OVERVIEW
Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD) or just as arthritis), is a progressive disease that results in permanent deterioration of the cartilage of some joints due to a many causes, the most common of which is aging. It is a condition that affects all species of animals.
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WHAT ARE THE SIGNS MY PET MAY SHOW?
Osteoarthritis may be seen in one joint or several, resulting in a variety of clinical signs that may be seen and can include:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Limping
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Difficulty getting up
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Difficulty walking or running
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Visibly swollen joint/s
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Licking at the sore joint or at paws
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Increase in normal breathing rate
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Decreased energy levels
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Worsening of signs in cold weather
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Clicking/ clunking of a joint/s
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vocalisation to express pain
Cats however, can be a bit more discrete and sometimes hide the levels of pain they may be experiencing. It is important to take a close look at your cats movements - they may still jump on things, but instead do it in stages (e.g jump onto a chair before jumping onto the table).
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WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR MY PET TO DEVELOP ARTHRITIS?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Being overweight or obese (adds extra strain on the joints)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Traumatic injury to a joint
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Abnormal conformation (e.g. hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia etc.)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Excessive activity
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Genetic/breed predisposition
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IF I SUSPECT MY PET HAS ARTHRITIS, WHAT MIGHT MY VET RECOMMEND?
Your vet will start by taking an accurate history about what has been going non with your pet and what the symptoms are they have been showing and then start with a thorough clinical examination. From there, the vet may reccomend imaging techniques as it is the only way to accurately diagnose arthritis in your pet. The most common technique used is radiography (x-rays), but advanced imaging techniques (including CT and MRI) are often the best way to confirm joint disease, particularly in complex joints such as elbows. Sometimes, when these options are not available, the diagnosis may be assumed based on clinical signs and a medical therapy trial may be initiated though.

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WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO MY PET?
There are many options for the treatment of arthritis. This discussion will be a list of the most common options utilized, but there are likely many more available, and always new and exciting options coming out. Treatment is often multimodal – meaning that several options are used together to manage the condition, rather than just one alone. Keeping your pet in the optimum weight range is also crucial to ensure that the load on the joint/s is minimized.
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MEDICATIONS:
·      Cartrophen®: (Drug: pentosan polysulphate). This drug is administered as injections under the skin (subcutaneously) once a week for four weeks. Repeat injections are then given regularly depending on the response seen and the severity of your pet’s clinical signs.
o  How it works: Cartrophen works in a number of ways including but not limited to increasing blood flow to the joints, improving cartilage quality and increasing the amount of fluid lubrication in the joint to allow smoother movement.
o  Please note this medication is registered for use in dogs only, however can be used with discretion in cats.
·      Monoclonal Antibody Therapy: This is a monthly injection which is branded as Solensia® in cats or Beransa® in dogs and given as a monthly injection that controls pain. It has been shown to bind to nerve growth factor (NGF), a substance which is produced more in arthritis and inflamed joints. This binding limits the release of inflammatory substances which helps to control pain.
·      Pain relief: There are a number of pain relief options that may be used to manage your pet’s clinical symptoms and keep them comfortable. It is important to realise that dogs and cats are often programmed to minimize showing pain, and that arthritis is definitely a painful disease that should be managed appropriately. There is a wide variety of pain management options, and your vet will help determine which one is the right one for your pet. If your pet requires regular and ongoing pain relief – it will be recommended to perform frequent blood testing to ensure adequate organ function
SUPPLEMENTS
There are a lot of supplements out there on the market advertised for arthritis support. The scientific evidence behind a lot of them can be quite varied which can be very confusing to interpret if they are actually beneficial. The following are some options with proven scientific backing that you may choose to implement as a part of your pet’s treatment regime:
·      Green lipped mussel extract:
o  This can be found in a number of registered veterinary products including Antinol and 4cyte.
·      Prescription diets containing supplements formulated for joint support:
o  Hills®JD
o  Royal Canin® Mobility Diet
SUMMARY:
As discussed above, arthritis is a progressive and painful condition which presents in varied ways, but luckily has many treatment options these days. In addition to the above discussed options, there is also a number of other therapies that may be discussed with you by your vet. This may include but is not limited to massage, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, stem cell therapy, surgery or orthopaedic referral. If you suspect that your pet may experiencing arthritis, please reach out to your veterinarian and start the chat today about what options may be best to help them.
Written by: Dr Tegan Hadley BSc (Hons), DVM.
Very informative blog, thanks for sharing Dr Tegan!