What is arthritis in dogs?
Arthritis is a medical term that means inflammation of the joints. There are several types, but the most common one is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis doesn’t just affect people, it shows up in our beloved dogs too! Dogs can be affected by arthritis in any joint, but the most common areas affected are knees, hips, elbows, and the back. You might notice that your dog is reluctant to stand up, or she may run slower than before. She may not enjoy the active games that she used to. She might not be able to jump in the car like she used to. If the arthritis in your dog is severe enough, your pet may develop a limp. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, make an appointment on our contact page or give us a call.
How is arthritis in dogs diagnosed?
First, the professional team at Thorndale Animal Hospital will start with an assessment of the sore area. Radiographs of the affected areas may be taken, because radiographs are important to confirm the diagnosis. They also provide a snapshot of your pets current condition, so improvements or changes can be assessed. There is no cure for arthritis in dogs, but there are many ways your expert vet can help slow down, or even improve your pets arthritis. Some changes that we advise to try are nutrition changes, supplements, lifestyle changes, and certain medications.
What is the treatment for arthritis?
A combination approach is best, this is where different types of treatments work together to help ease discomfort.
Some medications are used to ease arthritis symptoms in dogs. Joint protectants like Cartophen help repair damaged cartilage in the join. This type of medicine might be administered as an injection once a week, for 4 weeks. A maintenance injection every 1 to 2 months is typical.
Librela is another injectable medication that is given once a month. It is a monoclonal antibody, which means it helps by interrupting the pain signals in the joints’ nerves. We cannot turn back time, but all these treatments can make her much more comfortable.
Anti-inflammatory medications like Metacam work similar to Advil, and can be given daily in a tasty liquid form.
Diet for dogs with arthritis:
Here at Thorndale Animal Hospital, we recommend a diet called Joint Diet (JD). It contains good amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, and other antioxidants. These help to reduce pain and inflammation. Joint Diet also aids in maintaining a healthy weight. Although it is not always easy to do, one of the most important ways to help your dogs arthritis is to reduce your furry companion’s weight. A lighter dog puts less pressure on their joints.
If your dog won’t tolerate JD, then we recommend omega 3 supplements.
Please feel free to come in and get a nutritional consultation with one of our technicians, Ashley or Jessica.
Exercise for dogs with arthritis:
Exercise is important! Except, it should be gentle and limited for a dog with arthritis. We recommend 2 or 3 walks a day for 10 – 20 minutes max. It is important to keep the joints moving, but too much exercise can cause pain to flare.
How to try to prevent arthritis?
Prevention is the best medicine! This can start when you first get your puppy. Excessive exercise can damage a puppies young growing cartilage. Wait until they are fully grown at about 1 year of age before they get large amounts of exercise. Once they are year of age, weight management is the next most important step. Our vets can determine the optimum weight of your pet on their annual checkup. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Maintaining a healthy weight as your dog ages is important. The more years the joints are exposed to the extra weight, the higher the chance your dog may experience arthritis.
In summary, to prevent arthritis:
When your dog is young or a puppy, provide moderate (but not too much) exercise and plenty of food.
In adult and older dogs, provide lots of exercise and a moderate amount of food.