Services & Treatments - myVet Bird & Smith Veterinary Clinics - Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton | Cross Road, Westbourne Park

Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease condition affecting the joints. The cartilage lining the joint is worn down, causing pain.

The symptoms of arthritis can be:

• Pain or stiffness when getting up or down;
• Your pet cannot climb steps anymore;
• "Laziness" on walks may be arthritic pain

Generally arthritis is worse at the start of the day and improves as the day progresses - the joint warms up and hence loosens up.

Anti-inflammatory Treatments like PBZ, Rafen, Prednisolone and newer medications like Rimadyl or the newest drug available Previcox act by providing pain relief. However, they have little effect on cartilage degradation - the cause of arthritic pain.

CARTROPHEN INJECTION

This acts to protect the joint cartilage by:

• Limiting cartilage degradation;
• Promoting cartilage formation;
• Improving the joint fluid;
• Improving blood supply to the joint, in turn helping it heal;

By virtue of the other actions, provides pain relief.

USING CARTROPHEN

We recommend Cartrophen as the main treatment for arthritis. It is effective in 80% of dogs with arthritis. A course over a month of weekly injections is all that is required. The injections are painless and just given under the skin like a vaccination. This ensures the effect lasts generally 6-12 months. The ideal time to commence treatment is before winter when arthritis is at it's worst.

Note: CARTROPHEN IS A PROUD DISCOVERY OF THE AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY PROFESSION** IT IS NOW BEING TRIALLED ON HOMO SAPIENS.