Most commonly, arthritis affects older dogs and is caused by wear and tear on the joints. But it can also be the result of:
an injury such as ligament damage or broken bones
hip dysplasia, which is a deformity of the joints, often caused by bad breeding
under-development of joints, caused by too little or too much exercise during puppyhood.
09/19/2011 if your dog experiences difficulty getting up, tires easily or seems stiff, arthritis may be the culprit. The most common type of canine arthritis is degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, affecting one out of five adult dogs in the united sates, the arthritis foundation recently reported. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage protecting the bones of the joint is destroyed. The joint loses its cushion, causing friction between bones, leading to pain and decreased mobility in affected joints. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate bony growths (spurs) to form around the joints. Since cartilage has no nerve supply, damage can progress with no outward symptoms until the joint is severely damaged and the lubricating fluid has lost its ability to protect the bone surfaces.
Signs and symptoms of arthritis in dogs
A dog with arthritis is often slower and more irritable – and with constant pain in the joints, who can blame them?
but there are ways to manage arthritis in dogs that can relieve the symptoms and treat your pet’s pain. We take a look at the causes, symptoms and treatment of arthritis in dogs.
Exercise and nutrition can go a long way when it comes to arthritis in dogs treatment and management. Nutritional diet. Feeding your dog a high-quality, nutritious diet can help manage arthritis progression. Your vet should be able to recommend a high-quality diet, some of which even have added ingredients to help support joint health. Proper exercise. Physical exercise benefits dogs with arthritis by reducing joint stiffness and improving mobility. It also helps overweight dogs achieve healthy body weight. Physical exercise for arthritic dogs shouldn’t be very intense to prevent further degeneration of the joints. Cease physical exercise when your dog shows signs of fatigue or pain like limping , lameness, panting, or hesitation.
If your vet suspects your dog has arthritis, they may require treatment on numerous occasions over their lifetime, with treatments varying greatly in terms of medication and timescale between patients to give your dog the best immediate and long-term solution. Cartilage protectors cartilage protectors are designed to reduce cartilage damage (including hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycans and pentosan polysulphate). These may all reduce cartilage degeneration, as well as promote repair of joint structures and reduce painful inflammation. The importance of weight loss arthritis is commonly worse in overweight and unfit dogs, so the most important therapy is the combination of weight control and exercise management: minimising load on the joints, and maximising the range of movement and fitness of the muscles around those joints.
In summary, understanding arthritis in dogs begins with learning the signs and working with your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. While arthritis is not curable, there is help and hope. In next week’s blog post, i’ll delve into the full gamut of treatment options for arthritis in dogs including traditional medications, joint supplements, weight management , and complementary medicine such as acupuncture.