What is Arthritis? - Mark and Chappell explains

Arthritis is the name given to inflammation occurring in the joints, it affects the fluid around the cartilage and causes joint inflammation.

What is cartilage?
Cartilage is a rubbery gel-like tissue that helps reduce friction caused by bone to bone contact.

What causes Arthritis?
There are three principle types of arthritis in pets.
The first type is known as degenerative joint disease. This results from the destruction of the cartilage which protects pets' bones around the joint. This can occur due to abnormal stresses occurring on normal joints in situations such as trauma or overexertion. It can also occur where normal stresses occur on abnormal joints such as in the case of genetic diseases like hip dysphasia. The damaged cartilage sets off inflammatory enzymes that eat away at healthy joint cartilage. These enzymes and damaged cartilage causes inflammation of the synovial membranes that in turn cause further enzyme production that leads to the deterioration of the joint. The pets body attempts to stabilise the joint by producing thicker tissue in the bone capsule by laying down new bone and it is these rough deposits that restrict pets' movement and cause discomfort.

The second type of arthritis is known as inflammatory arthritis and this occurs due to the presence of infectious agents in pets' joints or in situations where there is an abnormality with the immune system such as rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is inflammation of the joints which is caused by an abnormality of the immune system. In effect what occurs is that the animals own immune system starts to attack the joints producing arthritic changes and causes the inflammation of synovial membranes leading to deterioration of joint cartilage and bone.

Mark and Chappell
Mark and Chappell are one of the UK's top suppliers of pet supplies and pet medications. Although specialising in cat health and dog health, they also offer a few products for smaller pets.

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