Degenerative Joint Disease & Aging Pets
As a natural part of aging, wear and tear can take its toll on your pet's body - especially on his highly refined skeletal system and the bones and muscles that make it work. Playing a starring role in the proper functioning of the joints is articular cartilage, which normally provides a smooth, low-friction surface between bones and joints. In older dogs and cats, however, cartilage may become eroded or develop fissures. Not only does this affect a pet's ability to move, it can lead to great pain, inflammation and lameness.
Breeding & Injuries Can Mean Lameness in Dogs & Cats
Although degenerative joint disease generally affects older dogs, its not uncommon to see this problem in companion canines of all ages. Selective breeding has altered the bone structure in many dogs, leaving many animals - especially large or giant breeds such as German Shepherds, Mastiffs and Great Danes - prone to bone disease. Some dogs are born with a defect that inhibits the normal development of articular cartilage and can lead to permanent lameness in the shoulders, knees and ankles. And any serious injury can start the degenerative process. Middle-aged and older canines frequently rupture ligaments in their knees, which can result in cartilage breakdown; this also affects overweight dogs with poorly developed musculature. Some young dogs, Retrievers and Rottweilers in particular, develop fragmentation of their forearm bones at about 5 to 9 months of age. Another common inherited bone disorder is hip dysplasia. Because the joint doesn't fit together as snugly as it should, a dog's leg bone will move around too much in its socket - resulting in lameness in one or both hind legs and, sometimes, arthritis.
Degenerative Joint Disease and Dog or Cat Joint Pain
Does your pet feel pain when touched in certain areas or held in certain positions? If he is showing stiffness of movement or lameness, and if he has trouble getting up and down, ask your veterinarian about the possibility of a bone disorder. Short term use of drugs may be used to alleviate the pain, and in some cases, surgery may be required. Many doctors prescribe a nutritional supplement that provides the raw materials, including glucosamine and chondroitin, that help animals replenish articular cartilage.
Dog & Cat Lameness Eased Naturally
Also available are all-natural products that effectively provide both inflammation and pain relief without the potential side effects associated with many of the drugs prescribed by doctors. |
