Beginner’s Guide To Arthritis In Dogs

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects joints, causing pain, stiffness, discomfort, and inflammation. It makes moving around difficult and uncomfortable, and is a common condition that affects humans and animals.

Healthy joints have a smooth surface and glide past each other when moving around. Whereas arthritic joints have an uneven and worn surface which means the bones rub against each other, causing pain and swelling.

Arthritis gets worse over time as the joints start to produce new bone that is unnecessary, and they get thicker and stiffer. The additional bone makes it more painful for your dog, especially when they are moving around.

Signs of arthritis in dogs

Arthritis is more common in older dogs, affecting 65% of dogs over the age of 7, but it can also affect younger dogs if they suffer from an injury or illness or due to genetics.

Unfortunately, dogs cannot tell us when something is wrong, so they rely on people to identify when they are unwell, in discomfort, or in pain. It is important that we know and look out for the signs of arthritis.

Your dog may have arthritis if they are:

Less enthusiastic about exercise or playing
Uncharacteristically grumpy or irritable
More tired than usual or have slowed down
Showing stiffness or lameness
Limping, especially after a walk
Sensitive about having their joints touched
Losing muscle mass, particularly on the legs and back
Getting worse when it is damp or cold
Licking or chewing at their joints
Not jumping up onto furniture or going upstairs
Having toilet accidents indoors

Diagnosing arthritis in dogs

If you suspect your dog may have arthritis, you should contact your vet. They will do a physical examination to check for stiffness and pain in your dog’s joints, and to assess their range of motion.

They may arrange for tests such as X-rays, if required, to confirm the diagnosis as well as to rule out any other potential conditions.

If your dog does have arthritis, they will advise on treatment options for you to consider, to reduce inflammation and pain, and to improve mobility and quality of life.

Your dog will need regular appointments to monitor their condition, and to adjust their treatment plan as their needs and condition changes.

Treatment for arthritis in dogs

Although it is incurable, there are many treatment options available to slow its progression, to manage your dog’s pain, and keep them healthy, happy, and active. Some of the best treatment options for dogs with arthritis are:

Joint pain relief medication to make them more comfortable, active, and mobile, and to reduce pain and inflammation
Joint supplements are unlikely to be significantly beneficial on their own, but can be used in conjunction with medication to aid improvements
Weight management is key to managing arthritis as obesity can place a greater strain on your dog’s joints and worsen their arthritis
Suitable exercise is important as it will help to maintain muscle mass and mobility and to manage their weight
Physical therapy, such as physiotherapy or hydrotherapy, can help with keeping dogs fit and mobile, without putting too much pressure on joints
Protecting them from the cold, by providing heat pads and drying them after they get wet, will help to reduce pain and discomfort
Adding rugs or mats to hard flooring will help to prevent your dog from slipping
Providing ramps for your dog to be able to get on and off furniture and in and out of the car more easily
Surgery may sometimes be recommended for dogs if medication is not proving effective or if they have severe arthritis

Here at Witsend, we offer a range of treatments to ease the symptoms of arthritis in dogs, including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and laser therapy. A combination of these three elements produces the best results for arthritic dogs.

For professional advice on caring for a dog with arthritis, our team is on hand to help. Working with people from all over the country, we have had over 2000 success stories! To book an appointment or for more information, please call us on 0116 244 2455