Stiffness and difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying down position. Limping, trembling, or tenderness when walking. Trouble climbing stairs or jumping up on couches and chairs. Less interest in going for walks or engaging in other activities.
Severe Osteoarthritis (STAGE 4)
A dog often becomes restless when standing and may be reluctant to stand or move. Other signs include consistent severe lameness, weight shift and abnormal limb loading.
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!
Stage 0 is clinically normal with no risk factors for osteoarthritis, stage 1 is clinically normal with risk factors for osteoarthritis, stage 2 is mild osteoarthritis, stage 3 is moderate osteoarthritis, and stage 4 is severe osteoarthritis.
Physical and Alternative Therapy to Treat Arthritis in Dogs
Physical therapy, like appropriate forms of regular exercise, as mentioned earlier can be extremely beneficial for dogs with arthritis. Many owners also find hydrotherapy, or water therapy, helpful. Holistic therapies, like acupuncture, can be useful as well.
Limping, trembling, or tenderness when walking. Trouble climbing stairs or jumping up on couches and chairs. Less interest in going for walks or engaging in other activities. Behavioral changes, like increased irritability, that occur in response to the pain.
Treatments in this phase will include the use of NSAIDs, dietary adjustments, weight control and rehabilitation, together with regular and appropriate exercise. Environmental or home modifications may also be considered.
Lack of mobility is a life threatening disease – dogs who can't get up or walk anymore usually are euthanized. This is the stage we are trying to prevent by intervening early. At this stage, the pet may resist, cry or even scream when the joint range of motion is tested.
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.
Arthritic dogs will benefit from controlled exercise. Gentle regular lead walks are better than an hour spent running around after a ball or with another dog.
Similarly to humans, arthritis in dogs causes changes in the affected joints that can be incredibly painful for your pet. Arthritis can occur in any joint, but is most commonly found in the shoulders, hips, elbows, and knees.
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.
Osteoarthritis of the hips and knees may eventually lead to hind leg weakness. This may cause your dog to have difficulty rising or walking and you may notice his or her hind legs collapsing. Additionally, arthritis may affect the front legs, back, and other joints.
Dogs usually get arthritis from the age of 8 years onwards. These are seniors and arthritis around this age is not uncommon. However, some dogs can experience arthritis from an incredibly young age. With some dogs showing signs of arthritis from as young as one year old.
Can arthritis be cured? Unfortunately not. Once cartilage in your dog's joint(s) has been damaged it rarely repairs itself completely. But many pets can successfully be made pain free by appropriate long-term use of medication and sensible management to control further deterioration.
The signs of septic arthritis include heat, swelling, and pain in one or more joints. There will typically be decreased range of motion in the affected joint(s), as well as fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
Your pet cries out – This is an obvious sign of discomfort. If he cries out or whimpers when moving around or when you pet him, your pet could be suffering from arthritis.
What are the typical signs of pain in dogs? General behaviour: Shaking, flattened ears, low posture, aggression, grumpy temperament, panting or crying, excessive licking or scratching a specific area, reluctant to play, interact or exercise, lameness (limping), stiffness after rest, loss of appetite.
The three main causes of osteoarthritis are: Wear and tear of the joints due to age, especially in overweight dogs. Joint damage in growing puppies, usually in larger breeds, due to some combination of genetics, over exercise, rapid growth and incorrect diet.
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.
In summary, the best medical recommendation for dogs with arthritis is that they should exercise regularly, ideally 30-60 minutes every day, and not engage in high-impact activities such as running, jumping and rough play.
Common drugs in this category are meloxicam (Metacam® and other trade names), carprofen, deracoxib (Deramaxx®), grapiprant, robenacoxib (Onsior®), and firocoxib. Your veterinarian will determine if your dog is a good candidate for this class of medication.
Supplements
Your veterinarian may also recommend including fish oil in your dog's diet. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to reduce inflammation in joints affected by arthritis. Another supplement option is polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), given as joint injections.
End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.
Alternatively, you can lift your arthritic dog by wrapping one arm around its backside near its waist, and then the other arm should support its upper chest. Use your legs rather than your back when lifting your dog. In case your dog shows any sign of discomfort, you should carefully set it down gently.