The health of Beagles may deteriorate as they they grow old. Even if they are always well-taken cared of, there is always a risk of developing disease as dogs grow old. There are some diseases however that affect young and old dogs alike. One of these diseases is canine arthritis.
Just like any other organs and systems in the body, the skeletal system plays an important role in promoting normal health condition among dogs. It is composed of bones, cartilage and ligaments. These organs are responsible in providing the body with framework, protecting the internal organs and in providing a full range of motion. When one of these bones or joints is damaged, the dog's normal activity will surely be affected.
Canine arthritis is a condition wherein there is an inflammation in the joints of a dog. This disease affects dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages, but older dogs are more prone to this disease. Canine arthritis are categorized into two; degenerative joint disease and inflammatory joint disease.
Degenerative joint disease is also called osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage that protects the bones that make up the joint is damaged. Damage in the cartilage is caused either by normal stress on abnormal joints or abnormal stress on normal joints. Degenerative joint disease is further subdivided into two; primary and secondary. There is no known cause for primary degenerative disease while secondary disease can be the result of hip dysplasia, patella luxation (loose kneecap), osteochondritis dissecans, trauma and ruptured cruciate (knee) ligaments.
Another type of canine arthritis is inflammatory joint disease. Inflammatory joint disease can be caused either by infection or immune-mediated diseases. This type of arthritis usually affects multiple joints and is accompanied by fever, anorexia and all-over stiffness. Inflammatory joint disease is further subdivided into two; infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Infectious disease can be caused by bacteria while immune-mediated disease is caused by weakness in the immune system. This type of arthritis can also be hereditary.
Signs of arthritis in Beagles include reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play. Gradual limping and swelling around a joint can also be seen. Your dog will display tenderness when flexing a joint and may hold its breath or stop panting when an affected joint is used. Beagles affected with canine arthritis will also suffer from loss of appetite.
Severe arthritis is usually treated through surgery. There are some cases however when surgery is not needed anymore. Some cases of arthritis can be treated with painkillers, exercise, rest and diet. It is important that dog owners should carefully read the product label of dog foods to check its content. The amount of food and frequency of feeding should also be regulated to prevent obesity. Exercise is important, but should be done in limited and gentle way. They should also be restricted from doing strenuous activities to prevent the disease from progressing.
