No one wants to think about their furry friend getting older, but it happens to the best of them. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, approximately 20% of dogs will be diagnosed with arthritis, and many more will go undiagnosed. This makes arthritis in dogs the most common sign of aging.
Most people know that arthritis is painful, but it can decrease your pup’s quality of life in many ways. Noticing these signs early and taking steps to help slow the advance of arthritis is the best way to keep your canine companion feeling good and by your side for as long as possible.
What is Arthritis in Dogs?
Arthritis is a painful disease of the joints. It is caused by inflammation and degeneration of the tissues that make up the joints, including bone, cartilage, and joint fluid. Once arthritis starts, it cannot be stopped, so knowing how to slow it down is key to helping your dog live a long, comfortable life.
Types of Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis and what this article will focus on. It is also known as arthritis, degenerative joint disease, DJD, and OA.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: In veterinary medicine, this is more commonly known as immune-mediated polyarthritis or IMPA. It occurs when the body begins attacking tissue within the joints, requiring very different care than “normal” arthritis.
- Septic Arthritis: Infection inside the joints causes this type of arthritis. It occurs either because of a body-wide infection or an injury to the joint.
What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?
There is no single cause of arthritis in dogs. There are always several reasons working together to cause and maintain arthritis in your dog’s joints. Here are some of the most common.
Aging Changes
The most common cause of arthritis is plain old getting older. As your dog moves around throughout life, microscopic damage occurs to the cartilage and bone within their joints. Over time, this damage builds up. The body tries to fix it, but joint tissues are not designed to heal well. The combination of injury and inflammation, which is part of the healing process, results in ongoing damage.
Obesity
While obesity alone might not cause arthritis, it is impossible to separate obesity and aging as causes of arthritis in dogs. Being overweight increases the damage that occurs inside joints on a day-to-day basis, simply due to the pressure of carrying the extra weight around.
In addition, fat is an inflammatory organ. This means that the more fat your dog has in its body, the worse the inflammation will be inside their joints. So, arthritis happens earlier and gets worse faster in overweight dogs.
Conformation
Conformation, or how your dog is built, can increase their risk of developing arthritis. Problems such as a luxating patella, or loose kneecap, increase the risk of arthritis in the knee. Hip dysplasia increases the risk of arthritis in your dog’s hips. Being post-legged, which means their hind legs are too straight, increases the risk of both. There are similar problems that can be found in the wrists and elbows as well.
Injury
Just like day-to-day microscopic injuries lead to arthritis, major injuries also increase the risk of your dog developing DJD. Injuries like a ruptured cruciate ligament in the knee significantly increase the development of arthritis in dogs.
Disease
Unfortunately, if your dog ever experiences rheumatoid or septic arthritis, the problem doesn’t end when that disease is treated. The damage these diseases cause remains and increases the risk of osteoarthritis as your pup gets older, even if the original disease happened when they were young.
Genetics
Some breeds, such as German Shepherd dogs and Labrador Retrievers, seem particularly likely to develop arthritis. Sometimes, this is due to overbreeding and problems like hip dysplasia, but sometimes, there may be genetic causes. Some genes have been identified that are associated with worse arthritis in dogs.
Signs & Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs
There are some very common signs of arthritis in dogs that you should watch for. As soon as you notice any of these, talk to your veterinarian about the best way to take care of your pup.
- Difficulty going up or down stairs
- Having trouble getting up from a sitting or lying down position
- Decreased ability to jump on and off of furniture
- Limping, even if they don’t seem to be in pain
- Stiffness, particularly after a period of rest
- Moving slowly when changing positions, such as lying down from sitting or standing
- Licking or chewing, especially over a particular joint
- Not following you around the house like usual
- Moving slower on walks, especially when first setting out
- Not wanting to go on as many walks
- Decreased desire to play or do things they used to enjoy
- Increased irritability or snappishness, especially with children
- Taking shorter steps than usual
Your veterinarian will also look for these signs during visits, often while chatting with you. Allowing your pup to move around the room on their own gives your vet a chance to observe them. During your dog’s exam, they will also check for:
- Decreased range of motion in major joints
- Crepitus, or a crunchy feeling, as the joints move
- Joint effusion, or fluid buildup in the joints
- Pain in the joints, especially when moving
Your veterinarian may diagnose your dog with arthritis based on examination alone or may recommend X-rays to confirm their suspicions. Other conditions, like bone infections or cancer, can look like arthritis on an examination, so X-rays are always a good idea if your veterinarian recommends them.
How to Treat Arthritis in Dogs
There are numerous treatment options for arthritis in dogs, just like there are numerous causes. Your veterinarian will help you create the best plan for your pup. They will consider your dog’s age, breed, general health, and lifestyle, along with any limitations on treatment to keep your pup in the best shape possible.
Here are some of the most common things you can ask about when working with your veterinarian to create this plan.
Home Care and Natural Remedies for Arthritis in Dogs
Weight Management
Keeping your pup skinny is the most important part of caring for them when they have arthritis. Not only does it hurt more for them to carry around extra weight, but fat increases inflammation in the body. Because arthritis is an inflammatory disease, having excess fat means arthritis could get worse faster than it would otherwise!
Exercise
While most dogs with arthritis seem reluctant to exercise, they will feel better if they do. Not only does exercise help with weight management, it also prevents muscle loss. Muscles support joints, so keeping muscles in good shape makes arthritis hurt less. Just stick to low-impact exercises like slow walks or swimming; high-impact or excessive exercise can make things worse.
Diet Changes
Diet changes are an essential part of weight management, but that’s only part of what diet can do. Feeding diets that are higher in protein can help maintain muscle mass, while antioxidants can decrease inflammation and slow the progression of arthritis. Ask your veterinarian about the best diet for your pup as they age.
Household Changes
When our furry friends have arthritis, sometimes we need to rearrange our lives a little to make theirs easier. Here are some ideas.
Provide Good Footing
One of the effects of arthritis is muscle weakness, which leads to instability. Most people know that older people are prone to falls, but so are our canine companions. Dogs who feel unstable dig in with their claws to help them gain grip.
However, it is counterproductive on hard surfaces like hardwood, linoleum, laminate, and concrete. Use area rugs, yoga mats, or foam workout floors to help them get a good grip, be more comfortable, and stay safe.
Prevent Jumping
Arthritis makes it painful, not to mention difficult, for our canine companions to get up and down as well as they used to. Adding steps to help them get on and off the bed and couch can go a long way toward improving their day-to-day comfort. Also, consider adding ramps for your pup to use instead of longer flights of stairs, making it easier for them and their joints.
Provide Good Bedding
Sleeping on hard surfaces gets tougher as we age, and the same is true of our pups. Make sure your pup has multiple comfortable places to rest. Beds should be low so it is easy for your pup to get on and off. They should also be thick and made of supportive materials like orthopedic foam to support old, aching joints.
Pay Attention to Temperature
Arthritis gets worse when it is cold outside, so provide your pup with a warm place to rest. Be careful with electronic devices since they can pose a burn risk, and cords are easy for our pups to find and chew on.
Instead, consider self-heating pads that act more like an insulator, using your pup’s own body heat and reflecting it back to them. You can also use a warm compress over painful joints to help keep your dog comfortable when their arthritis is acting up.
Veterinary Care for Arthritis in Dogs
In addition to the home care mentioned above, your veterinarian may have additional recommendations for you. They will assess your pet and discuss any limitations your household is facing to determine the best plan for your pup. Learn more about some of the most common options below.
Medication
There are numerous options for prescription anti-inflammatory medications to help your pup’s arthritis pain. These are usually the first things to try, but there are also a variety of medications available that focus on the pain of arthritis rather than the inflammation.
Lastly, there are some injectable medications that focus on the health of the joint itself. Sometimes, you will need to use a combination of methods to help your pup feel their best. Talk to your veterinarian to decide on the best options for your pup.
Surgery
In extreme cases, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reduce your pup’s arthritis pain. There are options for their hips and knees, but what is available in your area may vary. Talk to your veterinarian if you think your dog might need surgery for their arthritis.
Physical Therapy
Just like weight management and exercise can reduce the pain associated with arthritis, so can physical therapy. Options like underwater treadmills, hydrotherapy, laser, and shockwave therapy are commonly used along with exercises to help reduce pain and strengthen muscles.
Your dog’s physical therapist may also recommend acupuncture and massage. Your veterinarian may be able to refer you to a local practitioner who does physical therapy or provide you with some exercises to work on at home.
How to Prevent Arthritis in Dogs
Because arthritis doesn’t have a single cause, there is no one way to prevent it. But there are a few things you can do to help reduce your pup’s risk.
Dietary Care
Keeping your pup skinny over their lifetime is one of the best ways to reduce their arthritis risk, but most people don’t realize this begins in puppyhood. Studies show that feeding puppies a slightly restricted calorie diet benefits their joint health over a lifetime.
In addition, make sure to feed your dog an appropriate diet throughout their life. All-stages food is actually formulated for puppies and usually has too many calories for adult dogs. Large-breed puppies need a different mineral balance than small-breed puppies, so make sure to pick the right food there as well. Most household pets do not need a high protein diet, though if your pup competes in sports, is in heavy training, or is a working dog, they might need a sport formula.
Appropriate Exercise
What “appropriate exercise” means depends a lot on the individual dog. Some dogs, particularly working breeds, need a lot of exercise, whereas others, like some Bulldogs, will struggle to exercise much at all. When discussing arthritis risk, though, you always want to focus on low-impact exercise.
Swimming is the best since it is low-impact, and the water provides resistance, increasing muscle-building. Walking is the next best thing if your dog doesn’t like water or you don’t have easy access. Give your pup plenty of exercise, but don’t force them once they get tired. Overexertion can make things worse.
Prevent Injuries
Preventing injuries is always easier said than done, but there are some key things to consider. If your pup is running or jumping, make sure they have good footing and that the ground is reasonably flat. Don’t let them jump from or land on slick surfaces, and make sure there are no hidden holes for them to land in or trip on.
If your house has slick floors, consider putting area rugs or other flooring in areas where your pup might need a better grip. Staircases, in front of furniture they’re allowed on, and heavily traveled paths are all places to consider. You can also apply products to their toenails or paw pads to increase their grip on slick floors.
Regular Checkups
Some dogs will start showing signs of arthritis as early as 2-4 years of age, so ask your vet about early signs at every checkup. They can do an exam and talk to you about the lifestyle changes and medical treatments that would be best to keep your pup as healthy as possible throughout their life.
Be especially careful if your pup has hip dysplasia, sliding kneecaps (your vet might call this a luxating patella), or is post-legged (meaning their back legs are unusually straight). These are all problems that increase the risk of arthritis in your pup, which means you may want to take steps to help them earlier in life.
When to Consult a Veterinarian
It is always the right time to talk to your veterinarian about arthritis in dogs. As mentioned above, certain body structures may mean you need to start thinking about arthritis when your canine companion is still young. Ask your vet to check for these things at routine visits when your pup is young.
If your vet doesn’t find any of these problems when your pup is young, here are a few more times you should check in with them:
- If your pet is limping, even if they don’t seem to be in pain otherwise
- Long-term symptoms such as difficulty getting up from rest or having trouble with stairs
- Worsening pain, which might look like your pup limping or not enjoying their regular activities like they used to
- Wanting to go on shorter walks
- Taking short, stiff steps
- Anytime home remedies don’t seem to be helping
While arthritis is a common problem in dogs, there are other issues that can look very similar. Your veterinarian is the best person to help you make sure it’s just arthritis that your furry friend is dealing with.
Arthritis in Dogs Final Thoughts
Arthritis in dogs is a common but complicated disease. The causes are unclear, the symptoms can be subtle, and the treatments are many and varied. If you want to give your pup the best life possible, you need to be aware of what is happening with them and work closely with your veterinarian. Starting early and being proactive will help your dog live a long, happy life with you.
References
https://aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/mobilitymatters.pdf
