Dogs with Arthrosis – Preventing and Treating Joint Problems in Dogs

Statistically, every fifth dog suffers from this joint disease. This degenerative change of the joints cannot be cured. But the sooner you recognise the symptoms, the greater the chances of a long and pain-free dog life with osteoarthritis.

We explain osteoarthritis in dogs and show you the therapeutic treatment options.

The term “arthrosis” covers various diseases that cause degenerative and painful changes in the joints.

Canine osteoarthritis is therefore a chronic pathological process, in the course of which the joint tissue (cartilage) is destroyed. This mainly affects the hip joints, but also the joints of the spine and the leg joints.

Veterinarians as well as human doctors call it arthrosis deformans. A distinction must be made between primary and secondary arthrosis.

Can your dog only leave his dog bed with effort? Does he find it difficult to climb stairs? Or does he have difficulty jumping out of the car?

If you answered yes to these questions, then you should take your four-legged friend to a specialist veterinary clinic or a veterinarian who specialises in joint problems in dogs as soon as possible. The veterinarians will take a stress-free look at your dog via video chat and can make sound recommendations for further treatment after a detailed discussion with you. Appointments are made quickly and without waiting times online.

Osteoarthritis in dogs and the severity of the disease can be seen in the specific problems of your dog’s musculoskeletal system.

However, this is aggravated by the fact that dogs hide their pain for a long time or show it in an unspecific way, which sometimes makes it difficult for the dog owner to recognise the signs of osteoarthritis in time.

At the veterinary practice, apart from the necessary blood values, which can provide information about possible inflammations, above all the condition of the joints is checked. X-rays of the joint areas in question are indispensable and represent the first step in the diagnosis. On the basis of the X-rays, the veterinarian can assess the position and condition of the joint bone, recognise cartilage and measure it.

To see if your dog’s joints are not overloaded by other factors, the vet can determine the so-called Body Condition Store. This shows – just like the BMI in humans – the muscular condition of your dog. In particular, the percentage of fat on the dog’s body is measured. The BCS is given in 5 levels. Level 3 is ideal for dogs with arthrosis and should be maintained for the long-term so that the joints are not additionally stressed by the dog’s excess weight.

If the vet has diagnosed your dog with chronic joint wear and tear, perhaps accompanied by joint inflammation, the first thing to do is to eliminate the dog’s pain. To do this, the vet will give him an appropriate painkiller. In the case of joint inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs are also given.

Treatment with painkillers is essential to get your dog to stop favouring the affected joints and start using all joints in a balanced way. This in turn promotes the production of important synovial fluid and relieves pressure on other joints.

Unfortunately, painkillers (analgesics) put a strain on the stomach. If your dog has to take so-called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without cortisone) over a longer period of time, you should not take any risks and at the same time administer a stomach-protecting drug, proton pump inhibitors. This will protect your dog from stomach ulcers or even gastric perforation due to painkiller intolerance.

If chronic arthrosis is accompanied by arthritis, which in turn promotes arthrosis, this must be cured immediately and completely. In this case, the vet may give your dog an additional cortisone medication. To avoid the side effects of cortisone, a direct injection into the affected joint is definitely preferable to a cortisone tablet.

In cases of severe and advanced joint problems such as hip dysplasia in dogs, surgery should be considered to remove possible bone chips from the joint capsule or even to insert an artificial joint. This should definitely be discussed with a specialist and carried out in an appropriate veterinary clinic.

Most dog owners know that the food their four-legged friend eats has a great influence on the condition of the joints and the immune system, and thus on the inflammatory foci in the joints.

If your dog is overweight, it is important to put him on a diet. The vet can recommend a special food for dogs with joint problems. But regular exercise is an essential part of lasting weight reduction. In the case of arthritis in dogs, the daily exercise must be adapted to the needs and possibilities of your dog, depending on the stage of the disease. However, even if your dog has joint disease (but is pain-free!), do not forego extensive exercise sessions, because in the long run they are good medicine in themselves.

To get out of the vicious cycle of joint inflammation and wear, your dog needs a balanced diet.

Although you cannot stop a genetically determined, so-called primary arthrosis, you can alleviate the symptoms of your dog’s arthrosis considerably. The sooner countermeasures are started, the better. This is especially true for so-called secondary arthrosis, which is the result of other joint diseases, incorrect feeding, lack of exercise or excessive pressure to move.

For young or old dogs, or even those with joint-diseases, those games that are easy on the joints and promote the dog’s mobility without putting strain on the joints are particularly suitable.

As you can see, with the necessary knowledge, the support of your vet and your empathy, there is almost nothing to prevent your dog from leading a balanced life with osteoarthritis.