Mobility and Arthritis in Dogs

With the weather becoming cooler during the winter months many of our elderly pets may suffer from arthritis, a potentially painful condition that can often become worse as the environmental temperature decreases.

Old age arthritis (or osteoarthritis) is present in 20% or 1 in 5 dogs over one year of age and typically leads to pain, lameness, joint inflammation and reduced mobility, resulting in a reduced quality of life.

OA is usually a result of ongoing wear and tear and instability in the joints, although other factors such as injury, genetic makeup, infection, immune disease and cancer can also affect its progression.

Arthritis can affect one or more joints anywhere in the body; however the most common joints affected in dogs are the hips, knees, shoulders and elbows. Most of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage acting as a cushion which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This movement is assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in joints.

With arthritis the cartilage deteriorates and the synovial fluid loses its lubricating properties so that movement of the bones becomes less smooth, leading to pain, discomfort and reduced mobility.

Signs of arthritis

There are many signs that may indicate your dog is suffering from arthritis, even though most dogs are very stoic creatures and tend to mask signs of pain. Signs may include one or more of the following:

• Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play

• Limping/lameness

• Lagging behind on walks

• Pain, stiffness or slowness when getting up or down

• Yelping when touched

• A change in personality (aggression when normally good-natured)

• Licking of the affected joints

These signs become more obvious as arthritis progresses, and the pain worsens. As a result of the changes that have occurred in the affected joint/s, arthritis in dogs is not a condition that can be cured. However, the pain and discomfort can be effectively controlled and managed.

MANAGING  ARTHRITIS IN  DOGS

The first step in managing arthritis is to schedule a veterinary appointment for a thorough clinical examination.

To help your dog be happy and enjoy life again, there are 4 important areas that we will need to focus on:

1. Weight management

This is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of managing any animal with arthritis. Overweight animals will place proportionally more weight on their joints and therefore cause more localised inflammation and irritation to the joints- which in turn can hasten the progression of arthritis.

2. Exercise management

Exercise is a very important part of managing arthritis. Regular controlled exercise (leash walking, swimming) is extremely beneficial for keeping the joints mobile and the muscles working well.

3. Home comforts/ environment changes

In mild cases, some simple steps taken at home will help to reduce their level of pain and discomfort. Ensure that your pet has a warm, comfortable place to sleep that is away from drafts. Plenty of bedding will help protect any sore joints (a trampoline bed with extra padding is ideal). Provide a ramp in the garden, as an alternative to stairs and provide assistance when getting in and out of cars.

4. Veterinary treatments

Various veterinary treatments are available to manage osteoarthritis in pets. The best option will depend on a number of different factors involving your dog: such as age, severity of signs, progression of the disease process and whether they have any other health problems. Importantly all arthritis patients should be accurately diagnosed before starting a treatment plan.  

The different treatments that can be offered include:

Disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs such as ‘Cartrophen.’ (Pentosan polysulfate): Cartrophen is given as a series of injections: one injection a week for four weeks and then a maintenance injection once per month. These injections act to stabilise joint membranes, help joint cartilage repair and improve joint lubrication. They provide significant improvement in a high percentage of arthritis patients with minimal (if any) side effects.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s): These medications are specifically formulated for use in dogs and should only be prescribed by your veterinarian. They work by reducing the inflammation around the joints and by providing significant pain relief. With regular check ups with your veterinarian to monitor your dog’s liver and kidney function, assess the most appropriate NSAID and dose rate to administer, most patients respond very well to their use.

Nutraceuticals/ Prescription diets: Eg: Glyde, Synoquin, Royal Canin Mobility diet, Hills J/D. These are dietary supplements or prescriptions diets that contain ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin sulphate, Fish Oils and/ or Green Lipped mussel. These agents work together to aid the protection of joints and can be given on a long term basis to help reduce inflammation over time.

Physical therapy: Physical therapy involves specific activities designed to improve strength and mobility without causing additional stress on a joint. It is also a useful adjunct to helping a pet lose weight and assisting rehabilitation following joint surgery.