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Arthritis

Surrounding the joint is a fibrous structure called the joint capsule. Most joints also have ligaments supporting them, either within the joint itself, or overlying it. Between the two bones is a very small amount of fluid, called synovial fluid, which bathes the hyaline cartilage. It is held in place by the joint capsule. When pressure is applied to the joint, a small amount of water is squeezed out onto the surface.

This lubricates the motion of the two bones across each other, and is more important in this respect than the synovial fluid always present within the joint. In a degenerate joint, the cartilage starts to break down, and it loses the property of being able to hold water. When the two bones move across each other, the degree of lubrication is reduced.

The joint tries to combat this by producing extra synovial fluid, resulting in a noticeable swelling. Unfortunately, synovial fluid within the joint space is a less effective lubricant, and the cartilage itself begins to wear away due to the friction of movement. When this happens this causes a great deal of pain. Treatment of Osteoarthritis, The single most important thing that can be done to help a dog with osteoarthritis is reduce its weight. You should contact your vet and discuss this with him.

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