Canine Joint Problems

Dog Joint problems are relatively common in canines. The most common is osteoarthritis, degenerative disease that affects articular cartilage. Over 20% of canines one year and older suffer from some degree of osteoarthritis.

Most Dog Joint problems affect older canines and young people from large and giant breeds. The latter have a hereditary predisposition to the problem, they grow rapidly for a long period, therefore are more sensitive to growth problems associated with a heavy weight. This is the reason for the growth and development of these canines must be carefully managed. The best way to keep Dog Joints healthy is to practice regular exercise moderately during growth, combined with a diet low energy content and contain the proper amount of calcium.

The treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and other dog joint problems include:

Prevention and treatment of obesity

Exercise appropriate

Pain medication and anti-inflammatory

Surgery

Correct diet.

Benefits of particular nutrients

- Protecting the articular cartilage

The most common cause of disorder is articular cartilage damage. Nutrients such as chondroitin sulfate can protect cartilage from damage and improve chances for recovery. Glucosamine also helps maintain healthy Dog Joints by stimulating the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. Minerals such as copper, manganese and zinc also play a role in the repair process .-

- Analgesia and reducing inflammation

Dog Joint problems go hand in hand with pain and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of EPA / DHA (Omega 3 fatty acids) help reduce Dog Joint problems.

- Protect from the harmful effects of free radicals

Large amounts of free radicals are produced as a result of stress and disease and thus by osteoarthritis. A combination of antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, lutein and taurine) help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals.

- A new nutrient

The green-lipped mussel (Green lipped mussel - GLM) is a special mussel found in New Zealand.

The native Maori people of New Zealand mussels eat this regularly and as a result suffer less Dog Joint damage than other cultures. This discovery led to further research into the role the GLM plays in maintaining Dog Joint health.

The GLM is a natural source of chondroitin sulfate which helps reduce symptoms, protect and even repair damaged cartilage.

The GLM is also a source of EPA / DHA and another fatty acid in particular eicosatetraenoic (ETA), which reduce inflammation and Dog Joint pain.

The GLM also contains amino acids, vitamins (E and C) and minerals (zinc, copper and manganese) that can function both as antioxidants and to stimulate Dog Joint repair process.

The natural combination of these ingredients in the GLM achieves a very positive effect on musculoskeletal disorders.

The fact that the ingredients of the GLM reinforce each other, makes the end result is more effective than if they were given each one separately. The GLM also increases the effectiveness of analgesic and anti-inflammatories. It can reduce the doses of drugs taken in combination with the GLM decreasing adverse effects on the stomach.

55% of canines with reduced mobility are small or medium and 45% are large size canines. 45% of the canines are large canines with osteoarthritis, where more than half of these are giants. 28% are medium sized canines and 27% are small-size canines.

For these reasons, Royal Canin has two diets for the management of Dog Joint pain: Mobility Support and Mobility Special Diet Large canine over 25 kg.

Mobility Support Diet is a complete diet for adult canines with dog joint problems and older who helps manage the pain and Dog Joint inflammation and maintain healthy Dog Joints and moving naturally. Contains GLM powder obtained through a patented proprietary process containing a number of active ingredients that work together.

It also contains omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil and GLM, antioxidants (vitamin E, C, lutein and taurine) that help protect the body from the effects of free radicals and strengthen the immunity and delay the aging process . His moderate energy content helps reduce the risk of overweight by helping to limit the stress on the Dog Joints.

Special Mobility Large canine Diet is a complete diet for adult canines and older who weigh over 25 kg, which helps control the pain and Dog Joint inflammation and maintain healthy Dog Joints and moving naturally. Contains a greater amount of GLM and levels of EPA / DHA according to their size that come from fish oil and the GLM. The presence of chondroitin and glucosamine (2000 mg / kg.) Along with omega-3s help maintain Dog Joint health. By taking into account the increased sensitivity of the canines digestive oversize strengthens its tolerance by using rice, which increases the overall digestibility of the food, fructo-oligosaccharides and beet pulp to stimulate growth of beneficial intestinal flora and omega 3, which play an inflammatory role at the intestinal mucosa. Also adapted the size of the kibble.

Dog Joint diseases

Disorders that affect the Dog Joints are divided into two groups: inflammatory and non inflammatory disorders.

Noninflammatory Dog Joint problems are chronic and progressive disorders due to articular cartilage damage and associated degenerative changes. The initial damage of the cartilage may be due to alterations in animal growth, degenerative processes, neoplasm and trauma. In other cases may have no apparent cause (idiopathic). Degenerative Dog Joint disease usually presents few clinical signs limited to musculoskeletal system and is usually diagnosed based on clinical history and physical findings and radiological.

Inflammatory Dog Joint problems are more common in canines than in cats and are due to infectious processes (bacteria, mycoplasma, bacterial L-forms, fungi, spirochetes, rickettsia) or immune-mediated processes. The latter are classified as erosive or not erosive based on physical and radiological findings. As the main cause that triggers the Dog Joint disease, the canine may be present systemic signs (fever, listlessness, anorexia or blood tests indicative of inflammation), may have affected more than one Dog Joint and these may or may not have associated bone changes. The diagnosis of inflammatory diseases is more complex. They are characterized by inflammatory changes in the synovium and intraarticular fluid.

canines with Dog Joint disorders usually appear in the veterinarian with a limp and pain. Lameness can be of a single Dog Joint or several, and manifest as intermittent claudication or even preventing the animal moving. It is important to detect any change in the condition of the animal (listlessness, fever, weakness, pale mucous ...), whether more than one affected Dog Joint and localize the pain.

How can you diagnose?
To reach a diagnosis should begin by obtaining a thorough history (previous injuries, immunizations, ticks, medicines, etc.). And have a good physical examination of the canine. Common diagnostic tests for dog joint problems include radiographs, analysis of Dog Joint fluid (synovial), complete blood tests and serology of the major infectious diseases.

- Radiographs: physical examination usually indicates the Dog Joints to be radiographed. In the degenerative processes and in some infectious processes (septic arthritis) or immune-mediated (rheumatoid arthritis) there is inflammation around the Dog Joint (periarticular) and apparent bone changes, such as articular cartilage destruction and alteration of the bone that is underneath it (subchondral). For a proper examination of each Dog Joint must obtain two projections and sometimes radiological studies are needed because many of the serial bone changes can not be seen until weeks or even months after onset of illness.

- Synovial fluid: analysis of Dog Joint fluid (cytology and culture) serve to confirm the presence of Dog Joint disease and to differentiate between inflammatory and noninflammatory. It is important to analyze the liquid over a Dog Joint. Normally it is colorless, clear and slimy. Any change in the color or consistency indicates degradation and disturbance of the liquid (presence of inflammatory cells or blood). With fluid cytology, we can make a count and see changes in cell shape and even detect intracellular organisms. The crop is used to confirm the presence of microorganisms although in some cases of septic arthritis (bacterial) culture may be negative.

- Analytical and serological blood: when a dog joint problems is confirmed inflammation is important to rule out any infectious process and thus be considered immune-mediated causes. Serologies detected with antibody titers against various infectious agents in the blood of animals.

Degenerative Dog Joint disease
It is characterized by destruction of articular cartilage, subchondral bone alteration and synovial fluid. The Dog Joint motion is limited, there is pain and crepitus on manipulation (extension and flexed position) and sometimes increased the amount of fluid within the Dog Joint (intraarticular). Due to pain and fibrosis, the canine will tolerate less exercise. Lameness is enhanced after exercise and the animals may have varying degrees of muscle atrophy.

Once diagnosed with a degenerative dog joint problem, the goal of treatment is to relieve discomfort and pain and prevent progressive deterioration. It is important to make the animal lose weight, limit the exercise (to continue with the walks and swimming) and to rest. In severe cases may become necessary surgery to correct instability or deformity of the Dog Joint.

It is helpful to use NSAIDs for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The most commonly used are aspirin, meloxicam and carprofen among others. We must be careful about side effects, mainly gastrointestinal ulcers, and should also prescribe a protective stomach.

In some cases of cartilage degeneration, may be prescribed drugs that protect the cartilage (chondro).