Pet Health
Condition Overview
Infectious diseases can produce arthritis. Rickettsial arthritis is seen with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and canine ehrlichiosis, and spirochetal arthritis with Lyme Disease (all of which are tick-borne diseases). Fungal arthritis is a rare complication of a systemic fungal infection.
Causes
Septic arthritis is caused by bacteria that gain access to joints through open wounds, soft-tissue infections around joints, and via the blood stream. Injecting steroids into a joint carries a small risk of introducing bacteria.
Diagnosis
Information needed.
Treatment
This involves opening the joint and removing all infected and devitalized tissue. This is followed by a long-term course of antibiotics. Most of the tick-borne diseases respond to doxycycline or tetracycline. Some dogs will have permanent joint damage.
Prevention
Information needed.
Support
Please contact your veterinarian with questions regarding this condition.
Sources
Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook
Publisher: Wiley Publishing, 2007
Website: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Authors: Debra M. Eldredge, Liisa D. Carlson, Delbert G. Carlson, James M. Giffen MD
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