Does your Dog Suffer from Arthritis?

Unfortunately, canine joints age just like ours do. In fact, arthritis affects one of every five dogs sometime during their lifetime. Thinning of the joint cartilage can lead to joint deterioration, reduced mobility, and pain.
Arthritis can be caused by various factors, including injury, infection, the body’s own immune system, or developmental problems. Joints normally form smooth connections between bones, but arthritis involves thinning of joint cartilage, buildup of fluid inside the joint, and the formation of new bony growths within the joint.
Signs of arthritis include stiffness after exercise, loss of muscle mass, swelling, and having a harder time walking, getting up on all four legs, climbing, and jumping. Most of these changes occur slowly over time and therefore can be hard to spot by some owners, especially if it is assumed that their dog is “just getting older”. Bringing your dog in for an annual checkup can help us identify clinical signs early, often with a combination of a complete physical exam and x-rays.
Supportive care is important, and treatment may range from simple exercises to pain medication or even surgery or other types of treatment therapies. Regular, moderate amounts of exercise help delay canine arthritis, as a joint in motion will generally stay in motion. Low-impact exercises, such as swimming or even using an underwater treadmill are excellent forms of exercise for the arthritic canine. Diets often help as getting your dog to lose weight decreases the load on his or her joints.
Pain medication, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may help relieve arthritic pain but should never be given to your dog without first talking to a veterinarian as they can have side effects that should first be taken into consideration.
If you have an animal that you suspect is suffering from arthritis, give us a call at Copper Hill Animal Clinic.