Home    Cattery            Staff            Contact             News      Exotics           Links    Information
                                                                           

DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE

This term more aptly describes chronic arthritis (osteoarthritis) which is a gradual deterioration of articular cartilage within the joints.

Just as we are living longer, so are our pets and sadly with advancing years the “hinges” of the body - the joints - tend to become increasingly stiff and painful.

What is DJD?

Joints consist of a tough fibrous joint capsule which joins the bones forming the joint and this is lined by a thin membrane which produces joint fluid.  This acts as a lubricant and also carries nourishment to the articular cartilage which covers the bones. The articular cartilage does not have any blood supply of its own to provide nourishment and oxygen.  Small vessels from the underlying bone provide additional nourishment to the cartilage in addition to that it absorbs from the joint fluid.

DJD can follow a number of joint diseases including infection and surgery.  It also follows overloading as happens with obese pets when normal movement can cause articular cartilage damage.  This  smooth resilient cartilage degenerates and becomes brittle and in some cases actually splits and becomes detached within the joint.

Although DJD is said to be non-inflammatory, mild inflammation then plays a part.  The damaged cells of the cartilage release substances which result in inflammation, pain and also further damage to the cartilage.  Thus, once DJD starts it can become a vicious cycle.

Can the condition be cured?

Most of the damage caused by DJD is irreversible but today we do have products available that can slow the progress of the disease and promote some cartilage healing. In addition, modern analgesics can effectively control pain without causing too many side effects.

DJD has to be considered to be incurable but like sugar diabetes it can be controlled, allowing your pet to enjoy a happy, pain free life with good quality.

Control of DJD

Many dogs suffering from DJD are overweight. It is therefore imperative that weight should be monitored and reduced if necessary.  If you have any difficulties or need help, please contact us.  Today there are many weight reducing diets available that do work providing feeding instructions are carefully followed.

Effective pain relief

Many of the early analgesics caused gastro-intestinal upsets.  Even today care has to be taken in the choice of the painkiller used since some can upset individual dogs.   If you think the drugs we have prescribed do not suit your dog, please discontinue them and contact us since pain control often has to be organised on an individual basis.

Slowing destruction of cartilage and  promoting  repair

Drugs are now available which have been shown to be effective in controlling the destruction of cartilage in dogs with DJD.   They work by:-

·improving the blood supply within the joint

·preventing some of the harmful enzymes that continue the destruction of cartilage within the joint once it has started

·promote the laying down of fibrous tissue to heal the damaged areas

·actually promote cartilage repair

These disease modifying drugs are given as a course of injections, initially for four weeks at weekly intervals.  Then depending on response, the interval between injections is increased.  Cartrophen is one of these drugs and we will be happy to discuss the use of this drug with you.

Diet supplements

There are certain products which are described as nutritional supplements rather than pharmaceuticals, (i.e. drugs).  In the United States these have been termed `nutraceuticals'.  These compounds contain glycosaminoglycan and chrondroitin together with trace elements and vitamins.  There are many anecdotal case histories available, indicating that these products do help and at least it has been shown they  cause no side effects.  

If you have any questions or concerns regarding treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.