APPROXIMATELY 25-30percent of family pets suffer from osteoarthritis. The stiffness, pain and swelling in a pet with arthritis is really no different than what you as a human being would experience. Arthritis in pets, as in humans, is a debilitating disease that greatly affects your pet's health and well being. With the onset of arthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), a happy, playful Fido or Fluffy can quickly turn listless and pain-ridden.
Types of pet arthritis
Osteoarthritis (general term, also known as OA); degenerative joint disease (DJD); hip dysplasia; elbow dysplasia; knee dysplasia; knee (stifle joint); osteochondrosis; hypertrophic arthritis; shoulder (degeneration); wrist arthritis (carpi); kneecap (dislocation). If you are not sure which condition your pet has, or wish to read more information on the specific types, a full description can be found on the Activex website.
What's really going on to cause this pain in your pet? The physiological changes that occur in pets are virtually identical to that of the human body. Essentially, it is the "breakdown" of the protective cartilage that covers or protects the ends of bones at the joint.
Primary versus secondary osteoarthritis
Since pets by their nature are very active, it follows that they are constantly subjecting themselves to trauma. Where trauma is the cause of the onset of one of many osteoarthritis conditions (as opposed to hereditary conditions), the course of the disease is extremely rapid.
While a human may sustain a traumatic injury that does not develop into an arthritic condition for many years, quite the opposite is true with pets. Unlike humans, most of pet arthritis develops almost immediately after trauma to their bodies. The onset can and is often within weeks of even a minor injury as opposed to years for a human. This is referred to as secondary arthritis compared to the more usual primary arthritis in humans.
Animals can't discuss their pain. Pet owners often ask if glucosamine can be used as a preventive measure for pets. In other words, can it be used even though you do not have a diagnosis of OA from your veterinarian? As most of you know, human beings take supplements as preventive measures regularly. You can do the same for your pet.
There are signs, however, that will tell you your pet is at risk. How do you know? Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play; limping; lagging behind on walks; difficulty rising from a resting position; yelping in pain when touched; a personality change; resisting touch. Does your pet show any of these signs?
If you answer yes, I would highly recommend learning more about Syn-Flex for pets. With high quality, pharmaceutical grade liquid glucosamine HCL and glucosamine sulfate plus 11 other beneficial ingredients including all the ones mentioned above, we have created a product superior in quality and effectiveness. If your pet has arthritis or is at a risk of developing the disease we suggest learning more about Syn-Flex for pets.
