Dog Joint Disease: Symptoms and Treatments

Your dog's joints are lubricated by synovial fluid which allows flexibility for your dog to comfortably move around, walk, run and play. When a dog ages, their joints are less flexible and are at a greater risk for being injured or damaged. Injury and stiffness can cause joint inflammation and pain and the discomfort can prevent your dog from living a comfortable and happy life.

The two types of arthritis that affect dogs are degenerative joint disease and inflammatory joint disease.

Degenerative joint disease in dogs is commonly referred to as osteoarthritis. Degenerative joint disease occurs when the cartilage that protects and cushions the bone is damaged or destroyed. Dog osteoarthritis is a common malady in dogs as they age and can occur from normal use and function or as a result of excess stress and accidental injuries.

Inflammatory joint disease in dogs is caused by illness, fungal infections, bacterial infections or fleas and ticks. Inflammatory joint disease can even be hereditary in some breeds. This form of dog arthritis is not as common as degenerative joint disease, but brings the same type and severity of pain, stiffness and discomfort.

There are a few warning signals that can alert owners that their dogs are affected by arthritis. Dogs that are in pain begin to limp and owners may notice swollen joints or the dog favoring other limbs over the affected limb. Your dog may have a hard time getting up or laying down and they may cry out or pant heavily when they move normally.

Depending on the type and severity of the arthritis, treatment can be approached in a couple of ways. Your vet may prescribe pain relievers that are comparable to human ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but these types of NSAID treatments can cause liver and kidney damage or stomach ulceration. Another approach that is gaining in popularity is supplementing with glucosamine.

Other stronger prescription medications and treatments are available from your veterinarian such as cortisone injections directly into the joint. These injections are given to relieve severe pain and inflammation and this procedure should only be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

Severe arthritis pain and degeneration can lead to the need for surgery to improve moment, quality of life and to and reduce pain. If your pet can not get up or down at all and is in severe pain, surgery or euthanization are considered final treatments. Invasive surgery should always be considered as a last resort option and there is always a possibility that the pain will continue even after the surgery.

We offer all natural glucosamine supplements on our site to fight the effects of arthritis.