Infectious Arthritis

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.

Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to that of immune-mediated arthritis.

All symptoms +

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.