Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian and this article is not a substitute for veterinary care. Any information found on this site is meant to serve as a starting point for a conversation with your dog’s veterinarian about what options or treatments are appropriate for your dog’s specific needs.
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Have you noticed your dog:
- Running in the yard or park less than they used to
- Struggling to climb up on the couch (if you let him) or into the car for rides
- Taking longer to lay dog or get up or be unable to find a comfortable position
- Just isn’t as active as he used to be
Your mutt could be suffering from canine arthritis.
Arthritis is quite common in both dogs and human beings.
But what causes it? And how do you spot the signs?
In simple terms, arthritis refers to inflammation of joints as a result of instability and wear and tear in the joints. However, other factors, such as genetic makeup, injury, infection, cancer, and immune disease, can also have a significant effect on its progression.
Canine arthritis can affect a single or multiple joints anywhere in your dog’s body. Some of the most commonly affected joints are the knees, elbows, shoulders, and hips.
This condition is common in large and senior dogs.
What is dog arthritis?
Dogs with arthritis suffer from one of two kinds of ailments.
The first condition is known as osteoarthritis in dogs or degenerative joint disease.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs because of the gradual loss of the primary cartilage that provides a cushioning effect to the bones. As this cartilage wears off, the bones begin rubbing against each other, which causes your canine friend pain.
The second form of the ailment is known as joint disease. This type is not caused by cartilage destruction, but by fungal and bacterial infections.
It can also result from specific tick-borne diseases or some genetic-related deficiencies that attack the dog’s immune system.
Causes of arthritis in dogs
As we mentioned earlier, Osteoarthritis is a condition common in older dogs. However, the problem can also develop at an early age as a result of joint and bone development issues.
Regardless of the underlying cause, arthritis can affect one or multiple joints of your dog. Here are some of the common causes of canine arthritis.
Joint instability
Some dogs are usually predisposed to many joint instability problems that can cause arthritis in the long run. Some of these problems include Elbow dysplasia, Patellar luxation, and Hip dysplasia. These conditions can come with symptoms identical or similar to canine arthritis symptoms. Therefore, it is vital to diagnose and start treating the root causes as soon as possible.
Injury to ligaments
One of the most common causes of dog arthritis is ligament damage. Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in the knee is the common ligament damaged. These tears are a common injury in pets, although other joints can be affected too. Ligament damage can cause joint instability and even lead to excess cartilage wear. Other injuries that can lead to arthritis include fractures that involve a joint. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of all ligament damages can help minimize or prevent arthritis from happening in the future.
Autoimmune disorders
Some rare ailments in pets like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can cause inflammation, pain, and lameness of the joints. Immune system overreactions are the leading causes of these diseases, and immunosuppressive drugs are usually an effective treatment against many autoimmune disorders.
Joint infections
Joint infections such as Lyme disease can damage your dog’s joint enough to develop arthritis in the long run. An infection can also occur after penetrating wounds to a joint or an injury. You can treat some of the infectious triggers of arthritis using antibiotics.
Cartilage problems
Arthritis in dogs can also be brought about by underlying cartilage problems. One of the common ones is Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), which refers to the thickening of joint cartilage that leads to injuries. In many cases, dogs with OCD often tear the thickened cartilages in all the affected joints, leading to lameness in the affected joints. OCD is common in giant and large dog breeds in both the hind and front legs. This condition is associated with excessive food intake that results in extra weight. Treatment involves surgical procedure to take off the excess cartilage.
Signs of canine arthritis
If your dog is suffering from arthritis, it will experience pain that results from the damages within the joints. Dog arthritis symptoms are as a result of the stiffness and pain, but it might be a bit subtle during the early stages.
In most cases, dogs in the earlier stages of this condition tend to show an array of common symptoms of dog arthritis. If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Licking, biting and chewing
Dogs suffering from arthritis can also start to chew, bite, or lick the painful body parts. Sometimes, this behavior may even lead to hair loss and inflamed skin over the affected regions.
Limping
If your dog is suffering from arthritis, you might see it limping or even favoring one of the legs, depending on the affected limb or joint. In most cases, the limps may be worse when your dog rises and become less noticeable as your dog moves around to warm up.
Spinal problems
The changes caused by arthritis do not only occur in the legs but also in different parts of the spine. These changes can result in lameness of the hind legs, a stiff neck, and an abnormal posture with back hunch.
Moving difficulties
Your dog might also become hesitant to do things that were pretty easy for her to do. For example, your dog might find it challenging to alight or get into your car or might have difficulties going down and up the stairs that were easily manageable earlier because of the discomfort and pain.
Irritability
An arthritic dog can become more irritable. It can snap or even bite when handled or approaches, especially if the handling or handling takes place in a way that increases its pain and discomfort.
Tiredness
Arthritic changes can make your dog tire more quickly, which might mean shorter and more painful walks for your dog. Your canine friend might spend more time resting and sleeping.
So what can you do?
Arthritis is one of the most common diagnoses in dogs as they age.
It’s an extremely painful condition that doesn’t have a cure, but the good news is that you can manage it.
There are many procedures and remedies that can assist in easing the pain and discomfort for your dog. We’re going to talk about these in-depth in future posts.
Identifying dog arthritis signs early and maintaining your pet at a healthy weight are the early steps you can take to maintain the mobility of your dog.
Consult a veterinarian for sound advice if you suspect your dog is suffering from arthritis.
They give you recommendations to keep your pet feeling at its best as long as possible.
Does your dog have arthritis? What were some of the earliest signs that you noticed? Tell us in the comments.
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