Understanding Osteoarthritis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Just like humans, your four-legged friend relies on their joints for a lot of things. Moving, walking, running, playing – many of the behaviors happy dogs exhibit depend on healthy joints. While it’s common, osteoarthritis in dogs can also significantly affect your pet’s quality of life. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatments for dogs with arthritis to help manage pain, inflammation, and damage. Let’s take a closer look.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA), or arthritis, is a chronic, progressive joint disease. It’s a top cause of joint pain in dogs. The condition causes the gradual loss of joint cartilage, which leads to changes in bones, pain, and inflammation. 

In healthy joints, cartilage is the cushion that allows joints to move smoothly through their full range of motion. However, in cases of OA, this cartilage cushion starts to break down. This can happen for all kinds of reasons, from injury to age to repetitive stress and disease. 

Osteoarthritis commonly affects dogs as they age, but it can occur in young dogs, too. It’s especially likely to affect dogs who have other contributing factors, like obesity or other orthopedic conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for OA in dogs. However, there are steps you can take to slow its progression. 

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in Dogs

We know that OA commonly affects dogs and that early intervention is one of the best ways to slow its progression. That begs an important question, then: “How do I know if my dog has arthritis?” 

Our furry friends may not be able to speak to us, but they can clue us into how they’re feeling through body language. Signs of arthritis in humans are fairly similar to those of osteoarthritis in dogs; symptoms include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Lameness or a change in gait
• Weight gain
• Sudden changes in behavior, like irritability or aggression
• Decrease in activity or reluctance to exercise, walk, or run
• Difficulty getting up from lying down, navigating stairs, or jumping on furniture
• Loss of muscle mass or muscle wasting over the limbs and spine
• Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, which may lead to having accidents in the house

Causes of Osteoarthritis in Dogs

In many cases, there’s more than one cause of osteoarthritis in dogs. Sometimes, there may be no obvious underlying cause at all. Still, there are a few factors that typically contribute to the condition’s development:

• Orthopedic diseases like cranial cruciate ligament tears, patella luxations, hip and elbow dysplasia, or previous fractures can lead to OA by causing repeated injuries to joint cartilage. Repetitive high-impact activities can also cause damage. 
• Obesity also plays a significant role in the development of OA because it places extra force on the joints.

Other risk factors for arthritis in dogs include:

• Age
• Breed: large or giant breeds are more likely to have conditions like hip dysplasia and OA
• Genetics
• Improper nutrition
• Infections that affect the joints, such as Lyme disease
• 
  

Managing Osteoarthritis in Dogs: Treatment Options

Depending on its underlying cause, dog arthritis treatment usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, pain management, physical rehab, and joint support. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Lifestyle Changes

Helping pets shed extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight can go a long way in treating osteoarthritis. Sticking to low-impact activities for exercise and using ramps to get on and off furniture also helps. 

Professional Physical Rehabilitation

Using an underwater treadmill, swimming, balance, and range of motion exercises can help ease pain and keep the joints from getting too stiff. 

Pain Management

Options like NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) support joint pain relief for dogs. Medications like gabapentin can also be used in combination with NSAIDs.

Joint Support

Using supplements like fish oil, undenatured type II collagen, and Adequan can help promote optimal joint health for your pet.

Joint Surgery for Dogs

While surgery is rarely needed for joint pain treatment for dogs, it’s sometimes required. It’s most commonly recommended in cases with a clear underlying cause of OA, like hip or elbow dysplasia. 

How will my vet diagnose osteoarthritis?

If you believe your dog may have arthritis, the first step to take is visiting your veterinarian. Your vet will diagnose OA using one or more of the following:

• Physical Exam: During a physical, your vet can observe your dog’s posture and gait. They can also feel for any abnormalities in the joints or signs of pain.
• X-Rays: Sometimes, X-rays may be necessary to fully assess the joints and diagnose underlying orthopedic conditions.
• Advanced Imaging: In some cases referral to a specialty hospital such as Violet Crown Veterinary Specialists may be recommended for advanced imaging like a CT. These tests help your vet accurately evaluate the state of your dog’s cartilage, joints, and soft tissues surrounding the bone, which don’t show up on an X-ray.
  

If you’re located in or near Austin, TX, you can count on Violet Crown Veterinary Specialists for comprehensive osteoarthritis care. 

Our diagnostic imaging deparment is equipped with all of the resources necessary to diagnose OA and related conditions, including cranial cruciate ligament tears, patella luxation, elbow and hip dysplasia. Plus, our team of specialists can help you navigate the treatment process, whether it involves simple lifestyle changes or something more involved, like surgery. When you notice signs of pain or discomfort in your furry friend, don’t wait. Reach out to Violet Crown Veterinary Specialists to learn what steps to take next. Contact us on the web or give us a call  at  (512) 284-2877 to learn more.