What is Arthritis?

A Common and Painful Condition

Arthritis is a degenerative disease of the synovial joints. Arthritis causes inflammation of the synovial membrane, cartilage erosion, and subchonral bone alterations. Left unmanaged, the damage arthritis inflicts on a joint results in severe cartilage destruction, leaving the subchondral bones exposed. Bone on bone friction causes chronic pain. That pain can lead to decreased exercise and resulting weight gain, which puts even more stress on the affected joints, continuing the cycle of pain.

Arthritis affects up to one in five adult dogs, yet pet owners often fail to recognise the condition. Owners often attribute their dogs’ limping or slowed movements to part of the natural aging process. But arthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in adult dogs, and although the pain is not life threatening, it can greatly diminish the pet’s quality of life.

What Causes Arthritis?

Arthritis can affect any dog at any age, but certain factors can make dogs more inclined to develop the disease:

• Age: Arthritis is most common in dogs over seven years of age.
• Breed or conformation: Large breed dogs and conformation of the joint can make dogs more susceptible to arthritis.
• Obesity: Excess weight means excess stress on the joints, which can lead to arthritis.
• Nutrition: Essential nutrients and fatty acids are vital to healthy joints.
• Trauma: Physical damage to the joint can lead to arthritis.

Managing Canine Arthritis

Your veterinarian can help develop a personalised Canine Arthritis Management Plan. Take the first step in helping your dog with arthritis by incorporating these essential elements into your pet’s life: nutrition, exercise, pain relief, and weight management.

Recognising Arthritis in Your Dog

Arthritis is a progressive, degenerative disease that results in cartilage damage and joint inflammation. It affects up to one in five adult dogs.

Arthritis is the No. 1 cause of chronic pain in dogs. Joint inflammation and associated pain can result in.

• Limping
• Difficulty in Rising
• Decreased Activity
• Reduced Mobility
• Stiffness

Chronic pain can also bring about changes in a dog’s personality, such as acting aggressive or withdrawn. And all of these signs mean a reduced quality of life for your pet.

Advanced Technology to Manage Dogs with Arthritis

While there is no cure for arthritis, proper care and nutrition can help your dog lead a more active, healthy life. Prescription Diet* j/d* is revolutionary nutrition to manage dogs with arthritis.

What Can I Do For My Dog?
Healthier, happier, more active lives start with a personalised Canine Arthritis Management Plan. Take the first step in helping your dog with arthritis by incorporating these essential elements into your pet’s life: nutrition, exercise, pain relief, and weight management. NUTRITION Proper nutrition is an integral component in the management of canine arthritis. The following are key nutritional factors to look for in a therapeutic food for your arthritic dog: Key Nutritional Factors Benefits High EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) Levels Works to “turn off” the degradative enzymes that lead to cartilage damage High Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels Low Omega-6: Omega-3 Ratio Reduces mediators that cause inflammation Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulphate Provide the building blocks for cartilage repair L-carnitine Helps maintain optimum body weight and lean muscle mass Added Antioxidants Help reduce oxidative stress and free radical damage Protein and Phosphorus Provides appropriate levels for adult and senior dogs Ask your veterinarian... Ask your veterinarian about Hill's* Prescription Diet* Canine j/d*, which contains the highest levels of total omega-3 fatty acids of any therapeutic food for the management of dogs with arthritis, as well as all the other key nutritional factors listed to the left. It is available in both canned and dry formulas with the right balance of advanced nutrition and a great taste that pets love. EXERCISE Even arthritic dogs need daily exercise. Work with your veterinarian to establish a personalised daily workout routine for your dog. Moderate exercise can help improve the functioning of your dog’s joints by strengthening surrounding muscles and stabilising the joint. This might involve gentle walks or regular swimming together. Swimming is a great workout option for your arthritic pet because it produces minimal stress on joints. Low-impact exercise can increase muscle strength and help stabilise joints. Avoid exercise that involves jumping and leaping, which can be very hard on your pet’s joints. PAIN RELIEF Your vet will determine the best pain relief option for your dog at the initial diagnosis and as your dog’s condition improves. In addition, some veterinarians might recommend gentle massage, which can increase blood flow to arthritic areas and decrease stiffness, adding soft padding to your dog’s bed, or even installing ramps in your home to help your dog get around. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT Maintaining proper weight means less stress on joints. If you think your pet is overweight, your vet can help you with nutrition and exercise programs to help your dog achieve and maintain ideal weight. Prescription Diet* Canine j/d* contains L-carnitine, a vitamin-like nutrient that helps to control your pet’s weight by increasing fat metabolism.

Research Behind Prescription Diet* j/d*
Canine osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint and musculoskeletal disease, affecting up to 20% of dogs over age one.1 Prescription Diet* Canine j/d* contains the highest levels of total omega-3 fatty acids2 of any therapeutic food for the management of dogs with osteoarthritis. Two recent studies provide high-quality data that show a food with high levels of total omega-3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can improve the clinical signs of canine osteoarthritis. SUMMARY OF STUDIES Two studies evaluated the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in the nutritional management of dogs with osteoarthritis.3,4 A 6-month clincial study3 and a 90-day university study4 were conducted to determine the effect of a food containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids on ameliorating clinical signs in dogs with osteoarthritis. In both studies, dogs with osteoarthritis were fed either a typical dry commercial dog food (control food) or Canine j/d (test food) with 39 times more total omega-3 fatty acids and EPA than the control food. Pet owners who participated in the studies were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their dogs' specific arthritic condition. Variables were assessed and clinical evaluations including orthopedic examinations were conducted at regular intervals throughout both studies. In the university study, five valid trials on a computerized biomechanical force plate were obtained during the test period to measure each animal's willingness to bear weight on the most severely affected and ipsilateral limb. STUDY RESULTS - 6-Month General Practice Clinical Study Dogs fed Canine j/d had significantly higher serum concentrations of total omega-3 fatty acids and EPA (Figure 1) Dogs fed Canine j/d had significantly improved ability to rise from a resting position and in running and playing at 6 weeks, and improvements in walking at 12 and 24 weeks compared to control dogs. Dogs fed the control food showed no significant improvement in the clinical variables assessed by dog owners when compared to dogs fed Canine j/d Figure 1. Mean serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations in dogs fed either a control (<0.01% EPA on dry matter basis) or test (0.38% EPA on dry matter basis) food for 180 days (*p<0.0001). Note that serum EPA concentrations rise rapidly within 45 days of feeding a food with enhanced EPA levels. STUDY RESULTS - University Force Plate Clinical Study Based on clinical orthopedic examinations, a significantly greater percent of dogs fed Canine j/d exhibited a reduction in pain when the affected joint was palpated and were evaluated as "improved" versus dogs fed the control food. Mean vertical peak force increased significantly in dogs fed Canine j/d, indicating a greater ability to bear weight on the affected limb. (Figure 2) At the conclusion of the 90-day feeding trial, 82% of dogs fed Canine j/d showed increased weight bearing compared to 31% of dogs fed the control food. Figure 2. Mean vertical peak force as a measure of weight bearing in dogs fed either a control food or a test food high in total omega-3 fatty acid and EPA concentrations. Note that dogs fed the test food showed improved weight bearing compared to those fed the control food (p=0.04).   1 Johnston SA. Osteoarthritis: Joint anatomy, physiology and pathobiology. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1997 Jul; 27: 699-723. 2 Based on published data of therapeutic pet foods indicated for canine osteoarthritis and data on file. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., 2004. 3 Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Canine Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-Masked, Practice Based Study, 6-month feeding study, 2003. Unpublished data. 4 Effects of Feeding Omega-3 Fatty Acids on FOrce Plate Gait Analysis in Dogs with Osteoarthritis, 3-month feeding study, 2003. Unpublished data.

© 2005 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. * Trademarks owned by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. As used herein, * denotes trademark status in the U.S. only; trademark status in Australia and other geographies may be different. Your use of the information on this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement.