Arthritis results from inflammation in the joints which can be caused by injury or disease. The stiffness, pain and swelling in a pet with arthritis are no different than in a human. Most large dogs develop arthritis as they get old. Arthritis affects one fifth of the dogs over the age of seven. Skeleton system of dogs consists of a mesh of bones, cartilages and ligaments. Smooth and healthy joints make the daily life activities of a dog possible. Quite painful conditions that affect the joints can occur in the neck, hips, shoulders, elbows or back of a dog as the consequences of arthritis.

Types of Dog Arthritis

According to the source of that irritation there are two broad categories of arthritis: degenerative and inflammatory. These have been explained below:

• Degenerative joint disease: At the beginning this condition does not necessarily cause a dog experience any inflammation. It is a chronic, slow progressing condition and is caused by the destruction of your dog’s cartilage. As that occurs, the bony structures begin to rub against one another causing pain and discomfort. Cartilage destruction can be caused by too much physical activity like constant jumping over obstacles, stretching, tearing ligaments during strenuous exercise or injuries.

Degenerative arthritis may not manifest until the dog has had years of abnormal stress. Since cartilage has no nerves, the damage can progress with no outward signs until the joint is severely degenerated and the lubricating fluid has become so thin that it lost its ability to protect the bone surfaces. Hip dysplasia which is a malformation of the hip sockets is one example of degenerative joint disease.

• Inflammatory joint disease: It is caused by some infection or by some diseases triggered by underlying immune system. Inflammatory arthritis is usually felt in multiple joints and fever, anorexia or an all-over stiffness of the body takes place simultaneously.

Infectious joint disease can be caused by some bacteria like that of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or by fungal infection. Arthritis caused by immune system is a result of underlying weakness in the immune system and can be hereditary. Infectious joint diseases and immune system caused joint diseases need different treatment and very careful accurate diagnosis.

Disorders in the body of the dog: Some commonly observed body or functional disorders due to Arthritis in dogs are:

1. Hip dysplasia
2. Degenerated or stifled knee joint
3. Osteochondrosis
4. Hypertrophic arthritis
5. Shoulder dysplasia
6. Kneecap dislocation

Symptoms: How do we come to know if our dog is suffering from arthritis? Some symptoms are given below which should suffice enough to the dog owner about his pet’s health:

1. Reluctance to walk, climb up or down the stairs, jump or play
2. Stiffness after getting up or after some exercise
3. Limping and lagging behind on walks
4. Difficulty rising from a resting position
5. A perceptible personality change
6. Resisting touch or yelping in pain when touched

Signs: Dogs having arthritis in the early stages may exhibit mild stiffness after rising and limping after hard exercise. Walking very slowly, difficulty in getting up or needing help for it, limping  all the time and not only after exercise and reluctance or refusal to jump or climb stairs are signs of more advanced stages of arthritis. Apparently visible changes in the body of a dog may not appear for long time or until the most severe pain is felt by it. These above mentioned symptoms can be considered as the signs of the onset of arthritis in a dog.

Treatment: X-rays are used to diagnose joint malformations due to degenerative joint diseases. If found it can be prevented or cured with appropriate surgery. If surgery is not indicated or advisable, relief can be achieved with painkillers, exercise, rest, and diet. There are some easily available and very effective drugs on the market to cure arthritis. Glucosamine is a very promising drug for the treatment of arthritis and hip dysplasia pain in dogs. It is effective in easing the pain and assists in rehabilitating damaged cartilage in the joints.

Whether drugs or surgery or both are being done in arthritis treatment, proper rest and avoiding strenuous exercise during treatment and recuperation should be taken care of. Veterinary advice in the matter of exercise should be followed. Dogs with arthritis should be under veterinary care. A veterinarian must be consulted to get the best treatment for your dog. In case of severe repetitive malformation which is appearing again and again after surgeries euthanasia may be an option.

How to look after dogs with arthritis: Proper diet and rest plays an important part in arthritis treatment. Excess body-weight causes more stress on the joints and exaggerates existing arthritis pain. Controlled diet can control the patient’s weight especially in the case of the puppies of large breed dogs. Very rapid weight gain must be prevented in these puppies or it may lead to development arthritis. Apart from medicines and surgery, acupressure, acupuncture and chiropractic care can also be helpful in arthritis. Soft comfortable place to sleep, gentle and regular exercise, weight control and joint health promotion with help of some drugs are very helpful to avoid arthritis and to recover from it.

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