Arthritis symptoms include stiffness, lameness, or limping after rest; appetite loss or unusual weight gain; inactivity and sleeping more; reluctance to walk, run or climb stairs; unusual urinating in the house; and irritability and other behavioral changes.
Tiredness. Your pet will get tired from all the worrying about his arthritis or osteoarthritis pain. That's why dogs with this condition will often end up sleeping all the time.
Make sure your dog has a well-cushioned and comfortable place to sleep at night and to lay around on during the day. Especially for dogs with arthritis and otherwise sore joints, orthopedic or memory foam dog beds can be a great comfort. You don't want them to be too high for them to climb in and out of.
Dog Arthritis Symptoms
However, as the disease progresses and pain increases, it will become more evident that something is wrong. Some of the signs of arthritis in dogs include: Stiffness and difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying down position. Limping, trembling, or tenderness when walking.
Home care for arthritis
Unless your vet advises otherwise, make sure your dog has regular short walks each day. A sudden increase in exercise could make your dog stiff and painful. Allow your dog to walk and run a little but don't let them jump, skid, chase balls, or run on uneven ground.
If your dog has arthritis, grain-free food may be the way to go. Many processed commercial dog foods contain grains such as wheat, rice, soy, and spelt, which can cause your dog's blood sugar levels to fluctuate and increase painful swelling. Limiting the grains in your dog's diet can decrease their inflammation.
Osteoarthritis is the most commonly diagnosed joint disease in both human and Veterinary medicine. Similar to humans, dogs with arthritis can experience good and bad days.
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that can be managed. With proper care and frequent physical exams, dogs with osteoarthritis commonly live a normal life expectancy!
Severe Arthritis, Stage 4
These symptoms will significantly impact the dog's quality of life. You will see severely abnormal limb loading, shifting of weight, restlessness when standing and a reluctance to move.
Moderate Exercise and Physical Therapy
Physical therapy, massage, and daily exercise can be very beneficial to dogs with arthritis. Consider daily exercise in moderation: Start with short walks, up to 10 or 15 minutes, three to four times per day.
Many arthritic pets will be stiff right when they get up, but a warm-up that's as simple as a minute or two of gentle walking around the house will do the trick.
If you have an older dog who has started to slow down on walks and has difficulty getting up and down the stairs, your dog may be suffering from arthritis. This disease, most commonly seen in older dogs, can affect the legs, hips, back, and more—making everyday movements painful.
This might be a result of pain in the joints and muscles accustomed to lying down, or perhaps your dog knows that it has become painful to lie on arthritic joints and is therefore reluctant to do so. In either case, it is an indication that something is causing pain.
'Little and often' is the best approach when it comes to exercising arthritic pets. It may suit them better to take them on several short walks each day, rather than one long walk. Keep their exercise pattern as regular as possible – try to avoid short walks during the week and a really long walk at the weekend.
Severe Osteoarthritis (STAGE 4)
Other signs include consistent severe lameness, weight shift and abnormal limb loading.
The most common medications used to treat canine arthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These medications reduce inflammation in the affected joints, alleviating pain and improving mobility.
The severity of the lameness is often exacerbated during the night. This happens because of the soreness that builds up from too much activity during the day.
If your dog seems to be in worse pain when they are touched or picked up, this may mean they've got arthritis. Picking up or touching a dog who is suffering from arthritis pain in their joints can cause them to yelp, whine, or may even cause them to snap if the pain is very severe.
Since the degeneration of the joints and increase in joint inflammation tend to be progressive over time, dogs may go through various stages of osteoarthritis. Sometimes arthritis progresses quickly and other times that progression may take years.
While 80% of dogs will show signs of arthritis by age 8, 20% of dogs show signs as early as the age of one year. And just like in humans, there are ways to help relieve the symptoms if your dog has arthritis. Weight: It's important to know the optimal weight for your dog's breed.
Attaining and maintaining a lean body conformation through proper nutrition and feeding practices is the most important cornerstone of effective osteoarthritis management and prevention. It has been shown that skinny dogs have less arthritis and a longer life expectancy!
While arthritis can affect almost any bone and joint, in dogs, the hips knees, elbows and shoulders are the most commonly affected areas. Older dogs are usually more likely to suffer from arthritis, with issues such as difficulty walking or getting up.
Sit to stand exercises to strengthen the dog's back legs
For dogs with arthritis in the back legs (hip, stifle or tarsus), asking the dog to sit squarely on their hocks and then move into a stand position is beneficial for strengthening the muscles supporting the hind leg.