Understanding Arthritis In Dogs

A diagnosis of arthritis can be a scary thing for a pet owner to hear about regarding their dog. The disease is often painful, medication expensive and the implications hard to understand. We've gathered together some information for you on choosing a med, various terms, supplements, medications profiles, treatment options and the disease itself to help you better comprehend the disease. However, we always recommend seeking out the expert opinion of your veterinarian too, they are the true experts and they'll know what will be best for your specific dog and their specific arthritis situation.

video about choosing an arthritis medication for your dog

The Dog Joint - Composition & Function

A canine's joints can most simply be described as the hinges that hold the skeletal system together where the bones meet. Joints are what give the skeleton movement and flexibility. A dog has 3 kinds of joints - ball and socket (e.g., hip), hinge (e.g., knee) and gliding (e.g., ankle). Tendons and ligaments stabilize and hold the joint together and synovial fluid surrounds and lubricates the joint for smooth action. Cartilage helps protect the bones that make up the joint and is also important to overall joint health.

"Dog Arthritis" - A Broad Term Covering Several Conditions

The term "dog arthritis" is a broad term used to describe a number of medical conditions, each resulting in joint pain. Some terms commonly used to describe arthritis include ...

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in dogs, is a condition often resulting from wear and tear on the joint, usually from aging or injury. Related symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and enlarged joints.

Degenerative Joint Disease is a term commonly used to describe a kind of osteoarthritis where there is degeneration of the cartilage that protects the joint bones. Cartilage destruction often occurs in dogs with otherwise "normal" joints, that have endured continuous levels of high activity or strenuous exercise. Just the same, joint cartilage degeneration can occur from light to moderate activity as well, especially if the joint is already abnormal.

Hip Dysplasia is a malformation of the hip sockets, and is a good example of arthritis in dogs where normal activity on abnormal joints results in destruction of cartilage. It is important to note that canine cartilage has few to no nerves, so degeneration can occur "unfelt" for quite a while, even years, before outward signs of joint disease are visible. Consequently it is wise to watch arthritis prone dog breeds that may have a predisposition to the condition, breeds like St. Bernards, German Shepards, Rottweilers and Goldens. That way, developing issues can be treated quickly.

Inflammatory Joint Disease usually covers joint issues related to infections or immune system abnormalities. Inflammatory joint disease may or may not manifest itself in actual joint "damage" buy rather, can be a condition of pain and suffering that is the result of an infection around the joint area itself. Systemic lupus can also cause joint infections as well. Certain fungal infections and tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever can also cause inflammatory joint disease too. Some common symptoms of canine inflammatory joint disease include, but are not limited to fever, loss of appetite and stiffness.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of inflammatory joint disease that is normally rare in dogs. However, it does occur in canines so it is important to know about it. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that damages the joints.

Proper diagnosis is crucial in treating arthritis in dogs, for example, some medications for infectious joint disease can actually exacerbate and worsen a condition caused by an immune related joint disease. Visit thoroughly with your veterinarian regarding which tests to run, your pets's overall health plan, all meds, supplements, vitamins, other health products your pet is taking, observed symptoms, arthritis diagnosis and potential treatment options.

Treatment Options For Canine Arthritis And Other Joint Diseases

On occasion, degenerative joint disease and/or hip dysplasia can be treated with surgery. The surgery option can be quite expensive and involved but is often successful. Sometimes rest, light exercise and supplements are enough to provide significant relief. Excess weight can create added stress on the joints and exacerbate existing arthritis pain, consequently, for overweight pets, a reduction in weight resulting from a beneficial diet change can sometimes help as well. Prescription medications such as rimadyl, adequan, etogesic, deramaxx and others are often helpful too. There are also some non-prescription supplements like cosequin and glycoflex that many doctors like that have made quite a difference for our own pets. All dogs with arthritis should be under a veterinarian's care, consequently, you'll want to visit thoroughly with your veterinarian so they can determine which treatment is best for your specific pet.

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