Canine Arthritis - Research Article
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| Definition | Osteoarthritis | Other Types of Arthritis |
| Symptoms | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Risk Factors / Diagnosis |
What is Canine Arthritis?
If a dog is having trouble performing routine activities, or crying or limping as it attempts to perform acts that were once routine, it may be suffering from Canine Arthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD).
Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint. Arthritis can arise from joint tissue destruction subsequent to an infection, from congenital defects affecting structural architecture, and from stress and trauma to joint surfaces and supporting structures. Occasionally, disorders of the immune system lead to joint tissue inflammation and degeneration. The cartilage is adversely impacted and wears away faster than it can regenerate. The bony layer beneath the cushioning cartilage can be exposed and becomes inflamed; the joint capsule surrounding the joint members becomes thickened, less elastic, and highly sensitive. Blood vessels to and from the area of the joint dilate, and the joint becomes swollen and inflamed. Elastic tissues of the joint stiffen, calcium deposits can build up, and nerve endings send pain signals to the brain. Motion becomes more and more restricted due to joint degeneration, and the discomfort and pain prompts the dog to reduce use of the joint. Unfortunately, the reduced use further compounds the problems associated with arthritis because the patient then gains weight and continued disuse further limits joint mobility.
A Canine's Joints
Joints—the skeletal hinges—give the canine skeleton flexibility for walking, running, jumping, climbing, and moving the head and neck to increase the field of vision. The dog's body has three types of joints: ball and socket, such as the hip and shoulder joints; hinged joints, such as the knees and elbows; and gliding or plane joints, such as the wrists and ankles. The joints are lubricated for smooth action by synovial fluid and are stabilized by tendons and ligaments. When the joints are damaged by injury or disease, arthritis (joint inflammation) can occur.
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