Arthritis is a common disease in cats and dogs. Arthritis is the medical terminology for joint inflammation and pain. There are various kinds of arthritis such as infectious (poly)arthritis, autoimmune arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is caused by damage to the cartilage (soft surface of bone ends) in joints. Osteoarthritis in dogs is generally associated with aging and large breeds. However, it is a specific disease observed in dogs of all ages, sizes and shapes. In fact arthritis affects up to 20% of dogs over 1 year of age, and dogs have a 65% chance of developing arthritis between 7 to 11 years of age. Dog arthritis is a slowly progressive, painful disease. Due to its association with the aging process it is often overlooked as a specific health problem. Although arthritis cannot be cured, it is successfully manageable long term.

The Disease

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, including hips, elbows, and stifles, but also vertebrae, carpal joints, tarsal joints, and even metacarpophalangeal (wrist) and metatarsophalangeal (ankle) joints. Joints along the vertebral column are also prone to arthritis, so look for signs of pain and spondylosis along cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal segments, and at the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral junctions.With osteoarthritis there is a continuous state of inflammation in the joint, cartilage degenerates and bony proliferations or spurs may form to try and stabilize the joint.

Etiology

The underlying causes of arthritis are numerous. In aging dogs, wear and tear are the common culprits of joint degeneration. Accidents, trauma,  excessive exercise (sports dog), joint instability, joint deformity or congenital disease can predispose to osteoarthritis in younger animals. Examples of conditions frequently leading to osteoarthritis are orthopedic surgery, joint fractures, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture, patella (kneecap) subluxation, osteochondrosis, obesity, malnutrition and poor breeding.

The Symptoms

The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and reduced mobility. These symptoms may not be visible in the initial phases of the disease since the dog may compensate and mask pain with muscle tension. For early diagnosis, ask your veterinarian to perform a full pain assessment and muscle palpation exam during annual check up of your pet. Warning signs for arthritis are frequently observed as follows: Stiff, sore, limping, lame, unbalanced gait. Difficulty getting up, laying down, climbing stairs. Reluctant to go for a walk or lagging. Hesitant to jump (in the car). Weak hips, back pain. Swollen joints. Yelping or resistance to touch. Licking joints. Voiding problems. Eating problems (difficulty lowering head to bowl). Overweight, underweight. Depressed or sleepy, reduced activity.

If you note these symptoms in your dog, consult with a veterinarian and have the underlying cause of pain determined; ruling out other disease such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), osteomyelitis, synovitis, infection or injury. Most likely, your veterinarian will confirm diagnosis with X-ray.

Treatment

It is important for you to understand that osteoarthritis is a lifelong disease that cannot be cured but can be managed successfully. With the right therapeutic plan, arthritis pain does not have to be part of the normal aging process. You can take charge and provide quality of life to your dog. We recommend a multiprong approach consisting of pain management, weight loss, joint supplements, rehabilitation and exercise and a good pet bed. This allows you to get the pain under control, to strengthen the joints and get your dogs mobility back.

Pain management can be accomplished with prescription drugs, nutraceutical supplements, chiropractic or acupuncture, and comfortable place to rest.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can be prescribed by your veterinarian. These drugs can have severe side effects and cause liver, renal and GI toxicity. You should closely monitor your dog while on these medications and blood work should be done prior to the start of treatment and at any time of concern. Never give your pet human medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Pets have different sensitivities to these drugs and may suffer severe side effects (stomach ulceration, bleeding and puncture, renal damage, vomiting, diarrhea).

Nutraceutical joint supplements are a great alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. A balanced, complete supplement such as DogPawR Hip & Joint Complex offers both pain relief as well as the nutritional building blocks to strengthen joint health without the side effects. Chondrocytes are the cells of the cartilage. Chondrocytes produce the macromolecules collagen and proteoglycans. Chondrocytes and these macromolecules provide the smooth surface on bone ends in joints and also produce the joints lubricating synovial fluid. Providing supplements that contain the nutritional precursors such as GLM are essential as they are the rate limiting step in the maintenance and repair of joints. Therefore it is mandatory to provide these supplements daily, preventive and therapeutic lifelong.

Holistic care such as acupuncture and chiropractic, including laser therapy offer great pain relief. These therapies are noninvasive and non-traumatic and are effective at getting the pain under control, even in severe cases.

A comfortable place to rest is just as important to you as to your dog. Pet beds with therapeutic memory foam such as Dog Pedic offer the right support, alleviate pressure points and are muscle relaxing. Furthermore, you may want to elevate your pets food bowl in order to prevent neck strain while eating.

Weight loss is an important treatment modality in obese dogs with osteoarthritis. With a calorie restricted diet and even modest weight loss (6-8%), a significant improvement in lameness was observed in a clinical study.

Rehabilitation and gentle, regular exercise are key. Rehabilitation can help reverse loss of strength and mobility while maintaining cardiovascular fitness. Physical therapy programs comprise swimming, walking, underwater treadmills, etc. Dont overdo it, a walk of a couple of blocks twice daily, will benefit both of you. Free the body, clear the mind.

Surgery is an invasive an expensive treatment alternative. Surgical joint replacement is an option in certain cases such as hip dysplasia. Other techniques include joint fusion and arthroscopic surgery. Methods such as intra artricular stem cell or gene therapy are also actively explored in order to delay joint degeneration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pets are significant family members in todays society. It is important to us to keep our pets comfortable and to offer them quality of life. Arthritis care of your dog takes commitment but is a gratifying experience.