Mary Allen
Every fifth dog suffers from what is known as arthrosis. And although rarely diagnosed, cats are also affected by the degenerative disease of the joints. From the age of six, around sixty percent of all cats show arthrosis. This means that the disease is far more common than originally thought.
But what is arthrosis (also osteoarthrosis) anyway? Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that causes irreversible damage to the joint structure – unfortunately, this means that there is no cure. At the beginning of every arthrosis, there is an inflammation of the joint. A joint consists of two perfectly fitting bones, the ends of which are covered with cartilage. An intact cartilage guarantees problem-free, pain-free, gliding movements of the joint. If this mirror-smooth surface is damaged, the body’s inflammatory reaction sets in motion a process that can further damage the joint.
Vicious Circle in the Joint
The inflammation in arthrosis is a vicious circle that is kept going by the pieces of collagen that have been released. The injury to the joint releases very small pieces of cartilage or collagen, which the body tries to eliminate with the help of a painful inflammatory process. This inflammation of the joints (arthritis) further damages the cartilage, resulting in chronic joint inflammation. This creates a vicious circle and triggers the development of arthrosis.
The cartilage is broken down more and more so that in the end even bones can rub against each other unprotected. This is painful.
The body reacts to permanent inflammation. For example, he tries to stiffen the joint with bony growths to reduce the painful movements. Osteoarthritis develops.
Even if in principle all joints can show arthritic changes, some are affected more frequently due to, for example, greater stress:
- hips
- elbow
- knee
- spine
- metatarsophalangeal joints (esp. dog)
How Do I Know If My Animal Has Osteoarthritis?
Significant lameness does not always occur (rarely in cats). It is often changing in behavior that can indicate osteoarthritis. In addition to changes in gait or jumping behavior, possible signs are also uncleanliness or reduced cleaning – especially in cats. A change in personality, such as depression or unusual anxiety, can also indicate osteoarthritis-related pain in dogs and cats.
Risk Factors
If your animal is affected, everyday adjustments and the right therapy can slow down the progression and reduce the pain. Osteoarthritis therapy usually consists of several components:
- Adjustments to home environment and activities
- Physiotherapy for mobilization, pain relief, and increased zest for life – also possible for cats!
- Pain management with anti-inflammatory/pain-relieving medication
- Supplementary feed for cartilage protection
Talk to your vet early on about how to prevent arthrosis or how to spot the signs as early as possible!