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I Think I'm Dealing with Dog Arthritis - What Can I Do To Help?

When they're puppies, they jump in your lap, lick your face and cuddle. As they age, dog arthritis can set in and it can hurt you as much as it hurts them to watch them suffer. With people, we can tell our loved ones we hurt before it gets too bad. Unless you're the dog whisperer, though, you may not realize your best friend is hurting until the condition has progressed.

Arthritis in dogs is the same condition as arthritis in people; degeneration of a joint that can lead to cartilage loss and the bones rubbing on each other. There may be swelling, there’s almost certainly pain, and it can be anywhere. In dogs though, it seems like it hits the hips and knees more than the spine. Part of that is simple gravity; because dogs walk on four legs and their spine is horizontal to the ground, there isn’t as much compression on theirs as on ours.

How Did My Dog Get Arthritis?

There are a couple ways dog arthritis starts. First is normal stress on a joint with problems. Hip dysplasia is the easiest example of this. The second way canine arthritis starts is overuse on a normal joint. Think of dogs that jump over obstacles, exercise or train strenuously, fall or have had other injuries. Big dogs are more likely to get arthritis as they get older, but really any older dog could suffer.

Symptoms of Dog Arthritis

If you think your pup might have dog arthritis, here are signs to look for:

Apparent pain while walking

Not wanting to jump on the couch, bed, or into a truck (or not able to at all)

Limping

Difficulty getting down to a sitting or laying position, and/or trouble getting back up

Yelping in pain when petted or nipping at you when you try to pet them

Not eating as much (in larger dogs this may be because it hurts to get down to their dishes – try raising the dish up a foot or so off the ground so they don’t have to bend down)

If you believe your dog has arthritis, get him or her to the vet for a work up immediately. There are a couple of different types of arthritis (degenerative and infectious) and treatment for them is very different. It’s important to find out which type your dog has so you understand the treatment options fully. I’m not discussing infectious arthritis at all here, so please, go see your vet for a correct diagnosis.

Treatment Options

If your dog has joint malformations, the arthritis may be slowed down with surgery. If your dog’s joints are normal, then many of the same human treatments work in dogs. The standard options include:

Painkillers

Exercise

Supplements

Rest

Diet

Chiropractic care, Acupuncture, and Massage

The most common painkillers used are buffered aspirin and Rimadyl. Rimadyl is only available with a prescription and your dog needs to be monitored carefully for potential side effects. Buffered aspirin should only be given with a vet’s recommendation – they can tell you what dose is appropriate for your dog’s weight and health.

Dogs with arthritis need to be exercised carefully. It’s better to do some exercise every day (like a gentle walk) than no exercise during the week and strenuous exercise (like running) on the weekend. Some exercise every day lubricates the joints and keeps them supple and limber. No exercise followed by strenuous exercise is more likely to cause injuries from overuse.

Supplements for dogs are increasingly popular due to their apparent effectiveness and their lack of severe side effects. Popular ones include glucosamine, MSM, and perna caniculus (Green Lipped mussel).

Rest is important to allow your dog to get into that deep sleep where healing happens. Also, they should be able to rest comfortably without their aching joints on cold, hard floors. Get your pup a soft, thick bed that cushions them from the hard floor and keeps them warm.

If your dog is overweight, diet will be important to help them lose some of it and get the pressure off their joints. Talk with your vet about the appropriate weight control diet for your breed of dog.

Chiropractic care is as safe for animals as it is for humans, and can help with pain and swelling. Because dog anatomy is different from human anatomy though, use a practitioner trained in one of the animal adjusting techniques. I use Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation, or VOM, to work on animals. To learn more about V.O.M. just follow this link to Dr. Inman's site. He's the vet who trained me in it.

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