What Causes the Pain?

The joints of a horse always bear some stress, even when the animal is standing still. Normally, the space between the bones is padded with cartilage. That enables smooth movement of the joints. However, when the cartilage is damaged, the bones rub against each other. That results in pain, swelling and heat. Consequently, movement in the joint becomes difficult.

Aging

In horses there is a metabolic change around the age of fifteen years. This triggers a rather swift decay of cells in bones and cartilage. The lubricating fluid found in the joints, called synovial fluid, starts to thin. Thinner synovial fluid is not effective for lubrication. With decreased lubrication, cartilage begins to breakdown and lose its ability to absorb shock, leading to arthritis.

Due to demanding activities throughout life, the alignment of bones and cartilage also becomes distorted. This misalignment makes a horse more prone to develop arthritis. Although arthritis is possible in any joint but it is mostly found in the upper knee joint, hocks, front fetlocks and in the coffin joints of the front feet. Abnormal growth of some body parts, like crooked legs, also increases chances of arthritis. Because of their arduous life style, horses mostly suffer from long term degenerative joint disease.

Symptoms and Signs of Onset

Arthritis in horses can take very long time to become clearly visible. A horse may appear healthy, but arthritis may be developing in its joints. The very first signs are stiffness after daily activity and slightly puffy joints. Other signs include:

1. Draining abscess over eyes
2. Fevers
3. Weight loss
4. Difficulty in chewing and prehending
5. Depression
6. Stiff, choppy and altered gait
7. Resistance to regular activities
8. Slightly puffy lower leg joints
9. A crackling sound from the joint

Progression Through Stages

At the beginning, there is slight inflammation only in the joint, noticeable by puffiness, swelling and warmth to the touch. Due to daily wear and tear, some cartilage fragments break up and cause irritation in adjoining muscles. Slight stiffness after normal exercise occurs. The synovial fluid becomes thinner which decreases the lubrication in the joints.

In the later stages, ligaments that hold the joint get damaged. Bones get weaker and calcium is laid down in empty spaces in the joint. Some random bony protrusions bulge out on the surface of the bones in the joints. This causes severe pain and apparent disability. In this case surgery is almost unavoidable.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Arthritis in horses is not incurable if detected at the right time. So, as soon as the signs of arthritus are seen, you must consult a veterinary specialist. Visual examination, X-rays, ultrasound, radiography and joint fluid examination are some of the ways of diagnosing. Once horse arthritis has been diagnosed, there are many drugs to choose from, depending on the severity, age and normal activities expected of the horse. Veterinarians mostly use non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics for relieving inflammation and pain. However, use of NSAIDs can lead to some other complications.

Medicines, like sodium hyaluronate, are injected directly in the joints. It helps in speedy regeneration of the cartilage. Massaging ointments also can be helpful to decrease swelling and inflammation. There are certain food supplements for improving joint health particularly. With regular exercise, proper nutrition and medical help, arthritis can be cured.

If your horse does not respond to medication and repeated surgeries, euthanizing it remains the last option.

How to Look After Such Horses

Regular exercise is necessary. It keeps circulation of the nutrients to the joints. It also helps to let the wastes come out of the joints. Exercise aids digestion, appetite and over all good health. Living in a paddock and grazing in a pasture is the best for a horse. Also, the horse should not be overloaded with excessive physical activity and load.

Unless advised by the doctor, confinement should be avoided. Some specific diets are considered to have a very good effect on the joints. A proper diet supplemented with minerals in consultation with your veterinary specialist will be helpful. Gently massage or exercise of the affected joints. A warm up before daily activities keeps a horse healthy.

How Arthritis Starts

A normal healthy goat has quite flexible joints. The ends of their bones, where they connect to form joints, are covered with cartilage. Cartilage is a natural padder and shock absorber between the bones. So cartilage protects the joints from wear and tear. In addition to cartilage, there are many muscles, ligaments and a natural lubricant called synovial fluid in the joints. When the ligaments, muscles or articular cartilage gets damaged, the animal feels inflammation and pain. Old age also makes a goat more prone to arthritis.

Causes

Arthritis in goats may be caused many ways. Trauma, bacterial infection, nutritional problems, old age, genetics and congested living arrangements are some of the reasons.

Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) is particularly deadly. It affects the synovial fluid with many other internal organs. It normally causes arthritis in adult goats. The most commonly affected joints in goats are carpal and tarsal joints. It spreads mostly from an infected mother to her kid at the time of birth.

Types of Goat Arthritis

There are different kinds of goat arthritis, depending on the source of the inflammation. Some of these are named below.

• Traumatic Arthritis: Goats are very active and often incur sprains or ligament tears. The symptoms of traumatic goat arthritis include sudden limping and puffy joints.
• Viral Arthritis: Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) causes chronic arthritus in goats. It affect a very large number of goats every year world wide. Mycoplasmas is another kind of virus that affects goats world wide.
• Bacterial Arthritis: Generally open wounds over joints lead to bacterial infection. Such injuries should be looked after immediately. In case of young kids, polyarthritis may occur. Proper hygiene should be maintained in and around the habitat of goats.
• Nutritional Arthritis: Nutritional arthritis is caused by an imbalance in the diet. Whenever there is an overdose of calcium in the diet, the excessive calcium gets deposited in the joints and causes pain and inflammation.

Symptoms and Signs of Onset

Depending on the causes, the signs and symptoms of goat arthritis may differ. Some of the signs are stiffness, lameness, decreased movement, reluctance to rise, weight loss, abnormal gait, acute swellings without pain in the joints, reduction in milk yield and poor hair coat. These signs indicate the painful conditions of arthritis. The life of a goat can be very miserable.

Stages in Goat Arthritis

Affected joints are swollen and warm to the touch at the start of bacterial and traumatic arthritis. In the onset of viral or nutritional arthritis, there may be no apparent symptoms. Some subtle signs like reluctance to rise, limping or not using some limbs could indicate early symptoms to watch. Lameness and substantial reduction in movement occur in later stages of all these types of arthritis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

As soon as above mentioned signs and symptoms appear, consult a veterinarian. Examining the joint fluid can determine whether goat is suffering from bacterial arthritis, viral arthritis, traumatic arthritis or nutritional arthritis. Radiographs may also be used to determine the extent of nutritional or traumatic arthritis. Serologic testing is used to determine arthritis due to CAEV. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA) test is used to detect the CAEV antibodies in the goat milk.

After a correct diagnosis, treatment should follow a doctor’s instructions. Antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tylosin and tetracycline are quite effective in controlling and recovering from goat arthritis. Physical movement should be avoided during recovery from traumatic arthritis. CAEV is dangerous because there is no cure for it.

In severe cases of CAEV, to save other goats from getting infected, such goats need to be euthanized. In severe cases of septic arthritis, the goat becomes completely inactive. Its digestion suffers and metabolism breaks down. Its death is almost sure. In such conditions euthanasia remains the only option to relieve the suffering of the goat.

How to Care for Arthritic Goats

Prevention is always better than cure. The different medicines and treatments cannot replace a sincere and expert caretaker. Proper management of the habitat and proper cleanliness are helpful. A controlled diet, and soft floor—such as one made from sand or straw—should be provided to the bucks and milk producing goats. The habitat should not be crowded.

Arthritis due to CAEV is not curable. However some preventive measure may be helpful. Closed herd status should be maintained. Proper diet, clean and soft flooring, regular foot trimming and regular administration of NSAIDs are helpful. Every six months all the goats of the herd should be tested for CAEV infection.

Kids should be prevent from getting infected just after birth. Their navals should be dressed with iodine. The newborn should not be fed its mothers’ milk if she is already infected with CAEV. Boiling this milk at 56 degree-celsius for one hour makes this milk safe for the baby.

Goats suffering from traumatic arthritis should be separated from the herd. Its movements should be restricted. The affected joint should be dressed. Open wounds should be properly cleaned and dressed to avoid infections. Bucks should be fed hay only or they may acquire nutritional arthritis.

How Arthritis Starts

Arthritis in cows, as in the case of other mammals, causes inflammation and then pain in their joints. Arthritis is common in mostly old and overweight cows. The important causes of arthritis in cows include lack of proper diet, old age, bacterial infections, abnormal growth of some body parts and injury to joints.

Types of arthritis in cows

Based on the causes and symptoms, there are two kinds of arthritis in cows, traumatic arthritis and septic arthritis.

1. Traumatic arthritis: When joint pain or inflammation is a result of injury, then it is called traumatic arthritis. Rough flooring is generally the reason behind traumatic arthritis. Poor cubicles or very congested cells of cattle can also cause traumatic arthritis. When some body part grows abnormally, like a crooked leg, then the chance of traumatic arthritis increases.Cartilage is an important part of the joints of cows. It provides cushioning between the bones. Sometimes due to injury or infection, cartilage might be damaged. Since there is no nerve in the cartilage, there is no pain initially. The pain is felt when the problem becomes severe. Cartilage is decayed enough so that the bones start rubbing against each other. Nerves in the bones become stressed.Once the arthritis starts with an injury, infection can arise inside the joint. Generally, traumatic arthritis is visible by lameness. One good thing about traumatic arthritis is that it can be diagnosed very easily.

    

2. Septic arthritis: When arthritis is caused by infection due to bacteria, it is called septic. Poor hygienic conditions increase its chances. Solar ulcers can also trigger septic arthritis. Septic arthritis generally occurs at the pedal joint. In cases such as aggravated foot-rot, the cow suffers a lot of pain. It is difficult to pass the antibiotic dosage to the joints and hence painkillers are less effective.The infection damages cartilage very easily. After the infection has been cured, the cartilage remains damaged. Thus the cow will be arthritic almost all her remaining life.Mycoplasma bovis and borrelia burgdorferi bacteria are responsible for most of the cases of septic arthritis in cows. Mycoplasma bovis causes Mycoplasma arthritis. However, Mycoplasma artritis generally appears as secondary to Mycoplasma pneumonia or mastitis in cows.

    

Symptoms

Traumatic arthritis can be seen quite clearly. But this is not the case with septic arthritis. Some of the signs and symptoms of arthritis in cows are as follows:

• visible lameness
• decreased appetite
• decreased weight
• fever
• swelling of joints
• prolonged lying down
• decreased milk yield

Signs of Onset

Traumatic arthritis can be observed clearly as lameness; however, as mentioned earlier, signs of septic arthritis are a bit subtle. Fever, decreased appetite and weight, and lethargy can be seen as the starting signs of septic arthritis. Visible lameness also appears in the later stages of septic arthritis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

When above mentioned signs are seen in a cow, you must consult your veterinarian. Diagnosis requires X-rays, radiographs, ultrasound, visual observation of the joints and joint fluid tests.

The treatment used for cow arthritis depends on the severity of the problem. Medical treatment or surgery or both, as advised by your veterinarian, can be undertaken. Aspirin may be used as pain reliever. Phosphorus, and vitamin A and D supplements can be of some help. Some antibiotics such as tylosin and danofloxacin can be useful.

In severe cases, cow may not respond to surgery. Infection grows. Then selling the dairy cow to the butcher or euthanizing it is the best option.

How to Care For

Pasture land is the most suitable natural habitat for a cow. It will ease the joints and help circulate nutrients to the joints. Pasture grazed cows also have higher content of nutrients in their milk. If pastures are not accessible, you should build spacious and airy cubicles for the cows.

Maintain hygiene in the cow shed as even a small infection may trigger bigger problems. The diet of calves should be looked after in order to avoid rapid weight gain. Soft bedding, like sand, will be helpful.

Joints and Cartilage

A joint is a flexible connection between two bones. It makes body movements possible. There is no blood within the joint but a special substance called cartilage. Cartilage works as a cushion between the bones at the joints. The joints and cartilage between them are very important in cats because cats do a lot of jumping!

Cats are not very heavy and have a very good sense of balance. They also have an ability to land on their feet. Cats have a kind of natural shock absorbing mechanism in their skeletal systems. You must have often observed a cat jumping from a high altitude, safely landing and walking without any signs of pain or injury.

Sometimes, however, the cartilage may be damaged due to daily life activities, infections or hereditary reasons. However, the most common reason for cat arthritis is injury. In such cases, swelling, inflammation, pain and stiffness in the joints occur. Moreover, generally more than one joint is affected at the same time.

Types

Cat arthritis can be categorized as degenerative arthritis and inflammatory arthritis.

• Degenerative arthritis: It is also called Osteoarthritis. It may develop over the lifetime due to daily wear and tear. It may also be caused by injury.When the soft tissue lining in the cartilage gets affected, some chemical mediators are secreted in the joint by the immune system. This further causes degeneration of the joint. Initially, there might be only inflammation. However, the inflammation triggers the secretion of chemical mediators and causes degeneration in the joint.Small projections pop up on the surface of the bones in the later stages of degenerative arthritis. This thickens the bones in the joint and further increases the pain.

   

• Inflammatory arthritis: As compared to osteoarthritis, this type of arthritis is not very common in cats. The important causes of inflammatory arthritis are infections and malfunction of the immune system. However there are still some unknown causes for this type of arthritis.It is characterized by decreased movement and sore joints. Usually an infection is present. It generally occurs as a result of trauma and the secondary infection to the joint.Sometimes a cat’s immune system attacks its joints and the joint membrane develops inflammation. This generally happens when the immune system misjudges infected joint and attacks healthy joints instead. This is called autoimmune reaction and causes antibodies to develop. These antibodies attack the joint and lead to chronic inflammation in the later stages.

Symptoms and Signs

The signs and symptoms of feline arthritis may vary with the joints involved, age of the cat and the stage of the problem. An altered gait and stiffness after rest are the most common signs. The cat will walk (and avoid jumping) so that it can avoid putting its weight on the affected joints. This may lead to reduction in the size of some muscles and other muscles start to appear larger.

You may notice that your cat does not jump as high as it used to. It may slow down and avoid activities it once enjoyed. It may lick or bite the part that is painful. Some signs and symptoms a cat may exhibit are:

1. Reluctance to walk or jump

2. Muscle shrinkage

3. Crackling sound of the joint while moving

4. Limping or favoring one side of the body

5. Fever and loss of appetite

6. Visible pain and discomfort

7. Hot, swollen joint

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis can be carried out through radio-graphs, ultrasound, X-rays, blood tests and joint fluid examinations. Treatment involves removing pain and inflammation. Getting the joint back to the normal condition is not easy. However there are some home treatments and precautions to help your arthritic cat. The right remedy after right diagnosis is a must for your cat to recover fast. Hence, as soon as the signs of artritis appear in your cat, you must consult a veterinarian.

The treatment for cats depends on their condition, their age and severity of arthritis. Glucosamine is a very effective home remedy. Dosage of vitamin C as recommended by your veterinary specialist will help alleviate pain and inflammation fast. Though steroids can help in arthritis, they may cause some other complications. Hence steroids should be used only in severe cases.

Anti-inflammatory drugs rich in minerals such as alphaalpha and yucca can help reduce pain due to arthritis. Antibiotics are used for infection. Aspirin is quite effective in cats but cats find it difficult to metabolize. Acupuncture is also found to have positive results in arthritis.

Surgery remains the only option when external medical treatment does not work. If your cat is not responding to repeated surgeries, and the infection is increasing all the while, then you should consider euthanizing your cat.

How to Look After Such Cats

Old and overweight cats are more prone to arthritis. A regular and nutritious diet should be provided from the childhood of your cat. Natural food is best. Vitamin A, C, D and E supplements can be helpful.

In old age, extra care need be taken. Light regular exercise is helpful to keep your cat healthy. This circulates nutrients to the joints. Gentle massage of the arthritic joints can also alleviate the inflammation. In cold and damp weather, joints of arthritic cats should be kept warm. Keeping the house a little warmer will also help.