| If you think humans are the only ones suffering from | | | | cats over age 8 may also be suffering from arthritis |
| arthritis, you’re wrong. Our misery is shared by | | | | pain. However, unlike dogs or horses, they don’t |
| many of our animal friends, including dogs and cats. | | | | limp or make a fuss, making the disease difficult to |
| Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease – the | | | | diagnose, according to Professor David Bennett from |
| most common form of arthritis that affects 21 million | | | | the university’s vet school. |
| Americans - is also common in animals, especially | | | | Cook lamented the fact that by the time patients |
| elderly dogs and cats. The disease is caused when | | | | develop symptoms – about seven to 15 years after |
| cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in the joints | | | | an injury in humans, and only six weeks for dogs – it |
| deteriorates over time. This may be due to aging, being | | | | is already too late to reverse the damage. |
| overweight, joint injury and stress or muscle | | | | “The signs may be hard to spot at first: your |
| weakness. | | | | gray-in-the-muzzle Labrador retriever takes a little |
| As the cartilage wears down, bone rubs against bone | | | | longer to get up in the morning, or your fuzzy Persian |
| resulting in damaged bones. There is stiffness and pain | | | | doesn't jump as high as she used to. As time goes on, |
| in the joints during or after use or after a period of | | | | it becomes more and more clear that your pet is |
| inactivity. Other symptoms are loss of flexibility, | | | | having a hard time moving, and soon you realize that |
| swelling, and tenderness in the joint. | | | | she is in pain whenever she walks, jumps, or even sits |
| “Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, | | | | up. It can be a hard moment for a pet owner - learning |
| though it most commonly affects joints in your hands, | | | | that the animal you love has arthritis,” said the |
| hips, knees and spine. Osteoarthritis typically affects | | | | American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). |
| just one joint, though in some cases, such as with | | | | “The symptoms of arthritis can be hard to |
| finger arthritis, several joints can be affected,” said | | | | distinguish - animals can't complain about their aching |
| the Mayo Clinic. | | | | joints, so all that pet ‘parents’ see is a response |
| In animals, however, osteoarthritis may be difficult to | | | | to pain. Animals with arthritis might avoid the activities |
| detect since the former can’t complain or talk. Dr. | | | | they used to enjoy, stop jumping onto the furniture, or |
| James "Jimi" Cook, director of the Comparative | | | | they might nip or seem upset when touched. Some |
| Orthopedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri at | | | | animals may become depressed or change their |
| Columbia, said the disease is often found in 20 percent | | | | eating habits; others may simply seem grumpier than |
| of dogs over age 1. | | | | usual,” the AAHA added. |
| Scientists at the University of Glasgow said a third of | | | | |