Just like with humans, there isn’t just one kind of arthritis that strikes pets.
Auto-immune arthritis, also known as rheumatoid arthritis, usually affects several joints at the same time. The cause of this type of arthritis is not known, but something triggers your pet’s immune system to attack the joints. Your pet will experience pain, swelling, and decreased mobility.
Acute traumatic arthritis manifests rapidly and is usually caused by a direct injury or trauma to the joints. Your pet will experience swelling and lameness quickly; immediate surgery can help prevent permanent problems with the affected joint. Without treatment, osteoarthritis can develop.
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a progressive disease that destroys the cartilage that protects your bones. A pet with osteoarthritis will experience pain, swelling, a loss of mobility, and reduced flexibility. This is one of the most common types of arthritis in pets; glucosamine is frequently prescribed to help. Hip dysplasia is a type of osteoarthritis that specifically affects the hip joints in pets.
Arthritis can also be caused by an infection in the body — infectious arthritis — or by bone spurs developing in the joint — hypertrophic arthritis. The least common type of arthritis in pets is inflammatory arthritis. It can occasionally be caused by an infection.
Knees and shoulders can have particular arthritis issues of their own. Shoulder degeneration may be caused by injury or infection. A pet with shoulder degeneration will move more slowly than normal, and his gait will change. Torn ligaments in the leg can cause knee stifle — a destabilization of the joint — or a dislocation. Other leg deformities can also cause a kneecap dislocation. Regardless of the cause, knee stifle and dislocation can be very painful for your pet, as the knee joint is under a large amount of strain.
If you see that your pet is having trouble moving or walking, has decreased flexibility, has swelling in the joints, or seems to be in pain, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of arthritis.