotics can become the basis for the treatment of purulent arthritis. It is impossible to treat a pronounced disease in a purulent form without consulting an experienced veterinarian!
Genetically pathological form. Oddly enough, arthritis may well be inherited. The cause of the development of such a serious disease is often dysplasia hip joints, which has reached a difficult stage when surgical intervention is indispensable. From an early age, dogs can suffer from joint dysplasia, which develops into osteoarthritis in adulthood.

What are the main symptoms worth knowing?

The dog is rapidly gaining weight, although there have been no significant changes in his diet. The fact is that due to pain in the joints, the animal experiences pain, so it tries to move as little as possible. A sick dog prefers to spend more time lying down. Severe obesity may develop.
An enlarged and inflamed joint is the most important sign of arthritis. Treatment should be considered as soon as possible if the owner notices that their dog has difficulty bending its paws or refuses to turn its head. A dog with arthritis will definitely not jump for joy when his owner returns home, because this will cause him to be in terrible pain. These symptoms of arthritis in dogs can be easily noticed.
A local increase in temperature in the periarticular tissues also indicates the presence of arthritis. Healthy compounds will be very different in temperature from damaged areas. The general body temperature rises quite rarely and, as a rule, indicates the presence of an infection in the body.
Mobility problems for pets with arthritis are common. The dog no longer jumps on his favorite sofa and refuses to go down the stairs. The dog’s paws can be very sore and ache in bad weather, so during such periods he is completely inactive.

If such symptoms are detected, treatment for arthritis should be prescribed as early as possible. Otherwise, the condition of the whole family’s pet will steadily deteriorate. You should not select medications without consulting a veterinarian.

What treatment can be given to a dog?

The first thing the owner of a sick animal should do in such a situation is a timely trip to veterinary clinic. Self-medication can pose a particular danger to your pet, since it is necessary not only to buy an advertised drug, but also to correctly determine the dosage and methods of its use. Typically, glucocorticoids are used in such cases. It is necessary to listen carefully to the doctor’s recommendations and strictly follow the established rules so that the dog can return to normal life as soon as possible.

There are a number of preventive and therapeutic measures, which make up the treatment of canine arthritis at home:

Healthy and balanced diet! Many owners consider the addition dog food all kinds of delicacies, sweets and cookies as a manifestation of love and care, but this only pampers the dog and leads to rapid gain excess weight. For health, the animal simply needs to eat properly and be subjected to moderate exercise.
Gentle walking regimen! This is not exactly a case of knocking out a wedge with a wedge, but limiting a sick pet to fresh air and walking is not allowed. However, the owner is obliged to ensure that the dog does not overstrain the problem joint.
Warmth and comfort! A dog with arthritis who lives in a kennel especially needs a warm and comfortable place to sleep. That is why, if possible, it should be taken into the house for the period of rehabilitation or the dog’s home should be properly insulated. Almost all types of arthritis are much easier if the affected area is constantly warm. The exception is the purulent form of the disease.
Painkillers! Your veterinarian should tell you during your appointment how to relieve your dog’s pain due to arthritis. Various drugs are suitable for such purposes: Rimadyl, Pentalgin, Spazgan or Analgin.
Massage! You can calm the animal using light stroking movements, which can turn into acupressure. You need to apply gentle pressure to speed up the healing process, but not to hurt your pet. Massage should not be used only for purulent arthritis.

Veterinarians place great bets on chondroprotectors, which include special components of animal origin that speed up the processes of renewal and restoration of cartilage tissue.

Quite often, dog breeders are faced with the question of what causes the development of arthritis in dogs, characteristic symptoms and how this disease is treated. Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the joints. It manifests itself as pain in the affected areas, redness of the periarticular skin, and elevated temperature.

There are several types of arthritis:

Traumatic. Develops as a result of bruise, sprain, dislocation, fracture and other mechanical damage. Most often, traumatic arthritis is provoked by increased physical stress on the joint. Metabolism in the cartilage is disrupted, tissue degeneration occurs, the cartilage loses its ability to absorb shock in the joint, which ultimately leads to an inflammatory process in the joint.
Functional. It has the same principle of development as traumatic, but occurs only due to an irrational load on the articular cartilage, which destroys them.
Metabolic. Develops against the background of impaired metabolism. An excess of iron and its deposition in organs can develop an inflammatory process in the joints. Violation of calcium metabolism of vitamin D causes bone fragility. Metabolic arthritis is most often a consequence of another disease.
Purulent. Complicated bacterial infection that has entered the joint due to mechanical damage to the periarticular tissue.
Rheumatoid. It is a rare disease that most often affects small breed dogs.
Drug. Called by reception medicines or a vaccine.

Characteristic symptoms

You can suspect arthritis in a dog by its tense gait: to protect the inflamed joint, the pet tries not to step on its paw. In this case, poor coordination of movements is observed. Predisposing factors are the dog being overweight, lack of physical activity, and prolonged stress. There is a common story when owners, out of great love for their dog, overfeed it.

An indisputable reason is the age of the dog: the older the pet, the greater the risk of developing arthritis. Natural aging of cartilage causes damage to the synovial membrane and stretches the joint capsule. The disease causes the dog to instinctively limit movements that cause pain. A reduced range of movements develops atrophy of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus. The dog moves little, sleeps more, and, accordingly, gains excess weight.

Another symptom of the disease is slowness. The dog seems to hesitate before approaching the food or going out into the yard. When getting up from a lying position, the dog whines, does not show any desire to go for a walk, and does not greet the owner upon returning home. Drop limb syndrome and lameness may occur. When you touch a sore paw, the dog will whine in pain or snap.

Diagnostics

At the first signs of the disease, you should take your pet to the veterinarian. The sooner you start treating arthritis, the more successful your recovery will be. The doctor will use certain exercises to determine the inflamed joint. Swelling and tenderness of the joint will tell you which paw is affected by arthritis. To determine the direction of treatment and medications, it is necessary to do X-ray. Radiography will help evaluate the anatomy of the articular structure and detect damage and deformation of joint elements. If necessary, a joint puncture is performed, with the help of a microbiological study, the etiology of the inflammatory process is clarified and appropriate antibacterial therapy is selected.

Treatment of pathology

How to treat arthritis in dogs? The course of treatment will be prescribed depending on the reasons that caused the development of the disease.

Medication methods

First of all, drugs that reduce pain are prescribed. Treatment of arthritis with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is controversial due to side effects. However, in cases where other drugs do not provide relief, their use is allowed with certain precautions.

Treatment for arthritis in dogs involves the use of glycosaminoglycans in the form of injections and supplements. The drugs help restore cartilage and synovial fluid. Additionally, hyaluronic acid may be prescribed.

Therapeutic methods

Except drug treatment, an arthritic dog will need gentle muscle strengthening therapy. Best option– swimming, during which muscles are strengthened and there is no load on the paws. However, you should not swim in cold and windy weather, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of arthritis. You need to walk your dog for at least 10-20 minutes every day. The walking route should include ascent and descent. As the condition improves, the load can be increased little by little. The exception is older dogs, for which long walks are not recommended.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are also recommended. Massage is very useful, which should be carried out by rubbing the sore spot with soft circular movements. Massage is contraindicated for purulent arthritis. This condition can be alleviated by special compresses. Therapeutic mixtures are applied to the tissue, applied to the inflamed joint and fixed. You can purchase a special therapeutic bandage at your veterinary pharmacy to facilitate movement and retain heat.

Diet and conditions of detention

An important condition is diet, especially for overweight dogs. If your pet is obese, you need to put it on a diet to get rid of excess weight. Dog food should not contain nightshades: tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and grains. It is recommended to add seeds, yolks, ginger, exotic fruits, papaya, mango, orange to food. With this disease, dogs need vitamins E and C and should be taken daily.

If your dog has arthritis, you should take care of its sleeping place. The bedding should be dense and warm, the bed should be placed in a place protected from drafts. If the dog lives outdoors, the kennel is insulated; drafts are unacceptable. Warm - necessary condition in the treatment of arthritis in dogs. The exception is purulent arthritis.

If the pet lives at home, it is necessary that the floor covering is not slippery. To avoid injury, use carpet or other carpeting.

Unfortunately, arthritis is difficult to treat and often becomes chronic. It is recommended to strictly follow the instructions of your doctor to keep your pet in shape.

The disease is more common large dogs: Labrador, German Shepherd, Mastiff, St. Bernard, Rottweiler. Owners of these breeds should take this into account and take preventive measures.

Treatment of infectious arthritis

Infectious arthritis must be treated with conservative methods or surgery. Conservative therapy is prescribed antibacterial drugs, joint puncture and limb immobilization are performed. Treatment by puncture method involves evacuation of exudate, washing of the joint cavity with antiseptic solutions and administration of an antibiotic. At the same time, antibacterial therapy is carried out and the limb is immobilized.

Surgical treatment is prescribed if conservative therapy does not bring improvement. An arthrotomy is performed, during which the diseased joint is opened and inspected, purulent exudate is removed, necrectomy and sanitation are performed. In advanced cases, if the articular ends of the bones are affected, joint resection is performed. Then drainage is carried out, and the limb is immobilized for a long time.

Preventive measures

Prevention of arthritis includes controlling your pet’s weight and a proper diet with the necessary supplements. Should not be overloaded physical activity young animals: due to ill-conceived training, arthritis may develop. In addition, injuries and mechanical damage to the limbs should be prevented. A slippery floor is the most common cause sprains in dogs. Frequent injuries displace the cartilage, which in turn will lead to inflammation of the joint. The animal should be protected from hypothermia and should not walk for a long time in damp and cold weather. To prevent your beloved pet from getting sick, it is recommended to visit your veterinarian regularly.