Arthrosis in animals

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in animals: Pain. The development of the disease in an animal occurs in several stages. The main symptom of stage I osteoarthritis is pain that occurs when an animal walks for a long time, which does not manifest itself under normal stress. In stage II, it occurs at the slightest stress. Stage III is characterized by constant lameness of the animal due to pain in the joint. The crunch. When walking, a crunching sound is heard in the affected joint, resembling a click. The sound is dry and rough. Limited mobility. If the diagnosis is not made in time and treatment is not started, then due to the proliferation of bone tissue, the joint loses its mobility due to a decrease in the joint gap. Joint deformity. Joint modifications acquire a rounded shape for a number of reasons. This occurs with significant changes in the bone tissue, and the joint fluid is practically not affected.

This manifestation of the disease is typical for aged animals and those in a limited space for movement. Another reason for joint swelling is inflammation of its lining. Here, on the contrary, there is an increase in joint fluid, which leads to deformation. To make a diagnosis, the veterinarian conducts an external examination, collects an anamnesis on the care and maintenance of the animal, sends it for joint X-rays and tests. Based on the results obtained, appropriate treatment is prescribed, depending on the degree of osteoarthritis. In the initial stages of the disease, when it is still possible to save the joint, hongroprotectors are used. The essence of their action lies in the fact that they retain fluid in the cartilage, nourish it and restore it. The substances included in these medicines have no side effects. However, their treatment process is long. To achieve remission, you need to undergo several courses of treatment. Hormonal (steroid) and non-steroid medications can be prescribed to quickly relieve the exacerbation of osteoarthritis. They quickly and well relieve pain and inflammation, but they do not treat in any way, they do not restore cartilage tissue. Prolonged use of such medications is not recommended, as it causes many dangerous side effects. For the same reason, there are a number of contraindications for their use. Ointments and gels are used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Gels are used for compresses on the joint, and ointments with a warming or irritating effect are used to improve blood circulation. For complex treatment, the veterinarian may prescribe physical therapy to the animal. These procedures are necessary to reduce and relieve joint and muscle pain in order to improve blood circulation. Dietary nutrition is important in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is necessary so that the animal does not have excess weight. In addition, there should be free access to clean and fresh water.