PET CARE Does your dog have arthritis?

How to tell if your dog has Arthritis


Ask the vet
Esther Van Luipen

These winter months with wet and cold weather are difficult for dogs with stiff joints or arthritis. Stiff joints can have serious effects on your dog’s overall quality of life. Signs of arthritis may be subtle and easy to miss.

To be sure, ask yourself whether your dog…

• Shows. stiffness, especially after resting?
• Hesitates to go up and down stairs?
• Lags behind, limp or tire easily during walks?
• Prefers to lie down rather than sit
• or stand?
• Acts withdrawn, spending less time playing with family (which is often misunderstood as a sign of ‘aging’)
• Licks a single joint
• Whimpers, growls or snaps when you touch his joints?

If you have answered yes to some of the above questions your dog may be suffering from stiff joints.

What causes stiff joints?
First of all as pets grow older, joint cartilage will progressively wear away, so it is much more likely for an older pet to have stiff joints. But young pets can suffer from it too. Especially after an accident or when they are born with bone malformations. You get an abnormal wear and tear of joints which could cause osteoarthritis at a young age.
Another important cause of stiff joints is excess weight. This causes excess stress on the joints and cartilage. If your dog is overweight it is absolutely critical to make him lose weight as soon as possible and to keep the weight down.
Some breeds of dogs are more at risk to develop stiff joints than others, for example, large dog breeds like Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds and rottweilers.

Caring for an arthritic dog
If your dog has stiff joints, all is not lost. However, it is very important to do something about it straight away. Please make sure to consult your vet – although stiff joints are not curable, early treatment is vital to slow down the process of the disease and make your pet feel better.
If your pet is overweight, discuss a weight-loss diet with your veterinarian. Controlled exercise is very important. Low-impact exercise is best; swimming or walking through shallow water is ideal. Leash walking and controlled jogging are also acceptable.
Nutraceuticals, like fish oils or glucosamine/ chondrotoin sulfate, are great for supporting the cartilage structure, preventing further deterioration, suppressing inflammation and reducing free radical damage. Also, massage and acupuncture are very helpful as a non-drug pain control.
There are very good anti-inflammatory drugs available to suppress pain and to reduce inflammation in dogs with more advanced disease.
So, if your dog has stiff joints call into your vet and take appropriate action straight away so your pet can lead a happy and comfortable life.

Esther van Luipen is a veterinary surgeon in Claremorris Small Animal Practice. Feel free to contact her with any of your small-animal concerns on 094 9373955 or at living@mayonews.ie.