Canine Arthritis

My neighbor Eddy has had his little dog, Bernardo, for going on 13 years. Bernardo is a cute little fellow with just a delightful personality and he and Eddy used to really enjoy running a few laps at the park. They became virtually bonded at the hip until one day Eddy noticed that Bernardo had become hesitant to run and was showing some inability to even walk normally. That’s when Eddy knew he had to check his beloved friend’s joints for any inflammation because he thought Bernardo might be suffering from canine arthritis.

There are several forms of arthritis in dogs and this includes: osteoarthritis which is a degeneration of the articular cartilage in the joints and is much more prevalent in dogs; immune-mediated like rheumatoid arthritis wherein the immune system attacks the body and usually the joint areas; infective; and idiopathic which means the cause is unknown.

Arthritis is usually diagnosed by vets after physical examinations of the joints to check for clinical signs and palpation. Radiography is a very important tool for diagnosis as well as some tests that can be made from joint fluids. 

The Signs and Symptoms of Dog Arthritis- This is what to look for

When a dog has arthritis, the joints become inflamed and may appear swollen. These joints may be very painful and without pain relief that would be the primary reason why dogs suffering from arthritis, just like humans, would be very reluctant to engage in walking activities or they may become lame in one limb or another.

The legs and the joints become stiff in the morning but would eventually improve later during the day. The disease can appear suddenly but if left untreated for a long time, the joints eventually becomes deformed and the dogs will lose functional use of the affected limbs. This will be accompanied by an occasional fever and a noticeable loss of appetite.

Arthritis symptoms can come and go making it difficult to diagnose accurately. But arthritis treatment is very important because there are certain complications, particularly with rheumatoid arthritis, that would eventually involve the kidneys, lymph glands, and increased susceptibility to infections.

Causes of Arthritis in Dogs- It really is not your fault

Canine arthritis can come as a result of traumatic injury particularly if there is a tearing of ligaments resulting to instability in the joints. The disease develops faster in overweight and obese dogs as more stress is applied on the joints and limbs. Other causes may be genetic in nature or the dogs failed to have a proper development of their bones.

Treatments Available for Canine Arthritis- What can you do for your beloved friend

Eddy consulted his vet because he hated to see Bernardo in such pain and the doctor checked him over and gave Eddy some advice. If Eddy wanted to provide treatment for arthritis in his dog, he first needed to address the more obvious reasons such as obesity (Bernardo is a little on the chubby side) and maybe even surgical repair of the damaged ligaments. They decided that a change of diet would be a wise move as well as getting a little bit of appropriate exercise in a fitness routine they could do together.

They also decided that Bernardo would benefit from getting an anti-inflammatory medications like buffered aspirin and through alternative and holistic remedies like acupuncture and herbal medicines. They have met with some success as Bernardo is looking and feeling better than he has in a long time.