Arthritis

arthritis

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which can be due to wear and tear on joints from over use, aging, injury, or from an unstable joint such as which occurs with a ruptured ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in the knee.

The chronic form of this disease is called degenerative joint disease (DJD). It is estimated that 20% of dogs older than one year of age have some form of DJD. One study showed that 90% of cats over 12 years of age had evidence of DJD on x-rays.

Other causes of the inflammation can be infectious. Septic arthritis is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Lyme disease or Ehrlichia infection can also cause arthritis. Auto-immune diseases, or what is now called immune- mediated diseases, such as Lupus can cause swollen, painful, inflamed joints. More rarely, tumors can cause arthritis.

Treatment for arthritis should be directed to the inciting cause if possible. Surgery may be needed to stabilize a joint. DJD may be treated with NSAID's, pain medication such as Tramadol, cartilage protective agents such as glucosamine or Adequan, acupuncture, or as a last resort, steroids. NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have many types. In general, it is recommended to use NSAID's developed for pets, and not ones made for use in people as those are highly likely to cause ulcers in dogs, and most NSAID's can't be used in cats.

Schedule an Appointment

Testimonials

  • Wow! Thanks to all the staff at Anderson Vet Clinic. I feel like you all truly love what you do! My kitty, Lola and I always have such a pleasant experience when we come in. I would not leave Lola in anyone else’s hands but yours!

    - Maya Smith / Los Angeles, CA
  • I have benefited tremendously from the care my pet received from Dr. Anderson. I cannot thank him and his team enough for the treatment we received when my puppy suddenly became ill.

    - John Doe / San Diego, CA
  • Fabio wasn’t eating the food I was giving him. Thanks to Dr. Anderson, he evaluated Fabio and his current diet to make some recommendations. You clearly are an expert in your field...thanks so much!

    - Tara Brown / Kansas City, MO

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you

Office Hours

Monday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday

Closed

Friday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Thursday
Closed
Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

Our Location