Arthritis

Definition of Arthritis

From the elephant glossary Section: disease

Relevant Literature about Arthritis
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Also called Septic arthritis, Reactive arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Felty's syndrome, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Still's disease - crystal (Gout, Chondrocalcinosis) - Osteoarthritis (Heberden's node, Bouchard's nodes)

Records about Arthritis from the Gone Astray: Elephant care manual for Mahouts and camp managers (Thailand)

Arthritis is a painful condition affecting the joints that comes from both internal causes, such as old age or being overweight or being fed insufficient or poor quality food, and from external causes, such as an elephant being worked beyond its capacity or doing inappropriate work.

Arthritis comes in both acute and chronic forms. The chronic form is very difficult to heal completely, especially because the condition is very difficult to diagnose accurately and because treatment requires such a long period of time. Veterinarians treating chronic cases generally recommend taking the elephant off of work and stopping all activities that might pose danger to the joints and cause the arthritis to worsen.

As for acute cases of arthritis, the onset can happen very quickly. Acute arthritis is usually brought about by overwork or by inappropriate work such as hind-leg walking, head stands, etc. Arthritis can also occur as the side effect of an injury to the Feet or legs.

Clinical Signs: The elephant will not use the affected limb or will do so only with great difficulty. The affected area is often swollen.

Treatment:

If the case is new, in the first 24 hours, take the elephant off work.

Have the elephant be still and apply cold compresses, a clean cloth wrapped around ice or a cloth dipped in cold water over the swollen area or to the area where the elephant seems to be having pain.

If the condition has not resolved after 24 hours, apply hot compresses or hot fomentation every day.

Quickly consult a veterinarian.

Elephant care manual for Mahouts and camp managers, Preecha Phuangkum, Richard C. Lair and Taweepoke Angkawanith

79 Deceased elephants due to arthritis.

Name	Species Sex	Origin	Age	Birth	Death date	Death reason	Parents	Arrival Death location
+ -Dunja-	EM F	wild	52	1973	2025-01-08	euthanised arthritis, old age ailments	x	2024-07-26 Arnhem Zoo (Burgers Zoo)
+ -Kamala-	EM F	wild	49	1975-09-00	2024-11-02	euthanised osteoarthritis	x	2014-05-22 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington
+ -Savannah-	EM F	wild	72	1952	2024-01-30	euthanised severe arthritis	x	1997-02-25 El Paso Zoo
+ -Prema-	EM F	unknown	?		2022-10-28	age arthritis and was not able to bear weight on foot	x	Nandankanan Zoo
+ -Thi Ha Way-	EM F	unknown	38	1982	2020-09-16	euthanised arthritis problems	x	1991-10-02 Chester Zoo
+ -Shanthi-	EM F	wild	44	1976	2020-06-26	euthanised advanced osteoarthritis	x	1992-11-12 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington
+ -Safari-	EM F	unknown	59	1960	2019-05-03	anesthesia oedema, arthritis	x	2014-12-10 Toluca Zoo
+ -Luna-	EM F	wild	?		2019-03-30	disease multiple health issues: arthritis and stifle hip joints	x	2019-01-31 Mathura Elephant Care Centre (Wildlife SOS India)
+ -Kara (Soma)-	EM F	wild	42	1975	2017-06-07	euthanised chronic osteoarthritis	x	1983-04-28 Fresno Chaffee Zoological Gardens
+ -Tonzi-	EM F	unknown	32	1984-10-03	2016-12-02	euthanised arthritis	x	1997-10-02 Twycross Zoo
+ -Timbo-	LA M	wild	46	1970?	2016-05-24	unknown chronic arthritis	x	1976-00-00 Mysore Zoo
+ -Magy (Maguie, Maggie)-	EM F	wild	42	1974	2016-04-00	euthanised degenerative osteoarthritis	x	2009-09-30 Aragon Zoo
+ -Magda II-	EM F	wild	54	1962-04-00	2016-01-22	euthanised osteoarthritis	x	1963-04-27 Lodz Zoo
+ -Mr. Ed (Khun Chorn, Khun-Chorn, K-C)-	EM M	captive-born	38	1978-05-19	2016-01-17	euthanised collapsed, arthritis	Packy x Me-Tu	1980-02-28 Dickerson Park Zoo
+ -Kruger-	LA M	wild	31	1984	2015-10-23	euthanised Arthritis	x	2006-10-04 Port Lympne Zoo
+ -Shaba-	LA F	wild	31	1984	2015-07-00	euthanised Arthritis	x	1993-08-10 Knowsley Safari Park
+ -Annie-	EM F	wild	54	1960	2014-11-14	euthanised complications of arthritis and foot disease	x	PAWS ARK 2000
+ -Amrit-	EM unknown		?		2014-07-00	arthritis	x	2007-00-00 Madanpur elephant camp (Valmiki National Park)
+ -Vellaiammal-	EM F	wild	?	>1950	2013-09-14	disease arthritis	x	1954-00-00 Thanjavur Brihadishvara temple (Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil)
+ -Jewel (Cutie)-	EM F	wild	61	1952	2013-09-08?	euthanised arthritis and severe musculoskeletal problems, Necropsy positive for Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2011-06-08 Little Rock Zoological Gardens
+ -Estrella-	LA F	wild	49	1964-06-00	2013-07-04	euthanised arthritis/joint problems	x	1997-03-20 Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park
+ -Bijlee (Ramkali, Ramu)-	EM F		54	1959	2013-06-30	disease osteoarthritis	x	Rati Ram Maharaj Goswami
+ -Judy-	EM F	claimed captive-born	46	1967	2013-03-29	disease chronic gastrointestinal irritation, a side effect from arthritis treatment	x	1975-11-24 Baton Rouge Zoo
+ -Jothy-	EM F	wild	50	1962	2012-06-02	euthanised arthritis	x	1969-00-00 Montevideo Zoo
+ -Dehli-	EM F	wild	35	1977	2012-04-00	disease Arthritis	x	2006-00-00 Lars Hölscher
+ -Penney (Penny)-	LA F	wild	51	1961-09-00	2012-01-24	unknown arthritis	x	1971-07-19 Kansas City Zoo
+ -Sabu (Look Chai)-	EM M	captive-born	30	1982-10-01	2012-01-11	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and severe arthritis?	Tunga (Tonga) x Hanako	2010-10-00 PAWS ARK 2000
+ -Tara-	LA F	wild	40	1969	2009-11-30	disease arthritis	x	1974-07-30 Toronto Zoo
+ -Kashin-	EM F	unknown	41	1968-12-10	2009-08-24	euthanised chronic arthritis / foot abscesses	x	1972-00-00 Auckland Zoo
+ -Zambi (Jambi)-	LA F	wild	44	1965	2009-03-09	disease infection from injury; arthritis, after falling in dry moat	x	1976-00-00 Mysore Zoo
+ -Crumple (Karina)-	EM F	wild	40	1969	2009-03-01	euthanised chronic arthritis	x	1971-11-09 Blackpool Zoo
+ -Kiri-	EM F	wild	45	1962	2007-08-07	euthanised arthritis	x	1963-07-25 Nuremberg Zoo
+ -Angayarkanni-	EM F	wild	41	1966	2007-03-31	disease kidney failure, chronic osteo arthritis, and indigestion	x	Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Amman temple
+ -Clara-	EM F	wild	54	1953	2007-03-14	euthanised arthritis	x	1955-04-15 St Louis Zoo
+ -Lulu-	EM F	wild	40	1966	2006-09-01	disease arthritis	x	1994-01-21 Belfast Zoo
+ -Pet-	EM F	wild	51	1955-00-00	2006-08-02	euthanised degenerative arthritis	x	1961-10-27 Portland Zoo (Metro Washington Park Zoo)
+ -Pat (Patsy)-	LA F	wild	39	1967	2006-07-24	euthanised arthritis; foot infections	x	1974-11-01 Toronto Zoo
+ -Chhukha (Chukkh)-	EM F		39	1967-09-01	2006-03-20	euthanised arthritis in legs and hip	x	1968-06-24 Zurich Zoo
+ -Toni-	EM F		41	1965	2006-01-25	euthanised arthritis	x	1989-10-25 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington
+ -Kuttinarayanan (Asiad Appu)-	EM M	unknown	23	1982	2005-05-14	disease fever from arthritis and fracture	x	Guruvayur Devaswom elephant camp
+ -Roma-	EM F	wild	44	1960	2004-10-08	euthanised osteoarthritis, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Two Tails Ranch
+ -Calle-	EM F	wild	37	1967	2004-03-06	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), arthritis	x	1997-03-19 San Francisco Zoo
+ -Tina-	EM F	wild	46	1957	2003-11-05	severe foot disease and arthritis	x	1986-00-00 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Six Flags Marine World)
+ -Casey-	LA M	wild	52	1951	2003-09-23	disease infection & arthritis	x	1955-07-20 Kansas City Zoo
+ -Tammy (Tamara)-	EM F	wild	51	1952	2003-09-10	euthanised arthritis	x	1995-09-30 Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
+ -Cindy-	EM F	unknown	40	1962	2002-11-19	euthanised arthritis	x	1992-01-19 Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
+ -Gypsy-	EM F	wild	?		2001?	euthanised arthritis	x	1991-12-25 Neverland Ranch (Michael Jackson)
+ -Samba (Chamba, Tjampa)-	EM F	wild	?		2001-05-23	euthanised arthritis	x	Harry Malter familypark
+ -Ganesha (Swethavarna)-	EM M	wild	?		2000-06-00	age arthritis	x	1951-00-00 Mysore Zoo
+ -Carolyn-	EM F	wild	32	1968	2000-04-11	disease Pyelonephritis, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), arthritis	x	1991-09-26 St Louis Zoo
+ -Tetchi (Teetchie)-	EM F	wild	52	1947	1999-10-08	euthanised osteoarthritis in multiple joints and an M. Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) infection of the lung	x	1968-11-00 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus (Red Unit)
+ -Petunia (Pete, Pee Wee)-	EM F	wild	49	1950	1999-08-21	disease severe degenerative joint disease and arthritis	x	1952-00-00 Cole Bros. Circus (Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus)
+ -Hatari (Baby)-	LA F	wild	39	1959	1998-07-23	euthanised arthritis, joint degeneration	x	1998-08-23 San Diego Zoo
+ -Ginny-	EM F	wild	58	1940	1998-04-29	euthanised chronic arthritis	x	1986-00-00 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Six Flags Marine World)
+ -Missy-	EM F	wild	33	1964	1997-10-18	euthanised arthritis	x	1994-11-09 Detroit Zoo
+ -Bandula-	EM F	wild	27	1969	1996-06-16	euthanised chronic arthritis	x	1986-00-00 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Six Flags Marine World)
+ -Zimbabwe (Zimba)-	LA F	wild	17	1978	1995-07-12	euthanised degenerative arthritis in her back knees	x	1981-06-14 Welsh Mountain Zoo
+ -Penny (Pennie)-	EM F	wild	41	1954-08	1995-04-02	euthanised arthritis	x	1955-06-08 San Francisco Zoo
+ -Peggy-	EM F	wild	53	1941	1994-02-10	euthanised arthritis	x	1947-07-08 Philadelphia Zoo
+ -Nely-	EM F	wild	?		1994	disease arthritis	x	1956-00-00 Brasilias Zoo Garden
+ -Nosey-	EM F	wild	47	1946	1993-10-14	euthanised arthritis; possible uterine cancer	x	1949-09-10 Fresno Chaffee Zoological Gardens
+ -Meneki-	EM F	wild	46	1946	1992-01-29	anesthesia arthritis	x	1953-05-19 Duisburg Zoo
+ -Kutenga-	LA F	wild	27	1964	1991-07-31	disease collapsed; arthritis	x	1966-06-09 Philadelphia Zoo
+ -Maya-	EM F	wild	50	1940	1990-12-23	euthanised torn ligaments; degenerative arthritis	x	1941-08-11 San Diego Zoo
+ -Babe (Baby Brookfield)-	EM F	wild	44	1946	1990-02-18	euthanised severe arthritis	x	1966-09-10 Brookfield Zoo
+ -Kita-	EM F	wild	31	1958	1989-12-23	euthanised arthritis; pnemonia; infected feet	x	1959-05-20 Detroit Zoo
+ -Sue-	EM F	wild	45	1944	1989-04-21	euthanised severe arthritis	x	1948-11-15 Sacramento Zoo
+ -David-	LA M	wild	19	1968	1987-06-30	euthanised arthritis	x	1977-12-12 Taronga Dubbo Western Plains Zoo
+ -Bwana-	LA M	wild	17	1968	1985-03-27	euthanised arthritis	x	1971-00-00 Howletts Wild Animal Park
+ -Tuy Hoa-	EM F	wild	28	1955	1983-04-20	unknown arthritis?	x	1956-09-17 Portland Zoo (Metro Washington Park Zoo)
+ -McClane (Gabriel)-	EM M	captive-born	11	1972-07-19	1983	unknown arthritis?	Thonglaw x Tuy Hoa	1973-09-21 Circus Vargas
+ -Chori-	LA F	wild	?		1979-04-18	unknown acute heart failure, autopsy showed lung tumors and erosive osteo-arthritis in the knees	x	Sydney Zoo
+ -Khadidja-	LA F	wild	24	1952	1976-01-13	disease arthritis	x	1954-00-00 Duisburg Zoo
+ -Michelle-	EM F	wild	?		1974-07-00	disease arthritis	x	Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
+ -Moskwitsch-	EM M	captive-born	22	1948-08-03	1970-05-04	disease rheumatoid arthritis	Shango x Molly	1961-04-00 Baku Zoo
+ -Katinka (Tinka,Tinca)-	EM F	wild	28	1933	1961-07-03	euthanised shot, because of arthritis	x	1939-05-31 Emmen Zoo
+ -Molly-	EM F	wild	21	1934	1955-04-24	euthanised arthritis	x	1942-00-00 Chester Zoo
+ -Honey-	EM F	wild	15	1938	1953-07-16	disease arthritis	x	1942-06-06 St Louis Zoo
+ -Nelly-	EM F	wild	13	1909	1922-10-01	disease Infection, rheumatoid arthritis	x	1913-00-00 Budapest Zoo

Arthritis is mentioned on 2 other pagesArthritis, Elephant shoe,

Arthritis is mentioned on 3 location pagesPAWS ARK 2000, Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT), Valley Zoo, Edmonton,

Arthritis is mentioned on 20 elephant record pagesAnne, Arjun, Babe Sh-Bang (Bonnie), Beauty, Bharati (Parvathy), Bijlee (Ramkali, Ramu), Chori, Dunja, Estrella, Hatari (Baby), Jewel (Cutie), Jothy, Kashin, Kutenga, Kuttinarayanan (Asiad Appu), Lin Wang, Lisa, Lucy (Skanik), Nelly, Nely,

Reference list Koehl, Dan, (2025). Arthritis. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 20 September 2021 at https://www.elephant.se/index.php?id=217. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

*FAOGONE

Selected publications

Elephant care manual for mahouts and camp managers, Preecha Phuangkum, Richard C. Lair and Taweepoke Angkawanith

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Categories glossary | disease

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