Arthritis in dogs
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Arthritis is a degenerative disease that affects one or more joints. In most cases, it occurs in dogs with hereditary orthopedic diseases, such as osteochondrosis and hip dysplasia or those who have had joint damage. Some cases of arthritis are associated with immune-mediated or infectious joint damage.
Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
Osteoarthritis is a common disease that affects every fifth dog throughout life. This problem applies not only to older dogs. Hip dysplasia, rupture of cruciate ligaments, dislocation of the knee cap, joint trauma and other joint damage can cause the development of degenerative arthritis, even in young dogs. Large dogs are more often affected than small dogs. In severe dogs, symptoms occur more often, because their ligaments and joints experience additional stress.
Dogs that suffer from degenerative arthritis experience varying degrees of lameness, stiffness, and joint pain, which are more pronounced in the morning and after daytime sleep. They often show increased irritability and behavioral changes associated with increasing impotence. Cold and increased humidity in the environment increase pain and stiffness. Degenerative arthritis is a progressive disease that makes the dog's life miserable.
The diagnosis is assisted by an X-ray examination of the joints, bone spurs (osteophytes) at the points of attachment to the bones of the ligaments and the joint capsule. The level of narrowing of the articular space and the increase in bone density around the joint can vary.
Treatment of osteoarthritis
Degenerative joint disease is incurable, but therapy can significantly improve the quality of a dog's life. Treatment includes physiotherapy; weight control; the use of analgesics and corticosteroids to alleviate pain and improve function, as well as chondroprotectors to restore articular cartilage and prevent further damage. An alternative approach to the treatment of arthritis in dogs, which has shown good results, is acupuncture. All these methods should be applied simultaneously.
Acupuncture and physiotherapy are alternative or additional ways to make the life of a dog with arthritis more comfortable.
In severe cases, in some dogs, the surgical fusion of painful joints, such as the hock joint or elbow, relieves pain and restores limb movement.
Physiotherapy
Moderate physical exercises are useful because they support muscle mass and retain the flexibility of the joints. But excessive loads lead to the opposite results. Dogs that suffer from arthritis can not jump and stand on their hind legs. Dogs that experience pain should perform exercises on a leash. To help develop a program of physical activities (and weight loss) can veterinary physiotherapists.
A great exercise that increases muscle mass without overloading the joints is swimming. Loads can be increased when the condition of the dog improves with the use of medications. It is necessary to watch, that dogs, suffering from excess weight, have lost it. Overweight greatly complicates the treatment of osteoarthritis.