Content
- What is canine osteoarthritis
- What Causes Osteoarthritis in Dogs
- Canine Osteoarthritis Symptoms
- Canine Osteoarthritis Treatment
Committing to the great responsibility involved in adopting a dog will undoubtedly bring many benefits derived from the very strong emotional bond that is created between the owner and the pet.
Throughout our dog's life we can observe many changes that occur as the physiological and normal aging process progresses, one of the anatomical structures of our pet that can suffer most over the years is the locomotor system.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain you the symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs, the most common joint disease that our pets suffer from.
What is canine osteoarthritis
Canine osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in puppies, mainly affecting puppies of middle and advanced age. It is estimated that 1 in 5 suffers from this condition, approximately 45% of large breed puppies.
It is a complex and progressive disease that causes a articular cartilage degeneration (Indispensable to avoid friction between the two bone ends of the joint) and the formation of new bone tissue at the joint margins, which can cause severe pain.
The most affected joints are as follows:
- Elbow
- Knee
- Column
- Hip
- wrist (carpus)
What Causes Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Osteoarthritis is usually due to a secondary cause, such as trauma, inflammation, obesity or intense and excessive physical exercise. However, some breeds like the German Shepherd or the Labrador Retriever have a genetic predisposition.
Canine Osteoarthritis Symptoms
You Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in Dogs they are diverse and our pet may manifest one or the other depending on the degree of the disease, which can range from mild to severe. Ostearthritis can manifest itself through the following symptoms and signs:
- Lethargy
- the dog hides
- rigidity
- moans
- the dog avoids moving
- Aggressiveness if you want to touch the affected area
- lame
- lame after exercise
- difficulty getting up
- difficulty moving
- loss of appetite
If you notice any of these symptoms in your puppy you should go to the veterinarian immediately for this to assess the situation, as well as indicate the most suitable treatment. To verify the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, the veterinarian will carry out an exhaustive physical evaluation, although the veterinarian can also make an imaging diagnosis using radiographs.
Canine Osteoarthritis Treatment
The treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs should be aimed at relieve pain, improve mobility and quality of life of our pet and to prevent future cartilage degenerations, not only a pharmacological treatment, but also hygienic-dietary measures are used.
The complete treatment of osteoarthritis can be carried out as follows. The veterinarian is the only person indicated to determine what kind of treatment the dog should follow:
- Pharmacological treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) helps to control pain and inflammation, quickly achieving symptomatic relief.
- Decrease in body weight if necessary.
- Adaptation of exercise taking into account the dog's inflammatory state, exercise with low joint impact.
- Surgery is not the first choice treatment but it may be necessary.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.