Although we frequently think of it as a disease for older animals, arthritis can affect dogs and cats of any age. It can be mild and unnoticeable or it can be debilitating – severely affecting your pet’s quality of life. In both cases, the earlier treatment is started, the better.
Arthritis is a painful, degenerative joint disease or deterioration of the joint that can hinder movement and cause pain. Almost all dogs and cats will develop varying degrees of arthritis at some point in their lives.
It is more common among older dogs but younger and middle aged dogs have also been known to exhibit the symptoms of arthritis. Unfortunately, many cases go undiagnosed because owners attribute the subtle changes in their dogs to be signs of old age or merely a case of slowing down.
There are several types of arthritis that can affect your dog. These include osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and hip dysplasia. Other joint diseases that occur in dogs are elbow dysplasia, knee dysplasia, knee stifle, osteochondrosis, hypertrophic arthritis, shoulder degeneration, wrist arthritis, and kneecap dislocation.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that progresses slowly. As the condition worsens, the bony structures rub against each another, causing great discomfort to your pet.
Joint disease is caused by the breakdown or destruction of portions of the joint. This condition doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog is suffering from any kind of inflammation.
Hip dysplasia is a disease that affects the ball and socket joint of your dog. This condition causes numerous complications and discomfort. Inflammation is common, calcium build-ups take place, your dog experiences muscle pain, and the tissues in the surrounding areas begin to break down.
These diseases occur mainly in large dogs such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers or medium sized dogs such as Labradors. However, other breeds aren’t exempted. Arthritis can occur in any breed regardless of the dog’s age.
If your dog or cat suffers from arthritis pain, don’t make it suffer any longer. Relieve joint pain, lubricate the joints, increase flexibility and improve mobility with the right Dog Osteoarthritis Medicine .