364 ARTICULAR RHEUMATISM— POLY ARTHRITIS 



Symptoms.— The condition often begins suddenly involving 

 one joint or several at the same time. The affected ones are 

 very painful, the animal refusing to place any weight on the 

 limb and holding it in a flexed position. The joints will be 

 hot and swollen. Owing to the pain small animals usually 

 remain in a recumbent position and refuse to arise. The 

 acute symptoms often subside after a week, or ten days, and 

 eventually develop into a chronic inflammation with deform- 

 ity of the joints. Favorite locations of the inflammation 

 are in the carpal, stifle, and phalangeal joints. ' In the early 

 stages of the attack there is fever, which may reach 103°-105° 

 F. The respirations are increased, the pulse double the 

 normal number. The animal refuses to eat in most cases. 

 The urine is reduced in quantity and dark in color. 



In the chronic form the disease assumes the character of 

 a serosynovitis; the joint capsule is very much thickened 

 and adhesions take place between the joint surfaces in a 

 number of cases. Ankylosis, however, is rare. There is 

 usually but little fever in this form but general emaciation 

 and cachexia will be prominent. In a few cases complica- 

 tions develop. Inflammation of the serous membranes is 

 the most common. This is indicated by a greater rise in 

 temperature and by the specific symptoms of the complicat- 

 ing condition. 



Course. — In the acute form the disease usually runs for 

 two or three weeks. Remissions often occur at different 

 intervals for several months to one year. In many cases the 

 attack disappears quite suddenly which may be for only a 

 short time or permanently. 



Diagnosis.— This may be difficult. A careful examination 

 must always be made to differentiate it from other diseases 

 affecting the joints. It should be borne in mind that articular 

 rheumatism comes on primarily while that produced by other 

 diseases shows the primary condition elsewhere before the 

 joints become affected. 



Prognosis. — Should not be considered too favorable. How- 

 ever, in the dog they may recover completely. Very often 

 the condition becomes chronic leading to permanent deform- 



