Home > Pet Insurance News Archive
>
Scientists to study osteoarthritis in dogs
Pet Insurance News
28 September 2005 Scientists to study osteoarthritis in dogs
A study is being launched at the University of Liverpool into a debilitating condition than can severely affect dogs. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints that causes pain, gradual loss of cartilage and eventually lameness, and veterinary scientists are eager to uncover how its progress can be slowed down.
A mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner will be used in the study, helping scientists to understand the disease more clearly.
Veterinary surgeon, Andrew Maclaughlan, said: "Until the advent of MRI there was no non-invasive way to evaluate cartilage, so we are fortunate to have this technology available to us at the hospital.
"The benefit of this simple procedure means that we do not have to put the dog through surgery to look at the joints."
He added: "With the possibility of new treatments to slow down the progression of arthritis, it is important that we develop ways to measure the effect of such drugs and MRI scanning allows us to do this in a safe and detailed manner."
Osteoarthritis can have a literally crippling effect on dogs, and owners are advised to take out pet insurance to look after their pets.
This is the first time Liverpool University's Small Animal Hospital will have on-site access to an MRI scanner, which will also be used to diagnose pets suffering with diseases such as cancer, slipped discs, and brain disorders.
Archive Pet Insurance News Stories
Related Pet Insurance News
24 August 2007 Pet obesity 'costing millions'
A US-based pet insurance firm has reported that overweight cats and dogs are... [more]
13 August 2007 Pets 'living longer than ever' with healthcare advances
As a result of improvements in animal health care, pets are living for longer... [more]
10 August 2007 Portly cats 'run risk of diabetes'
Sedentary cats that spend too much time indoors are at an increased risk of... [more]
30 July 2007 Pet owners get wet-weather warnings
Pet owners who live in parts of England that have been affected by the recent... [more]
Keep up-to-date with the latest pet insurance news with our new RSS news feed.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |