A comprehensive guide to arthritis in dogs including symptoms, treatment, and care
Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a very common condition that causes stiff, painful and swollen joints, says PDSA vet nurse Gemma Renwick.
It can make moving around during normal daily activities for your dog difficult or uncomfortable and sadly is not something that can be cured.
The good news is there are lots of things you can do to make your pet more comfortable and slow the progression of this disease. If well managed, most dogs can live happily for many years after diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of arthritis in dogs?
It’s important if you think your dog may have signs of arthritis that you contact your vet as soon as possible.
The main symptoms of arthritis in dogs include:
- Stiffness (especially after rest or after walks)
- Limping/lameness
- Narrowing of the hips and back end (weak muscles in the back legs)
- Slowing down on walks
- Being quiet, grumpy or sleeping more
- Low energy (lethargy)
- Saliva-stained fur around painful joints
- Reluctance to jump or climb stairs
- Enlarged or swollen joints
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to contact your vet for further advice.
Although arthritis can’t be cured, there are several treatment options to help slow the progression of the disease and importantly, manage pain.
Treatment may include:
- A weight loss plan, which may include a prescription diet. Keeping your pet slim and not overweight can dramatically improve their symptoms.
* How much should I feed my dog and how often? All your dog nutrition questions answered
* Help your dog lose weight with these expert tips from PDSA vet nurse Gemma Renwick - Pain relief – usually anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are needed to reduce swelling and pain. They are usually given as an ongoing daily dose, or in pulses for a few weeks at a time. Additional pain relief medications are often needed in more advanced cases of arthritis.
- Joint supplements – aren’t a replacement for pain relief medications, and don’t work for all dogs, but can be used at the same time as most other medicines.
- Hydrotherapy – can be a useful way to exercise that doesn’t put too much strain on joints. Your vet will be able to advise an appropriate hydrotherapy centre.
- Physiotherapy – can reduce pain, improve movement and help to build weakened muscles back up. Speak to your vet about finding a certified veterinary physiotherapist.
- Surgery – If your dog’s arthritic pain is severe and uncontrollable, joint surgeries such as fusion (arthrodesis) or replacements may be considered. These surgeries are often only available at specialist veterinary hospitals.
Always follow tailored advice from your vet, however there are plenty of things owners can do to help manage arthritis in their dogs and keep them comfortable at home.
This includes regular, controlled walks, making sure your dog has several short walks each day rather than one long one. Allow your dog to walk and run a little as they want to but try not to let them jump, skid, chase balls, or run on uneven ground.
Unless your vet advises otherwise, encourage your dog to get up and move around throughout the day. Lying down for hours can cause joints to become stiff, a little bit of movement every now and then can help.
Allow your dog to choose whether to snuggle in an enclosed bed or stretch out on a flat mattress. Memory foam beds for dogs are kind to joints, so could be a good investment. Heat also soothes painful joints, you can place a heat pad under your dog’s bed, which may give them extra comfort, especially on colder days.
Covering slippery floors in your house will aid in your dog being able to easily move around. You can use rugs, carpets or anti-slip mats to make floors around the house less slippy for paws. Dogs with arthritis have weak muscles, which means they are prone to slipping and struggle to get up. If you can’t cover the whole house, focus these in the areas that your dog uses the most.
What to do if the symptoms return or get worse
Let your vet know if you think your dog’s pain isn’t well controlled or you see symptoms returning. There are lots of different pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicines. If one isn’t working your vet may suggest swapping to a different medication or adding a new one.
Later in life, severe arthritis might stop responding to treatment. If your dog is in pain or very uncomfortable even with medication, you may need to consider making the very difficult decision to say goodbye. This however needs to be an individual decision for both an owner and their dog, and your vet will always be on hand to answer any difficult questions.
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