Osteoarthritis in dogs is a condition that can affect all breeds at any age and involves the degeneration of the joints, which are responsible for walking and, more generally, the proper movement of the bones.
Dogs affected by this condition experience great difficulty performing any activity that requires joint movement: walking for long periods, running, and jumping become painful tasks to the point that the dog almost completely prefers to remain still.
Although it is a degenerative disease, there are therapies and measures that can help prevent joint diseases in our faithful companions, slowing the progression of the disease and thus ensuring a lifestyle that is as peaceful as possible with less and less pain.
Do you want to discover the symptoms, causes, and advice to recognize and prevent the problem of osteoarthritis in dogs? Keep reading the article!
Dog osteoarthritis symptoms and causes
In the last 5 years, joint diseases in dogs have increased by 38%.
Joint problems, from dysplasia to osteoarthritis, are among the “Top Ten” most common clinical diagnoses in pets. Large/giant breed dogs and older animals are particularly affected.
Since it mainly affects the structure of the joints that ensure bone mobility, you only need to notice how your dog handles walking, how easily it jumps onto the armchair, or how it runs in the park. Generally, the symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
limping;
the so-called “cold limp,” caused by sudden joint stiffness after being still for a long time. A dog with osteoarthritis will tend to use the painful leg as little as possible, causing a kind of muscle atrophy;
stiffness and swelling of the joints;
reluctance to perform movements and prolonged activities;
trembling in the legs.
Dog leg diseases: when do they occur?
Since canine osteoarthritis mostly affects older dogs due to systemic aging of the body, advanced age is the main cause responsible for the onset of the problem in most cases.
Osteoarthritis affects 13% of older dogs, and 1 in 4 dogs has to deal with joint pain.
However, it is important to remember that osteoarthritis in dogs can also affect young dogs or even puppies. The causes can be traced back to two main problems:
hip and elbow dysplasia, a congenital disease inherited from both parents;
excessive joint manipulation due to trauma such as fractures or dislocations.
Also, it is important to remember that excess weight caused by an unbalanced diet and lack of physical activity is an obstacle to the proper mobility of muscles, bones, and joints.
Be careful not to subject the animal to excessive physical activity: dogs engaged in intense physical activity (e.g., sports) keep their joints constantly under stress, increasing wear and the risk of trauma (e.g., fractures, dislocations, tendon and ligament tears).
Result: old and worn joints in subjects still in the prime of their vitality and physical condition.
Effective treatments for canine osteoarthritis
Unfortunately, to date, there is no single medical therapy or surgical intervention capable of completely resolving joint problems once and for all.
Joint health results from a program of specific care and attention whose effectiveness will only be proven with your informed and conscious participation.
Additionally, natural remedies can help prevent osteoarthritis: current therapies have proven to provide excellent support to animals affected by this condition and significantly slow its symptoms.
Usually, specific supplements for joint problems are used, along with physiotherapy, careful maintenance of physical activity, and a diet that controls the dog’s weight.
5 Tips to prevent osteoarthritis in dogs
When you decide to take care of a dog, it is very important to carry out all the necessary health checks and assess its predisposition to various developmental problems.
Osteoarthritis is unfortunately one of the most common diseases affecting dogs, especially large breeds, and for this reason, it is important to take several precautions to reduce the risk of its onset.
Here are some useful tips to prevent osteoarthritis in dogs
1. Choose only safe and certified breeders
If you plan to get a puppy of a breed predisposed to joint dysplasia, only turn to breeders with a pedigree certificate from selective breeding issued by ENCI (Italian National Cynological Entity). This certificate guarantees that the puppy was born from parents free of transmissible joint problems, thus encouraging the demand for genetically healthy dogs and increasingly discouraging breeding specimens destined to suffer pain and discomfort.
2. Request an early orthopedic examination from your veterinarian
Around three to four months of age, it is advisable to ask a veterinarian for an orthopedic examination to determine your puppy’s possible predisposition to developmental diseases such as dysplasia and to detect early signs of osteoarthritis that could cause greater problems in the future.
If your dog is diagnosed with this predisposition, there are currently surgical techniques that can significantly improve its joint health.
3. Manage osteoarthritis in dogs: monitor their diet
Nutrition is fundamental: recent scientific studies have shown that reducing body weight helps decrease joint pain.
Organize a specific diet suitable for your dog’s age, size, and lifestyle without relying on do-it-yourself methods.
Portion the food so that each meal provides the right amount of energy without metabolic excesses, and always monitor your faithful companion’s body weight: overweight and obesity strain the joints, as in humans, risking pain and movement difficulties.
4. Pay attention to physical exercise
Good physical exercise is beneficial not only for you but also for your dog. However, don’t overdo it: always consider your dog’s age and size and avoid overly intense physical efforts, even in competitive activities, to avoid putting too much strain on at-risk joints.
Always include a physiotherapy program if your dog needs to recover from surgery or trauma: constant pain often leads the animal to avoid movement, resulting in muscle atrophy that would gradually prevent any other activity.
5. Use specific supplements for canine osteoarthritis
There are many products that help ensure your dog’s joint well-being, but choose companies that understand the problem, invest in researching new formulations, and use selected and purified ingredients.
With a patented formula based on Aloe Arborescens, Carrot, and natural ingredients, Articur pet is an essential blend to keep your dog’s or cat’s joint, bone, and muscle system healthy, providing significant results in supporting therapies for animals already affected by osteoarthritis or puppies predisposed to bone and joint diseases, also thanks to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids and components that promote flexibility.
Would you like to learn more and discover the products best suited for your four-legged best friend?
