Integrative Management Of Arthritis

Arthritis is a slowly progressive disease that may affect one or several joints. Most often, in dogs, hips or elbows are affected.

When arthritis develops, the joint fluid bathing the joints becomes very thin. Cartilage at the end of long bones can become eroded, and the health of the joint capsule tissues suffers as they become inflamed.

Arthritis typically leads to pain, lameness, joint inflammation, and reduced mobility, resulting in a reduced quality of life. Your dog may show reluctance to exercise, difficulty rising, especially in the mornings, difficulty moving upstairs, or reluctance to jump in the car.

Dogs in pain may start to show uncharacteristic behaviour such as aggression towards humans or other pets, may not eat as well, or may start to chew or lick at their limbs or joints. They may not be able to groom themselves, or may take a long time to settle in their beds, being reluctant to lie down.

Arthritis is not just a disease of old dogs. Young dogs with poor conformation, fast-growing, large-breed dogs, dogs with joint instability, a history of any surgery involving joints or the skeleton, or cruciate disease, will all benefit from the following arthritis management protocol.

Over the past 30 years, as well as aging dogs, we have accumulated numerous cases of young, large breed dogs who have benefited from our protocol, and advise any dog with tendon, ligament damage or undergoing joint surgery to be started on our protocol.

ARTHRITIS TREATMENT STARTS WITH MEDICATION TO MODIFY THE COURSE OF DISEASE.

This is important to understand. We don't just treat the symptoms once they arrive; we start treatment to prevent, modify, and minimise the arthritic disease process itself, in susceptible dogs.

1) CARTROPHEN (Pentosan Polysulfate) is a plant-derived medication. It is classified as a disease-modifying medication with the following actions:

• Thickens joint fluid by stimulating joint fluid production.

• Stimulates production of cartilage, repairs cartilage.

• Blocks the enzymes that break down cartilage

• Stimulate the production of antioxidants that block free radicals (substances that damage tissue)

• Improves blood flow to joints to deliver nutrition to the joint and bone

Cartrophen (Pentosan) is an exceptional and unique medication in that it works to actually modify or change the events occurring in arthritis. Unlike anti-inflammatories, of which there are many, it doesn’t just work on the effects of the disease, but actually changes or modifies the course of the disease process.

Anti-inflammatories will often still be required, however, if the disease progresses over time or the animal already has very advanced arthritis. However, we can significantly reduce the amount of pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories being used in the animal by using Cartrophen first. We will often advise an increase in the frequency of Cartrophen administration and a decrease in the use of anti-inflammatories as the dog stabilises on Cartrophen.

Cartrophen Vet is an injection given as an initial course of four weekly doses. This is a convenient way to ensure that your pet receives the appropriate dosage and allows us to monitor the response. It is essential that your dog complete all 4 injections to ensure optimal benefit – injections may be given 5 – 7 days apart, but no further than 7 days apart.

Signs of improvement:

- Dogs become more “fluid” in their movement

- Easier rising from bed and settling into bed

- Easier effort in navigating stairs; getting into the car is easier

- Increased exercise tolerance – longer walks, more playful, playing with toys again

- Happier dogs as pain & stiffness is alleviated; improved behavior

In the future, the dog will require a single booster injection, the frequency of which may vary from monthly to 3 monthly, depending on the individual dog’s response & severity of arthritis. When your pet starts to show returning signs of joint stiffness, that is the time for a booster.

2) THERAPEUTIC LASER THERAPY

Therapeutic Laser Therapy (TLT) is a scientifically and clinically proven therapeutic modality that uses light of different wavelengths that, when delivered to body tissues, interacts with tissue cells. TLT is a very safe, easy-to-use & affordable therapy that produces significant benefits to our patients. Dr Joan has considerable experience in TLT protocols for a large variety of conditions.

How TLT works

Our Class 1 Therapeutic Laser delivers light of different wavelengths into body tissues. The light wavelengths consist of red, infrared, and blue light and penetrate up to 10 cm into tissues.

The light causes changes in the cell mitochondria to stimulate tissue cells to produce more fuel for the cell. This fuel is called ATP; with more fuel, the cell can work harder and faster, allowing the body to get on with the job of healing quickly.

With more fuel, damaged tissues heal faster, decreasing the time it takes for wounds to heal, for damaged tissues to repair and therefore faster time for the body to return to normal function.

In addition, tissue swelling can be reduced, lymphatic flow enhanced, and significant pain relief achieved via the interaction of the laser on nerves. There is a direct effect on pain sensation, downregulating pain transmission.

TLT results in:

• decreased inflammation & swelling of tissues

• faster wound healing

• faster healing of damaged ligaments & tendons

• kills bacteria (blue light)

• significant pain relief

• increases blood supply and oxygen delivery to tissues.

Client Use of Lasers

Safety is important in all animal therapy. These TLT units are classified as Class One Lasers - these are the safest lasers to use. There are no side effects, no sedation is required, no hair clipping is required, and the treatment is non-invasive (no needles).

Clients can hire our home laser units and will be instructed in the use of TLT and given a written treatment plan. Patients receive a loading dose of TLT in the clinic that is continued at home on a specific protocol (Time/Frequency/Duration of treatment) according to the patient’s condition.

Dogs with arthritis benefit significantly from a treatment protocol including TLT. Reduced inflammation, pain relief, increased range of motion, and improved joint health. Clients can treat their animals at home after an initial clinic treatment. We generally find that 2-3 x 5-day courses (with a 5-day break between courses) are sufficient to achieve good results.

3) PAIN RELIEF

Dogs with moderate to severe pain may require additional pain relief, which we will prescribe separately to the Cartrophen course. Pain relief may be provided by:

Anti-inflammatories: “CARPROFEN” tablets. We may prescribe these initially, then ask you to gradually reduce the dose to the “lowest effective dose”. We prefer to see an increase in the frequency of Cartrophen boosters combined with the lowest effective dose of pharmaceuticals.

As with all anti-inflammatory meds, tablets should be given with food. Carprofen is our drug of choice as we see very little, if any, gastrointestinal upset with the medication, especially with long-term use.

4) MEDICINAL HERBS

Medicinal herbs provide their benefits through actions on a variety of body systems. By blending herbs, the synergistic actions are vastly increased to provide the following support:

• Pain relief, decrease inflammation, analgesic action.

• Immune system support

• Nervous system support, to decrease anxiety.

• Increase ability to cope with stress.

Herbs can be blended as powders for feed additives or as liquid tonics to be added orally or in feed. After a consultation, we can prescribe an individually blended liquid for your dog. These liquid blends of medicinal herbs are extremely effective not only for pain relief, but for decreasing stress and anxiety, support detoxification through enhancing liver and kidney function to eliminate wastes. Herbal tonics are highly effective to support chronic arthritic conditions.

In addition, dry herbal powders can be added with our HoneyPro Vet “DOG JOINTS” feed supplement which contains:

• Frankinsense (Boswellia) – anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, pain relief

• Turmeric – mild anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, protects liver

• Ginger – improve blood flow, anti-inflammatory

• Licorice – anti-inflammatory, demulcent

• Glucosamine – cartilage synthesis regulation, mild anti-inflammatory

• Coconut Powder – to assist absorption turmeric

This blend is added to food; purchase "Dog Joints" at our HoneyPro Vet website store.