Treatment depends largely on the length of the dog’s allergy season. It involves three approaches:

Anti-inflammatory. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, or antihistamines, will quickly block the allergic reaction in most cases. Fatty acid supplementation of the diet can improve the response to steroids and antihistamines in some cases. Newer drugs such as oral cyclosporine may hold promise for severely atopic dogs.

Shampoo therapy. Frequent bathing with a hypoallergenic shampoo can be soothing and helpful. The bathing may also rinse out allergens in the coat that could be absorbed through the skin. Some therapeutic shampoos contain anti-inflammatory ingredients that may further benefit your pet.

Hyposensitization therapy. The third major form of allergy treatment is hyposensitization with specific antigen injections or “allergy shots”. Once the specific sources of allergy are identified by allergy testing, very small amounts of the antigen are injected weekly. This repeated dosing has the objective of reprogramming or desensitizing the immune system. Results are sometimes good but success is variable. Approximately fifty-percent of treated dogs will see significant improvement in their clinical signs while approximately twenty-five percent more will see a decrease in the amount or frequency or corticosteroid usage.

What is Food Allergy and how is it treated?
Food allergy can develop to almost any protein or carbohydrate component of food. It most commonly develops in response to the protein of the food of a particular food origin; beef, pork, chicken, or turkey are commonly associated with food allergies. Food allergy can develop at almost any age. Food allergy may produce any of the clinical signs previously discussed including itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory distress. Food allergy may occur with other allergies, such as atopy. Food allergy does not respond well to corticosteroids or other medical treatments. Treatment requires identifying the offending component(s) of the diet and eliminating them. Testing for specific food allergies involves IgE allergy testing and/or a hypoallergenic diet trial. Because it takes at least eight weeks for all other food products to be removed from the body, the dog must eat the special diet exclusively for eight to twelve weeks. If a positive response and improvement of your pet’s clinical signs occurs, your veterinarian will advise you on how to proceed. It must be emphasized that if the diet is not fed exclusively, it will not be a valid test. All table food, treats or vitamins must be discontinued during the testing period. There may be problems with certain types of chewable tablets such as heartworm preventative. Your veterinarian will discuss this with you.

Caution:
The manifestations of allergies can be confused with other disorders, or occur concurrently with them. Therefore, do not attempt to diagnose your dog without professional assistance. Be prepared for your pet to receive a full diagnostic evaluation by your veterinarian. If an allergy is diagnosed and identified, the whole family must follow your veterinarian’s advice very closely if success in controlling the problem is to be achieved.

What is an allergy?
An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen protein may be of insect, plant or animal origin. Initial exposure of the dog, or more likely multiple exposures, to the allergen may over-sensitize the immune system, such that a subsequent exposure to the same or related allergen causes an over-reaction. This means that the immune response, which normally protects the dog against infection and disease, can actually be harmful to the body.

The immune reactions involved in allergies are quite complex. Most reactions involve an antibody in the blood called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). In an allergic reaction the allergen protein molecules combine with IgE antibody molecules and attach to a type of cell called mast cells, found in many tissues throughout the body. When these cells are attached to the allergen, they break up and release potent chemicals such as histamines that cause local inflammation (redness, swelling and itching). This inflammation causes the various signs associated with an allergic reaction.

What are the symptoms of allergies in dogs?
The most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin, either localized (in one area) or generalized (all over the body). Another group of symptoms involves the respiratory system with coughing, sneezing, and/or wheezing. Sometimes, there may be runny discharge from eyes or nose. The third manifestation involves the digestive system resulting in vomiting and diarrhea.
How common are allergies in dogs?

Unfortunately, allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. Most allergies appear after the pet is six months of age with the majority of affected dogs over age two.

Are allergies inherited?
Some allergies are inherited. The inherited trait is known as Atopy (see What is Inhalant Allergy or Atopy below).
What are the common allergy-causing substances (allergens)?

A very large number of substances can act as allergens. Most are proteins of insect, plant or animal origin, but small chemical molecules known as haptens can also cause allergy. Examples of common allergens are pollens, mold spores, dust mites, shed skin cells (similar to “pet allergies” in humans), insect proteins such as flea saliva, and some medications.

What are the different types of allergy?
There are several ways of classifying allergies. Some examples of classifications include:

• Precipitating allergen – Flea Allergy
  Route the allergen takes into the body – Inhalant Allergy, Skin Contact Allergy or Food Allergy
  Time it takes for the immune reaction – Immediate-type Hypersensitivity, also called Anaphylaxis or Shock and Delayed-type Hypersensitivity

• Type of immune reaction – Types I through IV Hypersensitivity

• Clinical Signs – Allergic Dermatitis or Allergic Bronchitis

• Inherited forms – Atopy or Seasonal Allergies

What is Contact Allergy?
Contact allergy is the least common type of allergy in dogs. It results from direct contact to allergens contained in flea collars, chemicals in the lawn or the grasses themselves and bedding, such as pyrethrins or wool. If the dog is allergic to these substances, there will be skin irritation and itching at the points of contact, usually the feet and stomach. Removal of the allergen (once it can be identified) often solves the problem.
What is Flea or Insect Bite Allergy and how is it treated?

Flea allergy is the exaggerated inflammatory response to a flea bite or other biting insect. Flea saliva is the most common allergen. It is a common allergy of dogs, although only a minority of dogs becomes allergic. Most dogs experience minor irritation from flea bites. The flea or insect bite allergic dog will react to a single bite with severe local itching. It will bite and scratch itself and may remove large amounts of hair, especially in the tail-base region. Secondary bacterial infection may occur in the broken skin. The area most commonly involved is over the rump in the tail-base region and the hind limbs.

Because one flea can be a problem for the allergic dog, strict flea control is essential. This is difficult considering the life-cycle of fleas, but with modern medications and home treatment options, you should be able to provide a flea-bite free environment for your dog (see Fleas for additional information). Your veterinarian can give you tips on protecting your dog from fleas. When strict flea control is not possible or in cases of severe itching, anti-histamines or corticosteroids (steroids) can be used, under careful veterinary guidance, to block the allergic reaction and give relief. If secondary bacterial infection is present, appropriate antibiotics will be prescribed.

What is Inhalant Allergy (Atopy) and how is it treated?
Although allergic rhinitis and bronchitis might be regarded as the result of inhaled allergens, the term “Inhalant Allergy” in the dog is used as a synonym for Atopy. The main causative inhaled allergens are tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens, weed pollens (ragweed, goldenrods, etc.), molds, mildew, and house dust mites. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites are year-round. When humans inhale these allergens, the allergy manifests mainly with respiratory signs – runny eyes, runny nose, and sneezing (“hay fever”). But in dogs the result is itchy skin (pruritis). Due to these clinical signs, the condition is also called “Inhalant Allergic Dermatitis”. The dog may rub its face, lick its feet and scratch the axillae (underarms).

Most dogs that have inhalant allergy start showing signs between one and three years of age. Affected dogs will often react to several allergens. If the offending allergens can be identified by intradermal skin tests or IgE allergy tests, the dog should be protected from exposure to them as much as possible. But this is difficult and recurrent bouts are likely. These allergies can be treated but a permanent cure is not usually possible.

Treatment depends largely on the length of the cat’s allergy season. It involves one of two approaches.

The first approach involves the use of steroids and shampoos. Steroids will dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases. These may be given orally or by injection, depending on the circumstances. As stated previously, the side-effects of steroids are much less common in cats than in people. If steroids are appropriate for your cat, you will be instructed in their proper use. Some cats are helped considerably by a hypoallergenic shampoo. It has been demonstrated that some allergens may be absorbed through the skin. Frequent bathing will reduce the amount of antigen exposure through this route. In addition to removing surface antigen, bathing alone will provide some temporary relief from itching and may allow the use of a lower dose of steroids.

The second approach to inhalant allergy treatment is desensitization with specific antigen injections or “allergy shots”. This is not to be confused with injections of corticosteroids. Once the specific sources of allergy are identified, very small amounts of the antigen are injected weekly. This is in an attempt to reprogram or retrain the body’s immune system. It is hoped that as time passes, the immune system will become less reactive to the problem-causing allergens. If desensitization appears to help the cat, injections will continue for several years. For most cats, a realistic goal is for the itching to be significantly reduced in severity. In some cats, itching may completely resolve. Steroids are not used with this treatment protocol, except on an intermittent basis. On average, approximately half of the cat’s receiving desensitization therapy will experience a significant decrease in their clinical signs. This therapeutic approach is usually recommended for the middle-aged or older cat that has year round itching caused by inhalant allergy. This approach is not used with food allergy.

Although desensitization is the ideal way to treat inhalant allergy, it does have some drawbacks and may not be the best choice in certain circumstances.

Cost: This is the most expensive form of treatment.
Age of Patient: Because many cats develop additional allergies as they get older, young cats may need to be retested one to three years later.
Success Rate: About 50% of cats will have an excellent response. About 25% get partial to good response. About 25% get little or no response. The same statistics are true for people undergoing desensitization.
Time of Response: The time until apparent response may be two to five months, or longer.
Interference of steroids: Cats must not receive oral steroids for two weeks or injectable steroids for six to twelve weeks prior to testing. These drugs will interfere with the test results.

Food Allergy
Cats are not likely to be born with food allergies. More commonly, they develop allergies to food products they have eaten for a long time. Food allergies are now estimated to be the second leading cause of allergic dermatitis in cats. The allergy most frequently develops in response to the protein component of the food; for example, beef, pork, chicken, or turkey. Food allergy may produce any of the clinical signs previously discussed, including itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory distress. Food allergy testing is recommended when the clinical signs have been present for several months, when the cat has a poor response to steroids, or when a very young cat itches without other apparent causes of allergy. Testing is done with a special hypoallergenic diet. Because it takes at least eight weeks for all other food products to get out of the system, the cat must eat the special diet exclusively for a minimum of eight to twelve weeks. If a positive response occurs, you will be instructed on how to proceed. If the diet is not fed exclusively, it will not be a meaningful test. We cannot overemphasize this. NO table food, treats or vitamins can be given during the testing period.

Because cats that are being tested for inhalant allergy generally itch year round, a food allergy dietary test can be performed while the inhalant test and antigen preparation are occurring.

What are allergies and how do they affect cats?
One of the most common conditions affecting cats is allergy. An allergy occurs when the cat’s immune system “overreacts” to foreign substances called allergens or antigens. Those overreactions are manifested in one of three ways. The most common manifestation is itching of the skin, either localized in one area or a generalized reaction all over the cat’s body. Another manifestation involves the respiratory system and may result in coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. Sometimes, there may be an associated nasal or ocular (eye) discharge. The third manifestation involves the digestive system, resulting in vomiting, flatulence or diarrhea.

How many types of allergies are there and how are they each treated?

There are four known types of allergies in the cat: contact, flea, food, and inhalant. Each has common clinical signs and unique characteristics.

Contact Allergy
Contact allergies are the least common of the four types of allergies in cats. They result in a local reaction on the skin. Examples of contact allergy include reactions to flea collars or to types of bedding, such as wool. If the cat is allergic to such substances, there will be skin irritation and itching at the points of contact. Removal of the contact irritant solves the problem. However, identifying the allergen can be challenging in many cases.

Flea Allergy
Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats. A normal cat experiences only minor irritation in response to flea bites. The flea allergic cat, on the other hand, has a severe, itch-producing reaction when the flea’s saliva is deposited in the skin. Just one bite causes such intense itching that the cat may severely scratch or chew itself, leading to the removal of large amounts of hair. There will often be open sores or scabs on the skin, causing a secondary bacterial skin infection. The area most commonly involved is over the rump or base of the tail. In addition, the cat may have numerous, small scabs around the head and neck. These scabs are often referred to as miliary lesions, a term which was coined because the scabs look like millet seeds.

The most important treatment for flea allergy is to eliminate all fleas. Therefore, strict flea control is the backbone of successful treatment. Unfortunately, this is not always possible in warm and humid climates, where a new population of fleas can hatch out every fourteen to twenty-one days. However, the new topically applied monthly flea products may kill fleas before they have a chance to bite your cat. When strict flea control is not possible, injections of corticosteroids, also referred to as “cortisone” or “steroid shots”, can be used to block the allergic reaction and give immediate relief. This is often a necessary part of dealing with flea allergies. Fortunately, cats appear relatively more resistant to the side-effects of steroids than other species. If a secondary bacterial infection occurs, appropriate antibiotics must be used.

Inhalant Allergy
Inhalant allergy or atopy is estimated to be the third most common type of allergy in cats. Cats may be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens that affect us. These include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens (especially Bermuda), weed pollens (ragweed, etc.), molds, mildew, and the house dust mite. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others are with us all the time, such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites. When humans inhale these allergens, we express the allergy as a respiratory problem. Atopy is sometimes called “hayfever.” The cat’s reaction, however, usually produces severe, generalized itching.
Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens. If the number of allergens is small and they seasonal, itching may last for just a few weeks at a time during one or two periods of the year. If the number of allergens is large or they are present year-round, the cat may itch constantly.

Provided by Adopt-a-Pet.com

Q: Although there are millions of pets in shelters needing homes each year, many pet-owners-to-be don’t think about pet adoption when they’re looking for their new four-legged friend. Why do you think this is, and what can be done to turn that around?

A: Many people who want to get a pet just are not aware of how many great pets are available at shelters. They might also have the misconception that pets in shelters might be there because there was a problem with the animal. In fact, most pets end up in shelters not because of any problem with pet behavior, but because an owner died, moved, or simply didn’t have the time or money to care for the animal.  In some cases animals are lost and never found by their owners.  These animals are healthy and very eager to please.  Rescued pets are wonderful- just ask anyone who has one.

Some people are seeking purebred animals or puppies and think these animals are not available in shelters. In fact, nearly a quarter of all animals in shelters are purebred. Often someone buys an expensive purebred animal and then attempts to breed that animal to recoup their money. Often these animals are not placed in homes, and end up in the shelter. Puppies and kittens often up in shelters as well, but it is important to note that puppies require a lot of work and training and can be quite destructive (peeing on the carpet or chewing shoes). Puppies are great, but often people are much happier getting a dog who is older, and whose size and temperament is a known quantity.

Through Adopt-a-Pet.com and without even leaving their home, people can search all their local shelters and see pictures and descriptions of the pets available for adoption.  This way, they can find the exact pet they want, call the animal shelter or rescue group, and get information on how to adopt that specific animal.

Q: What are the 5 most important things a potential adopter should consider when choosing their new pet?

A: We actually have a blog post on this highlighting the top 10 things we believe are important when adopting. Here are five, the rest can be located by visiting this page http://www.adoptapet.com/public/guides/permanentpets.html.

1. You need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life.
2. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live.
3. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight
4. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation during the first few weeks, this will help the pet adjust.
5. Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence to provide for your pet’s safety.

Q: What are 5 positive aspects of pet adoption, and why it’s a good option?

A:
1. When you adopt an adult animal, you can see his/her size and temperament.  This helps ensure that the pet is right for you and your family.
2. It feels great to know you have saved an animal’s life and everyone you meet will give you kudos for that for years to come.
3. Adopted pets are very loyal and know they have been given a new home.
4.  Adopting a pet can be an important lesson to teach your children– both about the value of life, and also about civic responsibility and even recycling- in this case recycling a living and loving animal into a new home.
5.  Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have developed in purebred animals due overbreeding and inbreeding.

Q: If someone reading this isn’t in a position to adopt a pet right at this time, but still wants to help homeless pets, what are 5 things they can do to get involved?

A:
1. People can do Social PETworking and Twitter  Critter!  They can run a search on Adopt-a-Pet.com, find a pet they want to help get exposure for, and use the share tools on our site to post the pet link on their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or other social network page. Or, they can email the link of a pet in need from our site to their friends.
2. They can place a link/graphic or even a search widget for Adopt-a-Pet.com on their personal website to encourage they users to see pets in need at local shelters.  (hyper link “link” to our links page http://www.adoptapet.com/public/links/index.html where we have graphics to be used as links)(hyper link “search widget” to our search module page http://www.adoptapet.com/public/searchtools/ which itself is a link from our links page)
3. People can add their info to our volunteer database (link http://www.adoptapet.com/volunteer/signup) so shelters who need volunteers can find them.
4. People can search Adopt-a-Pet.com to find a local shelter, and make a cash donation to that shelter to help them with the costs of housing, feeding and medical care of shelter animals.
5. People can encourage other pet owners to spay or neuter their pet (link to our spay neuter page http://www.adoptapet.com/public/spay_and_neuter/index.html) to help prevent unwanted births.

When should the operation be performed?
Research reveals that neutering a pet at an early age does not cause any increased risk. Most veterinarians recommend spaying/neutering at around six months of age.

Are there any dangers associated with the operation?
Spaying/Neutering is considered a major operation and requires general anesthesia. With modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low. It has been said that your pet has a greater chance of being injured in a car wreck than having an anesthetic or surgical complication.
What happens when my pet undergoes this procedure?
Your pet will be examined by a veterinarian and pre-anesthetic blood tests will usually be performed. If everything is acceptable, your pet will then be anesthetized. Your pet will have an intravenous catheter placed to administer the anesthetic and to provide fluid therapy during the surgery. After your pet is anesthetized, a breathing tube will be placed in his trachea or “windpipe”. This will deliver oxygen and the gas anesthetic, most commonly isoflurane, directly into the lungs. The neuter surgery consists of making a small incision in front of the scrotum and removing the testicles. The spay surgery consists of making a small incision just below the umbilicus and removing the ovaries and uterus.

Are there any post-operative precautions I should take?
Rest and restriction of activity are the primary post-operative care you should provide. Most pets can resume normal activity five to ten days after surgery.

Why should I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying or Neutering should be considered if you are keeping any pet as a pet. The benefits to your pet’s health and to help reduce the pet overpopulation crisis make this decision easier.

What are the advantages of neutering my male pet?

• Reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis
• Reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases such as perianal adenoma
• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common cancer in intact dogs
• Removal of sexual urges, which usually decreases roaming behaviors
• Reduction of certain types of aggression

What are the advantages of spaying in the female pet?

• Prevention of “heat” or estrus
• When in “heat”, the female experiences an urge to escape in order to find a mate. This unwanted and dangerous behavior is eliminated.
• It eliminates the possibility of false pregnancy following the “heat cycle”
• Prevention of uterine infection known as pyometra
• The prevention of breast cancer. Pets spayed before the first “heat” have less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer.
• Elimination of the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer

What are the disadvantages of spaying/neutering?
Most of the perceived disadvantages are false. The most quoted of these are that the pet will become fat, lazy, and useless. Obesity is probably the most commonly quoted disadvantage of neutering. Obesity is the result of overfeeding and not exercising enough. By regulating your pet’s diet and caloric intake, you can prevent obesity in neutered or intact males.

Spaying/Neutering does not cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness and affection.

How do we treat arthritis?
Treatment will depend on the cause of arthritis. Immune mediated and rheumatoid arthritis are usually treated with high doses of corticosteroids, often with dramatic improvement. The control of these conditions often involves the long-term use of corticosteroids and other drugs such as immunosuppressive or cytotoxic agents.

The treatment of septic arthritis involves determining the type of microorganism involved and its antibiotic sensitivity. Antibiotics are usually administered for a minimum of a month and analgesics (pain relief medications) are necessary to combat pain and inflammation.

Analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common form of treatment for osteoarthritis. It is important to select these medications with care since some dogs are more sensitive than others to the potential side-effects of analgesics.

The most common side-effects of analgesics include decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Pre-medication blood tests must be performed to make sure that the pet can safely metabolize and eliminate the medication and then periodic blood tests are necessary to ensure continued safe usage.

Common signs of early arthritis in your pet may include: a stiff gait, walking with rear legs straight and failing to extend or bend the knees, pain and stiffness first thing in the morning which appears to get better as the day progresses, dragging toes of either back or forelimbs, loss of muscle mass over the hip or thigh region, pain/vocalization if picked up over the back/lumbar region, limping from time to time on any paws, reluctance to get up when called.

If you feel your pet may be exhibiting any of these signs, please let us know. There are many safe, effective medications now available to ease the discomfort associated with Osteoarthritis. We can help determine which medication is right for your pet.

It is our goal here at A Animal Clinic to be certain your pet is comfortable and able to live a long and healthy life with you and your family. We are here to help!

Keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy is very important. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from periodontal disease which is considered as the most common tooth problem for dogs. It is a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth. Worst, this gum problem can even lead to other serious problems.  Good thing, periodontal disease is preventable and treatable with proper care and brushing your dog’s teeth.

If you observe that your dog is having a bad breath, and red, swollen gums, these are symptoms of periodontal disease. As a responsible dog owner, you should know how to take care of your dog’s teeth. And if you are a newbie, don’t panic because brushing your dog’s teeth is very simple. It just takes a lot of practice and patience though because some dogs don’t like their teeth being brushed.

The first thing that you should remember is not to use human toothpaste or baking powder. These can upset your dog’s stomach if they swallowed it. Of course there are toothpastes made for dogs available at any pet shop. These toothpastes for dogs are specially formulated for dogs having special flavor and less foaming action. You can use any brush, even human tooth brush just be sure that it has soft bristle and has a design and shape not to cause any uneasiness for your dog.

First, you can put toothpaste on his gums using your finger so that he will get used to the taste of the toothpaste.  And then you can start massaging the gums. Once he get used to the massage and the taste of the toothpaste, you can start using the toothbrush. You can start brushing his front teeth all the way to his back teeth. From time to time, praise him for being so cooperative. For comfort and ease, you can lift his lip up so that you can see all his teeth. Be sure to brush it thoroughly. Check each of his teeth if it is already clean. You can also check if there are broken or cracked tooth.  If you find any broken tooth, you can bring him to your vet immediately for treatment. To keep your dogs teeth unbroken or damaged, be mindful of what he is biting or chewing especially those hard objects hard rocks.

This month, we are focusing our client education on Osteoarthritis, and ways to recognize this disease in order to help our senior pets enter their “Golden Years” more comfortably and gracefully! If you have a young pet, this may not seem like a topic to even consider at this time. However, it is good information to have, as some day, it is likely that your pet will experience these aging changes.

What is Osteoarthritis, “OA”, arthritis?
Arthritis is a complex condition involving inflammation of one or more joints. There are many causes of arthritis in pets. In most cases, the degree of arthritis is related to the age of the animal.

What causes arthritis?
Arthritis can be classified as primary arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and secondary arthritis which occurs as a result of joint instability that leads to damage of the subchondral bone that line the joints. Secondary arthritis is the most common form diagnosed in veterinary patients. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA) which is also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Some common causes of secondary arthritis include hip dysplasia, obesity, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, and so forth.

Other causes include joint infection, often as the result of bites or following joint trauma and damage.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune mediated, erosive, inflammatory condition. Cartilage and bone are eroded within affected joints and the condition can progress to complete joint fixation (ankylosis). It may affect single joints or multiple joints may be involved (polyarthritis). In certain dog breeds Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) factors can be detected with blood tests. Other types of immune mediated arthritis can be non-erosive, such as arthritis that is associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). SLE is often accompanied by other clinical signs in addition to the arthritis.

Infective or septic arthritis can be caused by a variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Septic arthritis normally only affects a single joint and the condition results in swelling, fever, heat and pain in the joint. With septic arthritis, your pet is likely to stop eating and become depressed.