What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?
What Exactly is Arthritis in Dogs?
Arthritis a term used so often you may assume a certain level of knowledge, but how much do you really know? Stripping things back to facts, arthritis is an inflammatory, progressively degenerative disease affecting the joints (Arthro- meaning joints, and –itis meaning inflammation.)
Poor Cartilage
Arthritis in dogs is linked to a number of problems such as poor quality cartilage lining the joint surfaces. Cartilage is nature’s shock absorber. When the cartilage is thinner and less spongey, the joint as less cushioned, making movement painful.
Inflammation
It’s inflammation of the joint lining that causes the pain (think of inflamed eye or irritated skin, and how uncomfortable this is). Inflamed cells release ‘toxic’ chemicals, which cause further inflammation and hey presto, a classic vicious circle, of inflammation, is created.
Wear and Tear
Over time, inflammation results in erosion (wearing away) of the joint surface. To repair the damage the body lays down new bone, which remodels the joint. The ultimate result is a swollen, thickened joint that no longer fit snugly together.
What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?
- Hereditary Factors: Many breeds carry genetic coding passed from parent to pup, which predetermines that their joints are badly shaped. When a joint rubs or catches when the dog moves which sets up inflammation and joint remodeling.
- Damage or Trauma: This is a big worry for pups, as their joints are slack to allow room for growth. This makes joints vulnerable to physical damage when a puppy moves awkwardly or jumps from a height. A pup that lands heavily and chips the cartilage lining of a joint, sows the seeds of early arthritis.
- Poor diet: This isn’t just about a diet lacking in nutrients (although obviously, this is important) but also about diets that are too rich, and force bones to grow too fast, making them vulnerable to damage. The classic example is a giant breed fed on a puppy food designed for small dogs.
- Infection: Although rare, blood-borne infections can seed the joints and set up infective arthritis
- Auto-immune Disease: The immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation
In the context of this article, we’re looking at classic osteoarthritis (Caused by 1, 2, & 3, rather than infection or rheumatoid arthritis (4 & 5)
Signs of Arthritis in Dogs
The dog arthritis symptoms aren’t hard to spot. They range from a dog that’s stiff and slow in the mornings to the dog who struggles to stand, and all the stages of lameness in between. However, it’s important that a veterinarian examines the dog because lameness is a general symptom rather than a diagnosis of arthritis in its own right. The veterinarian needs to check for other causes of lameness including neurological problems, foreign bodies, and strains and sprains.
Reducing the Risk of Arthritis
What you really want to know is how to keep your dog’s joints healthy for longer. So here goes….
Pre-Purchase Checks
It should be said that when purchasing a purebred pup, be sure to do your homework. Check what health problems the breed is linked to. If one of the issues is hip or elbow dysplasia, then investigate what screening programs are in place. Then quiz the breeder about what tests the parent dogs have had to rule out passing down hip or elbow problems. If the breeder doesn’t screen her dogs then walk away and keep looking. Ideally, only buy from a breeder who screens both parents and they have good scores. This reduces (but unfortunately not eliminates) the risk of the pups developing dysplasia.
Joint Care for Growing Dogs
Look after a puppy’s growing joints, as this is a time when they’re particularly vulnerable to damage. As a rule of thumb, never exercise a puppy to the point of exhaustion. This is because the ligaments and tendons that support the joints are lax to allow for growth. But when the muscles get tired this allows for bone-on-bone movement and cause damage. Be careful about what you feed the puppy. It’s vital to have an appropriate balance of calcium and phosphate for healthy bone growth. This requirement differs between small dogs (who grow rapidly) and larger dogs (who grow more slowly). Thus, large or giant breed dogs require being fed a different formula of puppy food to small or toy dogs. To ignore this means stimulating the bones to grow too quickly, which outstrips the blood supply to the cartilage lining the joints, and causes poor joint development. Another important factor is the amount of food fed. Be sure to keep the puppy lean as this promotes a good waistline in adult life (obesity being a major contributing factor to arthritis).
Joint Care for Adult Dogs
Keep your dog trim for all-around good health, especially of joints. Also, regular exercise is crucial to keeping joints supple and moving. However, keep the amount of exercise similar from day to day. Sudden heavy exercise will tire the dog, which may then move clumsily and chip a joint lining causing inflammation… Another suggestion is to give a daily food supplement containing chondroitin and glucosamine. This help nourishes the joints and prepares the raw materials for cartilage repair and thick, lubricating joint fluid. Think of these as an investment in the long-term health of the dog’s joints. If your dog is a breed prone to joint dysplasia or arthritis, then this is certainly something to consider.
What to Do if Your Dog has Arthritis
For those with dogs that already have arthritis, there are still things you can do to help.
Early-stage Arthritis
- Chondroprotectants: Glucosamine and chondroitin come under the heading of supplements that promote good joint health. Omega 3 fatty acids also reduce inflammation. There’s also an injection your dog can have that increase lubrication within the joints and promote smooth articulation
- Weight Management: If your dog is on the heavy side, put him on a diet. It reduces the load-bearing weight on the joints and slows up deterioration.
- Regular Exercise: Keep the dog moving, with regular exercise that is within his capabilities. This tones the muscles which in turn support the joints. Check with your veterinarian as to what is a safe level for your dog.
Advanced Arthritis
- Medications: Canine prescription anti-inflammatory medications do just that – relieve inflammation. This reduces pain and can also reduce the inflammation which makes the joints vulnerable to further damage.
- Heat Therapy: Don’t overlook keeping the dog warm at night and also placing warm wheat bags on a sore joint to increase blood flow and ease discomfort
- Warm-up before Exercise: Just like an athlete warms up before a race, so an arthritic dog should warm up his joints before walking. Speak to your veterinarian about learning passive flexion and extension exercises.
- Non-weight Bearing Exercise: Try to keep the dog moving. When joints are sore then weightless exercise such as hydrotherapy (swimming under controlled conditions) is excellent for both mind and body.
- Physiotherapy: A veterinary physiotherapist can give you invaluable exercise and therapeutic options that don’t include drugs. The benefits of massage for dogs with arthritis are often overlooked. Then there are other therapies such as laser, acupuncture, and TENS, which can make your pet pal more comfortable.
PetPace and Arthritis in Dogs
Small Steps Add up to Big Benefits
And finally, don’t lose hope because a single strategy failed to make a noticeable difference. When wondering what to do if your dog has arthritis, the trick is knowing that lots of little things can add up to a big difference. For example, a nutraceutical alone may not make the dog more comfortable, but when you add in massage, gentle exercise, pain relievers, and heat therapy at night, your dog will turn the corner in more ways than one!