Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune-mediated disease. This means it is caused by an overreaction of the immune system. A normal immune system reacts when the body identifies a foreign body such as bacteria. This foreign material which invokes the immune response is called an antigen. The body can react to the antigen by producing protein molecules (antibodies) which bind the antigen.
A dog with rheumatoid arthritis generally has several joints affected. The animal is usually lame. This may be mild or very severe to the point where the animal cannot walk. Sometimes, the lameness shifts from leg to leg. In some cases, the lameness comes on suddenly and the dog also has a fever and loss of appetite. At other times, the only sign of rheumatoid arthritis is stiffness.
Some dogs will have other body systems affected as well as the joints. Some dogs with rheumatoid arthritis also have kidney disease, enlarged lymph nodes, tonsillitis and pneumonia.
A special blood test can be done to look for the rheumatoid factor. Unfortunately, the rheumatoid factor is sometimes present in dogs without rheumatoid arthritis and not all dogs with rheumatoid arthritis test positive for the factor.
The veterinarian uses the information from the pet’s history, physical exam and tests to come to a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as buffered aspirin are often used. Sometimes steroids such as prednisolone are given often on an alternate day basis. Medications that suppress the immune system such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide are used in some cases. Gold injections have been given to dogs with some success.
Whatever medication is used, careful monitoring of a pet on immunosuppressive drugs is important since it will be more prone to infections and some drugs have toxic side effects.
At this time, rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured. The long-term outlook for dogs with rheumatoid arthritis is to try to control the signs of the disease and prevent further injury to the joint.
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