Arthritis - Animal Health SmartBrief Special Report:

Animal Health SmartBrief Special Report: Arthritis, Part I Approximately 20% of adult dogs have osteoarthritis, and 45% of cats experience arthritic pain, according to the Morris Foundation, which has supported several studies on arthritis-related issues. Part I of this Animal Health SmartBrief Special Report, below, examines how to prevent arthritis and delay its onset and what related issues are important for veterinarians and pet owners to address, along with available resources. Topics include weight, diet and exercise. Part II, to be published Thursday, will offer a Q-and-A with an expert in canine arthritis, as well as the latest on treatment advancements. If you don't receive Animal Health SmartBrief daily and find our report on Arthritis useful, sign up for this timely e-newsletter. Animal Health SmartBrief delivers the stories making news in your profession directly to your inbox -- for FREE. For Veterinarians Researchers identify mouse gene related to the onset of arthritis A defective A20 gene can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, a painful progressive joint disease that starts in the synovial membrane and soft tissues around the joints and often spreads to cartilage and bones, say researchers at Flanders Institute for Biotechnology and Ghent University. The research shows that a defect in the gene can also contribute to arthritis that doesn't respond to anti-TNF therapy. ScienceDaily (8/16)      Proper nutrition may help ward off arthritis and other diseases Managing a dog's weight and providing proper nutrition can not only help the animal live longer but may also delay the onset of diseases including arthritis, writes veterinarian Richard Palmquist, chief of Integrative Health Services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, Calif. Specifically, diets high in vegetables help detoxify the body and reduce the expression of genes that produce inflammation, he writes. The Huffington Post (8/16)      Veterinarian educates others on comprehensive arthritis prevention, treatment Veterinarian Shawn Messonnier has literally written the book on combining traditional and alternative treatments to delay the onset of arthritis and treat dogs and cats that develop the disease. In his book, "The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Arthritis in Dogs and Cats," Dr. Messonnier emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, starting with screening puppies for dysplasia, which can be corrected by surgery and lessen the animal's chances of developing arthritis later in life. Jersey Journal (Jersey City, N.J.)(7/21)      Hill's® Prescription Diet® j/d® Canine Mobility brand pet food is clinically tested to reduce NSAID dosage by 25%. Nutrients in j/d disrupt joint degradation, reduce inflammation, and can help prevent the need for more aggressive treatments later. Learn more. For Pet Owners Owners can delay arthritis in pets by maintaining healthy weight Maintaining a healthy weight in a pet can ward off a slew of health problems, including arthritis. Dogs, when kept at a proper weight, can stave off conditions such as arthritis for two years more than their overweight counterparts, according to this article. The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) (8/13)      Spots of missing hair may mean joint pain in older cats Older cats that lick or chew near the elbow joint on their front legs and are missing patches of fur on their back legs may be sending signals that they're suffering from osteoarthritis, a common condition in senior felines, writes veterinarian Lee Pickett. Veterinarians typically need to take X-rays to properly diagnose the condition. Reading Eagle Press (Pa.) (8/12)      For both cats and dogs, obesity adds to arthritis risk About 90% of the dogs and cats that work out at the TheraPET Wellness Center in Illinois need to lose weight. Just as they do in people, pets' extra pounds increase the animal's risk of developing arthritis and other diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Veterinarians recommend simple dietary changes and more exercise to help pets shed pounds. Chicago Tribune (8/10)      Nutrition clinically tested to reduce NSAID dosage by 25% Hill's® Prescription Diet® j/d® Canine Mobility brand pet food contains nutrients that disrupt joint degradation and reduce inflammation. Catching arthritis early and starting patients on a treatment plan including j/d can prevent the need for more aggressive treatments later. Learn more. Resources Recognizing the signs of arthritis In this AVMA podcast, Dr. Craig Prior discusses how to recognize the signs of osteoarthritis in a pet. Listen to the podcast.      Caring for an aging pet AVMA offers pet owners information about caring for an older pet, including health issues that can affect aging animals, such as arthritis. Read more here.      Feline arthritis Find out more about feline arthritis from the American Animal Hospital Association.