Arthritis doesn't affect just peoples but also animals. One cause of arthritis may be a genetic predisposition, but there are many other causes that can lead to this disease.

1 of 3 dogs and cats suffer from arthritis and 7 of 10 dogs in breeds like Golden Retriever or Labradors have the same problem. Dog arthritis is common to old and overweight dogs.

If you have an overweight dog, you should know that he is predisposed to arthritis because his extra pounds place an extra pressure on his cartilages. If you can't feel your dog's ribs it means he became overweight. Exercises such as swimming can help your dog loose some pounds.

Cat arthritis (and dog arthritis) is caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage. This disease develops gradually over a long time period. A hurtful injury or a genetic illness like dysphasia can cause arthritis as well. Very active dogs are also predisposed to arthritis.

To prevent cartilage damage you could restrict your dog from any jumping activity, especially for small dogs such as Basset Hounds. When your dog jumps instead of using a dog ramp, all the pressure is absorbed by his legs and directed towards the spinal column, causing disc compression which can only lead to arthritis.

Bacterial and Viral infection can also cause osteoarthritis. There are other conditions that can cause this disease as well, such as Rocky Mountain fever, Ehrlichiosis or Lyme disease. If you want a prevention treatment for your dog you should know that there are many natural treatments that can strengthen your pet's joints, cartilages, bones and muscles.

Orthopedic fog beds can help cats that suffer from arthritis and cartilage problems, by reducing the pressure on joints. These beds are rigid enough to allow your dog's need to sleep on the ground, while improving its circulation.

A very good treatment for cat arthritis is the chondroitin and glucosamine supplement. These substances stimulate the production of many necessary proteins that can be found in cartilages. Glucosamine supplements contribute to cartilage rebuilding and also reduce the pain.

The MSM is another good supplement that is very important for maintaining healthy tissues. It prevents osteoarthritis in cats and dogs and also reduces the swellings and blocks the pain. Digestive enzymes are essential in preventing inflammatory diseases like allergies and arthritis by maintaining a healthy intestinal system in cats and dogs.

Fatty acids are essential in reducing the swellings and they're very helpful in treating the cartilage problems and allergies in cats.

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About the Author:
Steve Weber has information about <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cactuscanyon.com/cat-arthritis.htm">cat arthritis</a> on his website.
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