Features

• RA primarily occurs in small and toy breed dogs from 8 months to 8 years old.
  
  

Symptoms

• The RA dog often has joint pain and lameness. Recurring fever, warm joints and muscle wasting indicate possible RA.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Veterinarian examination and laboratory testing diagnose whether RA or another arthritis is affecting the dog.
  
  

Treatment

• Typically the dog is treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs or with prescription medication. Follow-up exams evaluate the medication results.
  
  

Prognosis

• RA is an uncommon disease that has no cure. Its symptoms are treated to improve the canine comfort and mobility. The treatment slows but does not stop canine joint deterioration over time.