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Arthritis is fairly common in dogs and cats. The word arthritis means simply inflammation of a joint. It can occur in any joint, including the spine and even the jaw. When there is inflammation in a joint, there may be pain, swelling, and even obvious grating when the joint moves. Arthritic joints are usually stiff and difficult to move freely. Some forms of arthritis can be accompanied by fever. If the problem is in more than one joint, it is called polyarthritis.
If your pet is stiff on getting up from a lying down position, or moves slowly, or is stiff and painful after exercise, have her examined by a veterinarian. After a specific diagnosis of the type of arthritis is made, he can discuss the various methods of treatment.
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ARTHRITIS 
There are many possible causes of arthritis. They
include degeneration of the smooth surfaces of the bones from aging, infection
such as Lyme Disease, injury, blood diseases, allergic or immune system mediated
disease, cancer, and inherited joint disease such as hip dysplasia. 
The treatment of arthritis usually involves controlling
it rather than curing it. It is very important to determine which type of
arthritis your pet has before treatment can begin. Blood tests and X-rays are
usually necessary to determine the exact type and extent of the problem.
Treatment may consist of combinations of pain medicine, antibiotics, and/or
anti-inflammatory medications. Some cases require rest, while in others, we
encourage exercise. There are some non traditional therapies for arthritis that
I have been using for the past three or four years, and they can, in the right
situation, relieve the pain and stiffness without some of the side effects of
the more traditional methods of treatment. 
