 |
 |
|
vancouver animal wellness hospital healing as nature intended homeopathy | nutrition | acupuncture | chiropractic | full-service surgery | physiotherapy/rehabilitation |
|
|
 sitemap |
|
|
|
› about us
› site map
› home
|
|
|
› articles by michael goldberg, dvm
Arthritis and our pets Arthritis means inflammation of joints. There are many different classifications of arthritis in our pets. The most common manifestations of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which involves the joints in which there is a degeneration of the joint with resulting bone being laid down which interferes with smooth joint function resulting in pain and reduced mobility in the joint. This is by far the most common type that I see in practice and will be the focus of this article. Other less common types include immune diseases in which the immune system contributes to inflammation in the joints. This includes swelling with no bony proliferation in the joint in the early stages. Bacterial and viral agents may also be involved in arthritis (such as Lymeıs disease). Once any inflammation is established in the joint, there is a degeneration of the tissues of the joint, such as the synovium as well as the cartilage in the joint (which normally is smooth but in arthritic pets, is ragged and bony). As stated above, the most common arthritis I see in daily practice is osteoarthritis. Every time a joint gets inflamed whether it is from a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or a strain, or if there is anatomical abnormalities such as abnormal hips as in hip dysplasia, there is inflammation of the joint. This will often result in eventual arthritis. Osteoarthritis is diagnosed based on x-rays. If there are no changes on the x-ray, a procedure known as arthrocentesis (taking a fluid sample from the joint) can be performed and a diagnosis may be made by this technique. So, how can you tell if your pet suffers from this ailment? By far, the most common complaint I hear is the fact that the pet seems to have slowed down recently. They will often rise up after a rest and walk with a certain stiffness at the start and seem to improve after a good stretch and movement. Often I hear they seem worse when the weather is cold and damp. A great number of clients also tell me they give aspirin and the pet feels better (please be careful, as aspirin is quite toxic in cats, so consult your veterinarian). The older the pet, the more likely they will suffer from this uncomfortable but treatable condition. Sometimes though, it will affect young animals that have had trauma, infection, or genetic joint abnormalities (such as hip or elbow dysplasia). I have seen a number of pets who as part of there history, seem to have had the stiffness come about after vaccination. How do you give your pet some relief from this condition? I have had most success using classical homeopathy to treat this condition. I take a full medical history of the patient as well as an emotional profile, and decide on a homeopathic remedy that best suits the individual pet. Remedies that have been useful for my patients include Calcarea Carbonica, for situations in which there are severe bony abnormalities and ones that seem worse in cold wet weather. Other remedies include Arsenicum album, where the pet is better with heat and very restless with the pain. Rhus-tox is an excellent remedy if your pet is restless, they have pain and stiffness on rising, and are markedly better with continuous motion. Lycopodium may be useful if the complaints are mostly right sided and the pet has similar stiffness as mentioned above for Rhus-tox. Another remedy that has worked well in cases of arthritis is Sepia (the ink of cuttlefish) for pets who are Arthritic and tend to be grumpy with their owners and other pets. Other supplements that have helped my patients immensely are:
Recovery is a product that contains glucosamine, which helps rebuild the damaged cartilage in the joint. It contains MSM which aids in pain relief of the joint as well as it contains a blend of antioxidants formulated and patented which helps reduce the inflammation and the secondary by-products of inflammation which are further damaging to the joint. A large number of Veterinarians are now carrying this very useful product. You may notice a change in anywhere from one to six weeks. For more acute inflammations, I have been very happy with a product called K9-MX, which also contains glucosamine but has a number of herbs such as devilıs claw as well as enzymes. This product seems to work quickly in giving comfort for more acute joint problems such as sprains, though I have used it in more chronic cases of arthritis. Willow bark may be useful in cases of ongoing inflammation. This is the plant from which aspirin is derived and when taken as a whole food, it doesnıt appear to have the side effects (such as bleeding or stomach upset) that aspirin and its synthetic derivatives have. There is a good product by Standard Process called "Saligesic", that is made of willow bark. Omega 3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Fish oils (cold water, such as salmon oil) as well as other omega 3s such as flax oil can also be useful in the treatment of arthritis. On the whole, there are some excellent methods of treatment for this condition. I highly recommend you work with your veterinarian in establishing safe and natural ways to deal with this common concern. Read more Articles by Michael Goldberg, DVM... |
|
|
vancouver
105 east broadway |
 photo by Heidi Zutter |
|
k9phodography.com fine art pet photography |
|
|
|
vancouver animal wellness hospital Michael Goldberg, DVM; Sue Hughson, DVM 105 e. broadway, vancouver, bc v5t 1w1 / phone: 604.738.4664 / fax: 604.738.4694 Hours of Operation: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 9am - 6pm, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm © Copyright 2004-2006. vancouver animal wellness hospital. All rights reserved. › Contact Us › Privacy Policy › Sitemap › Home |