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you'd like to help create a webpage that is unique to you. Your pet has been diagnosed with immune-mediated arthritis.
Symptoms topically include reluctance to walk or move and/or
painful, swollen joints. There are two broad types of this
condition, one caused by infection in the body (less common) and
one caused by "autoimmunity" (more common). Both cause fever and
both appear similar to the pet owner and to the veterinarian. It
is important to differentiate between the two types of disease
because the treatment for one is in direct opposition to that
for the other. When immune-mediated arthritis is caused by
infection in the body, the infection is usually not in the
joints themselves. Rather, the infection is often deep seated in
the body, for example, in the uterus or prostate, on a heart
valve, in a kidney, on the spine, or elsewhere. The infection
may also be body wide, such as those that result from the bite
of a tick, such as Lyme disease, or those caused by internal
fungal infections. Minor or superficial infections in the body
do not usually cause this disease. The presence of inflamed
joints resulting from an infection elsewhere in the body is
similar to the human condition of "achy joints" in the presence
of influenza (a human lung infection). In this instance, the
infectious virus itself attacks the lungs, yet the body's immune
system that fights off the infection attacks the joints as
"innocent bystanders," making them sore and inflames.
Typical tests to find the source of internal infection would
include a thorough physical examination, routine screening of
blood and urine samples, and a bacterial culture of the urine.
More advanced testing may be indicated depending on the specific
case and your geographic area and may include radiographs
(x-rays) or ultrasound examination of the body, serologic
(blood) tests for the presence of an infectious disease, and/or
a bacterial culture of the blood or spinal fluid.
In all cases, an analysis of the fluid that bathes the joints
(synovial fluid) is necessary to make the diagnosis of
immune-mediated arthritis (either type). A small needle placed
into the joint after the pet has been given a light sedative is
all that is needed to collect a sample. Analysis of this fluid
can aid the veterinarian in determining whether an infectious or
autoimmune condition exists. Usually, however, the diagnosis is
made by reviewing all test results and relating them to the
patient's history and physical examination findings. When the
infection in the body (if present) resolves, either through
antibiotic treatment by the veterinarian or spontaneously, the
inflammation in the joints (arthritis) almost always resolves
permanently as well. If a thorough examination and testing
have not identified a source of infection in the body, the
condition is termed "autoimmune" arthritis. An autoimmune
disease is one in which the body's immune system (the
circulating white blood cells and molecules that fight
infection) has malfunctioned. Instead of performing its intended
job, the immune system has been misdirected and has begun
attacking parts of the body itself. In
autoimmune arthritis the
attack occurs at the lining of the joints. The reason for this
misdirected attack is not clear but could be related in some way
to the animal's genetic makeup. Certain breeds of dogs are prone
to this condition, and there is an age group and gender
association. A typical dog with this disease is a 2- to 6-years-
old large, female "sporting" breed dog. However, almost any age,
breed, or sex of dog or cat may develop this disease.
A particularly debilitating form of this disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, typically affects aging, smaller to toy breeds of
dogs. Autoimmune arthritis may occur by itself or may be part of
an attack on several areas of the body, such as part of an
attack on several areas of the body, such as systemic lupus.
Lupus is a generalized autoimmune disease in which the immune
system attacks not only the joints but also the skin, kidneys,
nervous system, blood cells, or other organs. The cause of lupus
is not known but is presumed to be at least partially genetic.
Treatment for this form of the disease involves "turning off" or
suppressing the immune system, thereby alleviating the
inflammation in the joints. The drug most commonly used for this
purpose is prednisone (cortisone). Prednisone itself is usually
enough to treat the disease effectively. Common side effects of
prednisone include increased water drinking, increased
urination, increased appetite, weight gain, and panting. These
effects are bothersome but not serious and should dissipate when
the dose of the medication is decreased. Sometimes more potent
immunosuppressive drugs need to be added to the protocol. In
this case, care must be taken to avoid too much weakening of the
immune system. This requires careful monitoring and regular
blood checks by the veterinarian. In approximately 50 per cent
of animal treated, the medication is eventually withdrawn over a
period of many weeks to months and the prognosis is excellent.
The remainder of affected animals has relapses with symptoms
during gradual withdrawal of medication. Most of these relapsing
cases are managed effectively with some tolerable dosage of
medicine that needs to be continued for the long term or
indefinitely.
The goal of therapy in chronic or relapsing cases is to
administer the minimum effective dose to control symptoms. This
minimized some potentially troubling side effects of the
medication.
The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.
About the author:
From the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Information: Client
Information Series. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
All rights reserved.
Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate,
Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in
Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more
about the vet clinic and our staff,
visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]
Written by: David Feldman, DVM
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