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BlogAre there different types of arthritis in your pet and what causes Osteoarthritis in your cat or dog?

May 15, 20230
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There is more than one type of arthritis that can affect your pet but the most common type of arthritis in cats and dogs is osteoarthritis (sometimes called degenerative joint disease). Other types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a condition of the joints that bear the body’s weight and are used a lot. Movement in affected joints become stiff and the joints grate. This is because the cartilage has been damaged  or worn away. Sometimes this can mean that the bones are rubbing directly against each other.

Causes of osteoarthritis may include –

  • Body conformation (how a dog or cat is built)
  • Body condition/weight (being overweight or obese is highly correlated with OA).
  • Abnormal joint development (e.g. canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella’s).
  • Activity history.
  • Injury history (e.g. past fracture, ligament damage, muscle injury, joint infection, damage/erosion of cartilage).
  • Orthopaedic surgery
  • Nutritional history
  • Genetic

A veterinarian will be able to diagnose whether your pet has arthritis. They will perform a physical examination on your pet and may take x-rays. Occasionally, it might be necessary to take blood or joint-fluid samples to investigate possible joint infections.

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